Wisdom Tree Institute and Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery
William Eaton with his double-neck electric harp guitar
Wisdom Tree Institute was founded by William Eaton, a founder and the current Director of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery has been teaching students the art of guitar making and repair since 1975. One of the school founders, William Eaton, has long been interested in ethnomusicology and our symbiotic relationship with trees, plants, and our shared natural environment.
In lecture sessions he has drawn attention to our indigenous roots, oral traditions, and our intimate relationship to the landscape and communication with all living and inorganic entities. Through this passion he endeavors to pass along to students and graduates information about sustainable practices as it relates to the art of lutherie, tonewoods, global and local re-forestation efforts, and the importance of trees, not only in relation to our musical lives, but also in our everyday life, as puzzle pieces of a grand eco-system on this planet.
Wisdom Tree Institute is a further expression and vehicle for collecting and sharing information, stories, and examples of what we can aspire to in reconnecting with the qualities inherent in each of us, that allows us to remember our heritage and place among the species of planet earth.
The lutherie students that attend Roberto-Venn are asked to consider their environmental impact as it pertains to lutherie; and how we, as guitar makers, can contribute to preserving and replenishing our forests for future generations and create musical instruments thoughtfully and with sustainably harvested materials that make a healthier impact on the environment. Through discussion, lecture, and group reports students are encouraged to learn more about the actions they can take individually or within a company environment, moving towards improved sustainable practices.
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery has been teaching students the art of guitar making and repair since 1975. One of the school founders, William Eaton, has long been interested in ethnomusicology and our symbiotic relationship with trees, plants, and our shared natural environment.
In lecture sessions he has drawn attention to our indigenous roots, oral traditions, and our intimate relationship to the landscape and communication with all living and inorganic entities. Through this passion he endeavors to pass along to students and graduates information about sustainable practices as it relates to the art of lutherie, tonewoods, global and local re-forestation efforts, and the importance of trees, not only in relation to our musical lives, but also in our everyday life, as puzzle pieces of a grand eco-system on this planet.
Wisdom Tree Institute is a further expression and vehicle for collecting and sharing information, stories, and examples of what we can aspire to in reconnecting with the qualities inherent in each of us, that allows us to remember our heritage and place among the species of planet earth.
The lutherie students that attend Roberto-Venn are asked to consider their environmental impact as it pertains to lutherie; and how we, as guitar makers, can contribute to preserving and replenishing our forests for future generations and create musical instruments thoughtfully and with sustainably harvested materials that make a healthier impact on the environment. Through discussion, lecture, and group reports students are encouraged to learn more about the actions they can take individually or within a company environment, moving towards improved sustainable practices.
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery Fall Class of 2019 student guitars photographed by Instructor Steven Davis
From roberto-venn.com:
Guitar Making & Repair: A Creative Vocation
"As we celebrate over 4 decades of teaching guitar making and repair we continue to build on a foundation of knowledge, experience, and creativity. Merging tradition with innovation, our goal is to keep pace with a changing art and industry. Our job, at this specialty trade school, is to provide you with the skills and knowledge you will need to enter the world of professional guitar making and repair. Our five month accredited Guitar Making and Repair Course is dedicated to teaching you these fundamentals. Additional courses and workshops are available to broaden the scope of learning opportunities in lutherie."
"Students have traveled from every continent except Antarctica to attend our guitar making and repair program. Our graduates have branched into employment and entrepreneurial startups in guitar making, guitar repair, road tech work, and many other lutherie related occupations.
The core course taught at Roberto-Venn is a five month, 880 clock hour program designed to teach the basic skills for a career in guitar making, guitar repair, and other related professional opportunities. During the five month Guitar Making & Repair Course students learn guitar construction techniques, build a minimum of one acoustic and one electric guitar, and complete basic guitar repair and setup operations."
"As we celebrate over 4 decades of teaching guitar making and repair we continue to build on a foundation of knowledge, experience, and creativity. Merging tradition with innovation, our goal is to keep pace with a changing art and industry. Our job, at this specialty trade school, is to provide you with the skills and knowledge you will need to enter the world of professional guitar making and repair. Our five month accredited Guitar Making and Repair Course is dedicated to teaching you these fundamentals. Additional courses and workshops are available to broaden the scope of learning opportunities in lutherie."
"Students have traveled from every continent except Antarctica to attend our guitar making and repair program. Our graduates have branched into employment and entrepreneurial startups in guitar making, guitar repair, road tech work, and many other lutherie related occupations.
The core course taught at Roberto-Venn is a five month, 880 clock hour program designed to teach the basic skills for a career in guitar making, guitar repair, and other related professional opportunities. During the five month Guitar Making & Repair Course students learn guitar construction techniques, build a minimum of one acoustic and one electric guitar, and complete basic guitar repair and setup operations."
photos taken by Instructor Steven Davis during Fall Class of 2019
Acknowledgements:
Wisdom Tree Institute would like to thank students attending Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, past and present, who have identified resources and made contributions to the research found on this website.
