VSA Journal

Established in 1976 under the editorship of Professor Albert Mell, Queens College, the VSA Journal is recognized as the outstanding periodical of its kind. Contents include articles on all aspects of bowed stringed instruments, auctions and appraisals, history of the violin and performers, playing technique and performance practice, making and restoration, tools, varnish, wood, graduation and acoustics.

The VSA Journal is published one or two times each year. A subscription to the VSA Journal is included with membership or copies may be ordered individually.

The VSA Journal was produced as a CD, and has everything you expect of a paper copy of of the VSA journal.  We are trying to produce a six year backlog of journals as quickly as possible for the use of our members.  The cost of printing has made it difficult to print these publications without increasing our yearly membership dues.  We have instead decided to publish the journals on CD and offer a print on demand copy at a fee to anyone that would like to have a paper copy.  We hope that this will help those members that need us to keep our membership low and those that want their journals to add to their personal library. As of today, we now have sent to VSA members the VSA Journals from years 2006 & 2007 on CD format.

For a complete Table of Contents for all articles published in the journal, see Journals Published.

View Selected Articles from the VSA Journal

Order the VSA Journal

Starting in 2005, VSA Journal issues have been designated as either a Proceedings issue or a VSA Papers issue.

VSA Journal – Proceedings Issues

In the proceedings issues of the VSA Journal proceedings of each convention and results of competitions are reported. Competition years usually require two journals, while non-competition convention years typically require only a single issue.

VSA Journal - Papers

VSA Papers are a venue for VSA members and non-members alike to share ideas, research, and news. Each issue of VSA Papers include articles on a broad array of subjects of interest to violinmakers, historians, violin dealers, and stringed-instrument musicians. All articles in VSA Journal Papers are peer reviewed by knowledgeable experts. The contents of VSA Papers include: violin and bow making methods, repair and preservation techniques, practical acoustics for violin makers, materials and accessories, instrument set-up and methods for improving tone, innovations in instrument design, history and documentation of instruments and bows of the violin family, biographies of makers and players, playing and performance, and market trends.

Information for submissions to VSA Papers

Articles submitted to VSA Papers should be 2,000-6,000 words. We look for articles regarding, but not limited to, the following topics:

Violin and Bow Making,

History and Documentation of Violin Family Instruments and Bows,

  • Biographies of Makers and Players,
  • Playing and Performance,
  • Instrument Set-Up and Improving Tone,
  • Practical Acoustics for the Violin Maker,
  • Materials: Including Wood, Strings, Varnish, and Accessories,
  • Market Trends and Innovations.

We also look for short contributions (less than 1000 words) on the following topics:

  • Awards,
  • Book reviews,
  • Meetings,
  • Exhibitions,
  • Concerts,
  • Obituaries.

People knowledgeable in the subject area review each article and may recommend changes prior to acceptance. Electronic submission of materials as email attachments is preferred. Copy may also be sent to us by fax or though the mail. Preferred digital formats are MS Word for manuscripts and .tif images for figures.

For more information contact office@vsaweb.org

 

 

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Selected Articles
from the VSA JOURNAL