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