She Built Her Own Cello. Then Took It on Tour.

What happens when a professional cellist decides to build her own cello… and then takes it on a 40-concert tour by bicycle? 🎻🚴‍♀️ Meet Ida Riegels, a Danish cellist, composer, and an extraordinary musician who doesn't just play the cello: she builds her own instruments! Today, I have a very special guest in my violin-making workshop in Cremona, Italy. And believe it or not, when we started recording, I didn't even know her name! 😅 What began as an unexpected meeting turned into one of the most fascinating conversations I've had about cello making, music, sound, and the freedom to experiment. Ida has built four cellos, each with its own personality and unconventional approach to instrument making. Her first cello took approximately nine months to build. But here's the incredible part: before she had even finished it, she had already organized a bicycle tour with 40 concerts, trusting that the instrument she was making would be ready to perform! And just days before the tour, an unexpected medical emergency nearly ruined everything. In our conversation, we explore: 🎻 Building your own cello: How Ida started making instruments and what she learned along the way. 🚴‍♀️ 40 concerts by bicycle: The extraordinary story of touring Europe with a self-made cello. 🪵 Unconventional cello making: From designing original cello shapes to building an instrument using wood from an old door! 🎶 The secrets of cello sound: How the bridge, arching, materials, and construction influence an instrument's response and tonal character. ❤️ A shared passion for violin making: How Ida discovered my YouTube videos while building her first cello, and how our paths eventually crossed here in Cremona. What I find particularly inspiring about Ida is her willingness to question traditional approaches to instrument making. As a professional violin maker, I have spent decades studying and refining the techniques of our craft. But meeting someone who approaches cello making from such a different perspective reminds me that there is always something new to learn, even after many years at the workbench. And sometimes, the most interesting discoveries come from people who are not afraid to experiment. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! 💬 LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS: Would you ever attempt to build your own musical instrument? And what do you think about musicians experimenting with unconventional instrument designs? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 🎻 *MORE ABOUT IDA RIEGELS* Discover Ida's music, cello-making projects, and adventures: 🌐 https://ida-riegels.dk/ 🎧 Look for her album Cello Stories on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/albu... IG:   / idariegels   Meanwhile all the best from Cremona Edgar Searching for the right Violin🎻, Viola🎻, Cello🎻 or Doublebass🎻 ? Write me an e-mail: edgar@eruss.it Or visit my Shop 🛒 here: https://violincellomaker.com Want to build your violin by yourself? Edgar’s Online Violinmaking Academy http://edgar-online-violinmaking-acad... For more exclusive content check out my Patreon page, you will find extra video and content waiting for you: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=34343314 Starting from 3 Euro per month you be a part of the community! 📬 To be always updated when something new is coming sign up here for the NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/2kfVWQA Get in touch with me: Facebook: Edgar Russ - Distinguished Violinmaking https://bit.ly/2lQjBHt Instagram: @edgarrussviolinmaker Special thanks to my Patrons: Jaan Ader, Vincent Colletti, Thomas Trempel, Eddy Verheggen, Steve Davison, Vernon Miller, Thomas Gagnon, David Hofmann, Jonathan Sun, Joe Shirley, Charalampos Dafermos, Robert Kierzkowski, Jon, Terry Vaughn, Rachel Landau, Tobias Radmer, Kenneth Webb, Marcelo Marpegan, C. D., Tales Lobosco, Dave Tuel, Andy Renshaw, Richard McCarthy, Doug Roth, Gerard Mc Donnell, Nikolai Buergin 🎻🤩