Introduction to Lutherie: Building Rabecas and Percussion

Have you ever wanted to craft your own musical instruments but didn't know where to start? Lutherie is a deeply rewarding art that combines woodworking precision with acoustic science. This text-based course takes you from a complete beginner to a confident instrument maker. You will understand how to select materials, use traditional hand tools safely, and apply classic techniques to build a rabeca and simple percussion instruments from scratch. What you will learn: Understand the fundamentals of lutherie, workshop safety, and tool maintenance; Select and prepare suitable tonewoods, including sustainable alternatives; Master essential hand tools for carving, shaping, and precision wood bending; Apply traditional varnishing and finishing techniques to protect your instrument; Assemble and tune a traditional rabeca step-by-step; Construct basic percussion instruments to complement your stringed creations. The course begins with foundational concepts of workshop setup, tool maintenance, and material selection. You will then progress through the step-by-step written instructions for shaping, bending, assembling, and finishing your instruments. Designed entirely for beginners, this course requires no prior woodworking or lutherie experience. Start your journey into the timeless craft of instrument making today.