| meet the instructor | joe thrift
In 1976, Joe Thrift was accepted to study at the Newark School of Violin Making in Newark on Trent, England. After graduation, Joe returned to North Carolina and founded Joseph A. Thrift Violins in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He moved his workshop to Elkin, North Carolina, in 2016.
Joe specializes in making exceptional violins and violas using the highest-quality European wood, sealed with his signature varnish and color. He is a member of the Violin Society of America, the Southern Violin Association, and has attended The Oberlin Violin Makers Workshop.
Joe currently teaches violin making at the Foothills Arts Center in Elkin, North Carolina, where he instructs students to make copies of the Italian Masters.
| course overview
This hands-on course offers an immersive experience in traditional violin making, following the time-honored methods used by the great Italian masters (like Guarneri del Gesù) of the 1700s. The course emphasizes precision craftsmanship, patience, and artistry.
Students begin with raw blocks of wood and, primarily using hand tools, learn to build violins from the ground up. The curriculum covers every stage of the process, starting with wood selection and tool mastery—including planes, gouges, chisels, and sharpening techniques. Students craft their own templates, inlay purfling, and work at individual benches at their own pace.
Each student hand carves the scroll, scrapes every surface smooth, applies varnish, and performs tonal adjustments to achieve a playable, resonant instrument. The course concludes with the setup of a fully functional, beautifully handmade violin.
Whether or not they play the violin themselves, many students go on to build multiple instruments over several years. The workshop environment fosters a sense of shared purpose and inspiration among fellow luthiers. Rooted in the cultural richness of Surry County and the musical heritage of the North Carolina Foothills and Mountains, this course celebrates and sustains the legacy of fine violin making.
| testimonial
“Studying violin making with Joe Thrift is a fantastic opportunity. He is a skilled, fun, and generous teacher with a wealth of knowledge in his craft. I cannot recommend Joe's program highly enough!”
-Russell McCumber | McCumber Violins
| student information & policies
Registration will open for the next semester in early May, granted there is availability. If you wish to join in August 2026 please email us in advance at info@foothillsarts.org.
The next (18-week) semester of Violin Making begins on August 12 or 13, 2026 depending upon your registration selection. Class runs through December 9 or 10, 2026 depending upon selection. Make up days for weather or instructor sickness are added to the end of the semester.
Semesters begin each January and August.
Full day classes (Violin 144) are currently available Wednesdays 8:30 am - 5 pm, or Thursdays 8:30 am - 5 pm.
Half day classes (Violin 72) are currently available on Wednesday mornings or afternoons.
Instructor Joe Thrift
FAC School of Violin Making 410 Memorial Park Dr. Elkin, NC 28621
Each class limited to 6 students
Registration Fee: $50
The registration fee is taken out of the overall tuition cost. If registration is open placement is likely, but not guaranteed. Any student not placed will be added to the programs wait list in the order of the earliest registration. Given this, registration may not open to the general public every semester. Placement is generally confirmed within three (3) business days of registration.
Tuition: Full day (Violin 144) is billed in one (1) payment of $1,270 (10% discount) or (5) monthly payments of $279.
Tuition: Half day (Violin 72) is billed in one (1) payment of $940 (10% discount) or (4) monthly payments of $258.
New students can register any time during a semester and begin class the first instruction day of the next calendar month. Prorated billing will be calculated after registration. This option is available for the violin-making program as Joe works with each student individually, and each student works at their own pace.
Continuing students will be billed automatically. If you will not be continuing into the next semester please let your instructor know before the last day of class.
By enrolling students agree to 1) Follow all classroom safety protocols. 2) Accept all responsibility for personal injury or loss/damage to personal property. 3) Accept our billing and late payment policies that can be read HERE.
