Testimonials
Dots Music
“Dots Music is hugely grateful for the expertise, care and attention Ludivine has brought to collaborating with us to develop responsive and expressive violins with charmingly different characters. In addition to her own beautiful hand-made models that will bring customers years of joy and professional pride we also have branded instruments that she infinitely upgrades and improves so that they also have a sound and quality unique to Dots. Friendly, prompt and with exceptional attention to detail, we couldn’t be happier in our working relationship with her.”
My working relationship with Dots Music began in 2023, when Lindsay and Ian took over a music shop they had fallen in love with in Kentish Town, London.
I am particularly aware of how important it is for young musicians to have access to well-made, properly set-up instruments. Instruments supplied by large companies can often be difficult to play and poorly adjusted, which can discourage progress and enjoyment.
At Dots Music, beginner instruments are carefully selected by Lindsay and Ian to meet the specific needs of new players. My role is then to further improve their quality through precise adjustment. This includes refining the fit of the pegs to make tuning easier, as well as fitting a new soundpost and bridge. These changes significantly enhance both sound and playability, allowing students to progress more confidently and effectively.
Dots Music offers more than just beginner instruments. Their “Moselle” violins are aimed at intermediate players seeking a reliable, longer-term instrument, suitable even for conservatoire-level study.
If you would like to learn more about what they offer, please visit their website:
https://www.dotsmusic.co.uk/
Rachel Pantin
“I have been very happy with the viola that Ludivine made for me. The experience of commissioning a luthier to make me a viola was exciting and it was very straightforward discussing and agreeing the details with Ludivine. Obviously being able to have some dialogue with the maker about my preferences in regards to the style of the make and importantly for a viola, the size, was a great benefit over buying one that was already made, but the most important factor is the sound and playability of the instrument. From day one of receiving the instrument I liked the sound and it worked well for me. In the past year, having had an intensive period in which I have been writing, practicing and recording with the instrument the sound has really opened up and the richness of its tonality and range of expression have come to the fore. I find the tone even across the range and it is very willing and responsive in a lot of different playing conditions. So the commission was a definite success and the viola makes an excellent contribution to our live performances and recordings. Thank you Ludivine.”
Viola Commission – Rachel Pantin (2023)
In 2023, I had the pleasure of making a viola for Rachel Pantin, a professional musician who had previously acquired one of my violins. From the outset, our focus was clear: to create an instrument that would feel natural to her as a player, while offering depth and flexibility in sound.
Rachel’s musical background is both rich and diverse. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she has performed with ensembles such as London Sinfonietta and Opera Factory, as well as internationally with world music groups including Sabreen and Quimantu. Alongside her performing career, she is also active as a composer and educator and continues to develop projects that bridge classical and world music traditions.
The brief
As a primarily violinist transitioning more into viola, Rachel needed an instrument that would retain a sense of familiarity in handling, without compromising the tonal qualities expected of a viola. Comfort, balance, and responsiveness were therefore central to the project.
The making process
Bringing together these two traditions required careful consideration. The proportions of the instrument had to be reworked to ensure coherence in both appearance and function. I adjusted the outline slightly—particularly the corners—to create a more unified visual language.
As the original models differed in size, I redrew and adapted the neck to maintain correct proportions between neck length, body stop, and string length. This ensured that the instrument remained comfortable and reliable in the hand.
The choice of wood was also an important part of the process. I selected a one-piece back with strong, expressive flame, creating a sense of movement across the surface. For the varnish, I chose a deep red, consistent with my work, applied in a way that preserves the transparency of the wood and allows the flame to remain fully visible.
The result
The finished instrument reflects both Rachel’s musical identity and the collaborative nature of the process. It offers clarity, warmth, and ease of play, while maintaining a distinct visual character.
Since receiving the viola, Rachel has continued her work as a performer, composer, and co-leader of Musiko Musika, an organisation dedicated to inclusive music education and cross-cultural collaboration.
She has also recently recorded an album with Universal Production Music, in which two tracks feature the viola:
Dramatic Potential
https://links.universalproductionmusic.com/tseage
Presto Furioso
https://links.universalproductionmusic.com/dokjbl
(Music courtesy of Universal Production Music)
I am very grateful to Rachel for her trust throughout this process. Projects like this are always a dialogue, and it is a privilege to make instruments that support and reflect the musicians who play them.
Private Student
“Private tuition with Ludivine is immensely enjoyable and a true highlight of my week. The flexibility it offers (both in terms of content of sessions and pace of work) is undoubtedly a huge perk. We typically discuss what I would like to focus on from week to week (whether it be making, set-up or repair) and then Ludivine plans and steers each session accordingly, working to a pace that suits me.
Ludivine is always positive and encouraging and I come away from each session with a great sense of achievement, feeling that I have made good progress and with greater confidence in my abilities.
She offers just the right level of support and supervision, first providing clear instruction and then giving me the space and time to progress with my work by myself, but always remaining attentive to my needs. She checks in on my progress regularly and drops what she is doing immediately to help me if I have a question or am struggling with anything.
She is great at explaining and demonstrating not only the methodology required for whatever I am working on, but also the techniques for using the various tools (and also, crucially, for sharpening them).
She respects the integrity of my work and will seek, where possible, to demonstrate something on an alternative piece of wood or by explanation alone. If it is necessary to demonstrate something on my own piece, she will never do so without first seeking permission and will then keep it to an absolute minimum, such that I never feel that my work is no longer my own.
Ludivine is generous with her knowledge and expertise and is always keen to show me what she is working on and explain the methods and techniques behind it, which I find fascinating and enlightening. She is also generous with her time outside the classroom, having, on a number of occasions, prepared or fixed tools for me between lessons, a kindness which is much appreciated and suggests to me a genuine desire to support me and help further my progress.”
James Soothill
“Recently Ludivine taught me how to cut f holes in a cello front. She highly skilled and very precise and always insists that the tools are really sharp. She has all the attributes of a great teacher; she explains and demonstrates techniques clearly and well. When she had explained and demonstrated what to do and provided a plan she left me to get on with the work but was always immediately available to answer any questions when I ran into difficulties. She is pleasant to work with, patient, good at explaining and a very able craftswoman. The resulting f holes were much better than previous ones I had cut.”
Dominic Parczuk
“Ludivine has looked after my violin for several years now and her service and care of my instrument has always exceeded my expectations. The quality and standard of her work is exceptional and she is an absolute pleasure to deal with. My violin has had a new set up by and sounds balanced with great projection and I regularly go for tonal adjustments when I need to.
Her patience and calm nature have always given me good faith and trust that my instrument is in great hands!
I have recommended Ludivine to my colleagues and acquaintances who have also been very satisfied.”
Dominic Parczuk is a Lincolnshire-based oil painter whose work comes from close observation and a real sensitivity to light. He often paints outdoors, and you can feel that direct connection to the subject in his landscapes and interiors. His paintings have a quiet, atmospheric quality, with a strong sense of tone and a really nice balance between light and shadow. There’s something very honest and grounded in the way he works, which gives his paintings a timeless feel while still being very much alive and immediate.
Website: https://www.dominicparczuk.com/
Martin Decent
“Ludivine was great in advising us as to what was required (and what was possible but not essential) to renovate my grandmother’s professional violin. Ludivine did what we wanted, delivered on time and charged what we had agreed. A great service and would certainly recommend to others. Martin Decent”