After 8 years of violin lessons my teacher said: If I were you I would not study music, I would become a violion maker instead. Maybe he had seen the workbench in our basement. No sooner said than done. After finishing my education I continued my career in the Netherlands for five years. Over there violion making also has a long tradition, whereby the handling of both the instrument and the musician is less rigid, but more personal and individual. After I have finished my master examination in 1990, I opened my shop in Düsseldorf just one year later. Since then many exciting and successfull years went by and I am still thankful for the advice my violin teacher has given me.