The Music and Art of Life with Dmitry Badiarov

A heartwarming journey through the life of an artist. Learn about the musicality hidden in daily life and the places where mathematics and art come together. Here are the extraordinary tales of an instrument designer who has followed his calling against all odds.

Dmitry is a professional designer of concert-grade violins, as well as a musician, mentor, and entrepreneur. Dmitry started playing violin at the age of 8, becoming a member of La Petite Bande, a Belgian ensemble famous for playing baroque music, and selling out concerts as a solo performer. As a child in Soviet Russia, he couldn’t afford to buy an instrument which could properly showcase his talent. Frustrated by the sounds produced by the basic violin he had, he decided to rebuild his instrument to improve his own performance at the age of 11. He had a successful career as a master violin-maker.

But in January 2013, Dmitry had a massive stroke, which almost killed him and left him paralysed down his left side. Doctors told him he would have to relearn how to walk and then broke the devastating news that he was unlikely to ever play the violin again. Now at 51, Dmitry offers online training for instrument makers, teaching them how to create pieces which stand out from the crowd and tell a story.

Quotes to remember: 

“When you walk along the streets of ancient European cities, you will see literally a symphony in tone.” 

“When a musician can really fulfill their musical dreams, I would say it’s priceless.” 

“It completely makes no sense doing exactly what everyone else is doing… It is time to do things differently in this art.” 

Takeaways:

Ancient masters understood sound, space, and instrument-making better than modern peoplePeople will discourage you when you try something differentIn Pythagoreanism, people believed that there are musical underpinnings to the world and universal systemsSounds are different proportions that create harmonicsOlder instruments don’t necessarily sound better than new instruments, due to advancements in craft and constructionHave full faith in your true calling and go for it no matter what 

What you’ll learn:

How Dmitry got into violin-making at the age of 11What inspired him to study the art of violin making beyond the level of most instrument makersWhy he quit violin making, and how he returned to itWhy the violin is shaped the way it isHow Dmitry cracked the code of the ancient masters and designs custom instrumentsHow he recreated the violoncello da spalla, an instrument that is essentially extinct

Mentioned on the podcast: 

https://badiarovviolins.com/jp/The Authentic Instrument Makers AcademyLa Petite BandePablo NassarreThe Lives of the Artists - Giorgio VasariThe Violoncello da Spalla, introduced by Sigiswald Kuijken

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