| It's Spring Break and the flowers are in bloom, | | | | the cup of the chinrest.As if this kind violin wasn't |
| but there's no flowered scent to the rancid air in | | | | wretched enough in playable shape, the junk |
| the red light district. A matted up cat scurries | | | | before me had been crushed and nastily glued |
| away from a dumpster as I pass, making my | | | | back together. Sort of. The neck was askew and |
| way across the littered sidewalk to a dirty little | | | | the top was coming undone at one side. I can |
| shop with a twitching neon sign, "Pawn Here."As I | | | | safely say this was the most deplorable violin I |
| approach the cracked glass counter I sense other | | | | have ever seen, and I've seen a lot of rotten |
| customers' eyes on me. I don't look like I belong | | | | junk in my time.I forcefully hold in judgement like |
| here in my designer boots with my sweet little | | | | a bulimic keeps from getting sick with company |
| 5-year-old son at my side. My son points timidly | | | | present. The shopkeeper inhales, about to launch |
| at a large rusty knife with a skull engraved in the | | | | into his spiel, using pawn shop Tactic #2: Let the |
| side and I'm suddenly guilty that I've dragged him | | | | lies begin."This here violin is a master instrument," |
| into such a seedy place."I hear you have a violin," | | | | he says in a hushed tone. At this I am compelled |
| I say to the rugged, hunched man behind the | | | | to say something or I'll burst. "It's a Chinese |
| counter. I say it in a sweet, treble tone that | | | | Strad-copy violin from the 1980's, most-likely a |
| make me further stand out in a "I'm just a girlie | | | | Corelli," I interrupt quickly. Uh oh, the jig is up. He |
| girl with too much money who knows nothing | | | | knows I'm no dupe.But wait, he tries pawn shop |
| about violins" sort of way.Truth be known, I am a | | | | Tactic #3: Lie some more. "No, M'am," he simpers. |
| violinist and a violin shop owner. I'm not an expert | | | | "This is a real Stradivarius. It's been in an attic for |
| in advanced violin authenticity, but I know a good | | | | a long time, an undiscovered treasure." His face |
| violin when I see one and I also know when to | | | | has obviously rehearsed the honest, pleading |
| run away screaming when it's junk. I'm here with | | | | expression. His knack for lying is, in a sick way, |
| hopes that the violin in question is worth repairing | | | | admirable.This is beginning to annoy me, but I |
| and restringing so it may be sold cheap to a | | | | want to see how big of a hole he'll dig for himself. |
| student on a budget, making me a little bit of | | | | I look at him as if wanting to be enlightened. He |
| cash as well.My hopes are not high that this will | | | | takes the bait and goes for tactic #4: Lie, but |
| happen, but every so often there is something | | | | make it a real whopper."This violin was made by |
| worth picking up. I don't volunteer this information | | | | one of Stradivarius' students," he lies.I almost |
| as past experiences have proven this always | | | | laugh out loud at this, considering "Stradivari," not |
| unreasonably jacks up the price about 400%. I'm | | | | "Stradivarius" was the maker of Stradivarius |
| not here to gouge the guy, but I don't want to | | | | violins and all of his instruments have been |
| be gouged myself. Act like I know nothing and I | | | | accounted for. And really, what kind of idiot thinks |
| can usually get it at an appropriate price.I will have | | | | the most recently discovered Strad is for sale at |
| to dance the dance to keep this transaction | | | | a lousy pawn shop?My son is shuffling his feet, |
| fair.The man behind the corner clears his throat | | | | but not complaining out loud. I wish he'd throw a |
| loudly and eyes me suspiciously. I blink twice and | | | | tantrum so I'd have an excuse to leave quickly. |
| smile, pink lipgloss shimmering in his clouded eyes. | | | | Instead I maintain my composure and casually |
| He glares again, slowly turns then limps to a back | | | | thank the man for his time before I turn and |
| room, shouting over his shoulder something about | | | | leave. He keeps his cool as my son and I walk |
| how he has to go to the "special room" where | | | | out without another glance back, though to him |
| rare instruments are kept.This is pawn shop | | | | I'm the one that got away.We danced the delicate |
| Tactic #1: Talk up the merchandise and add | | | | dance of buyer and seller, expert and swindler, |
| unrealistic mystique.He returns with what looks like | | | | and thankfully no one's toes were stepped on. He |
| a miniature coffin covered in dust. It's an old black | | | | will go on to swindle another and may do well in |
| wooden violin case. Predating plastic and | | | | the end. I am happy I still believe that people are |
| styrofoam, these were the sorry excuses for | | | | good and I don't take it personally when they go |
| cases that caused more harm to instruments | | | | bad.As we drive away, my son asks why I didn't |
| than not since they had no padding and the weak | | | | buy the nice violin. The poor dear would buy an |
| metal latches that held them together would | | | | ice cube in Alaska. Thus I begin to teach him |
| spontaneously unhinge, causing many a fiddle to | | | | another lesson in life's tricky dance moves, |
| fall to death during transport."This is a fine antique | | | | keeping your balance while still enjoying the |
| case, made in 1883," says the shopkeeper. A man | | | | music.Twenty-nine-year-old Rhiannon Schmitt (nee |
| to my left approaches and says breathily, "those | | | | Nachbaur) is a professional violinist and music |
| things are worth $500! They are very rare!" I | | | | teacher who has enjoyed writing for many |
| keep my neutral gaze and say, "Oh yeah."First | | | | years.Her business, Fiddleheads Violin School and |
| off, I have about 4 such cases stored under my | | | | Shop, has won several distringuished young |
| bed since I can't get rid of the things. Secondly, I | | | | entrepreneur business awards for her comittment |
| had seen this "customer" helping move stock as I | | | | to excellence. The shop offers beginner to |
| passed the shop a few days earlier. He was | | | | professional level instruments, accessories and |
| another employee who poses as customer to add | | | | supplies. provides a rich resource of information |
| "unbiased" credibility to the lies the shopekeeper | | | | on her school, products for sale and her many |
| spins. My son coughs and looks around, bored out | | | | writings.Rhiannon is Founding President of the |
| of his mind.I maintain my blank expression. I'm | | | | Shuswap Violin Society. She dedicates much of |
| starting to think the violin inside this casket is a | | | | her time to community music projects and helping |
| dead end.The shopkeeper opens the case and my | | | | young musicians in financial need.She has also |
| suspicions are confirmed.It is absolutely horrible. A | | | | volunteered as an events promoter, classical |
| cheap, Chinese made Corelli or Bestler fiddle from | | | | music radio host and as a volunteer orchestra |
| the early 1980's. I've seen so many to know | | | | music arranger for her local School District in |
| what they are upon first glance. It has the usual | | | | recent years.Rhiannon currently writes music |
| ugly starburst orange and yellow plastic finish, | | | | columns for two BC publications and has been |
| which has cracked due to heat exposure. The | | | | featured in Australia's "Music Teacher Magazine." |
| pegs are made from cheap, splintered rosewood. | | | | Writing allows her to be a creative "smart-ass" |
| The chinrest and tailpiece are the cheapest shiny | | | | and to teach people that learning music is fun. |
| black plastic, with a sticky mystery stain covering | | | | |