Description

Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Brown, director of Montreal's AVIVA Young Artists program, has spent years exploring the potential of 3D printing in music education. The result of her research is a durable, lightweight, melodious 3D-printed violin which will be available for everyone, and will substantially reduce cost as a barrier to entry by comparison with traditional entry level instruments. The 3D-printed violin was created in two sections that clip together. Both parts are made of PLA, and printed with precise infill specifications designed to produce a resonant tone. The neck and fingerboard are printed at a precise angle to assure comfort for the player. The result is a violin that produces a darker, more mellow sound than traditionally made instruments at a fraction of the cost. According to Dr.Brown, the goals were to explore the new sound world created by using new materials, to leverage the new technology being used in other disciplines, and to make music education sustainable and accessible through the printing of more durable instruments.