11/28/2022
25% Off All Cleaning & Polishing Services
Seman Violins
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- Seman Violins
Makers, Dealers and Restorers of Violins, Violas, Cellos and Basses. Members of Violin Society of Am We recently moved to a new location at 4447 Oakton St.
(35)
in Skokie IL. Our shop employs six active violin makers, and everyone here is also a player. We handle rentals, sales, repairs, restorations, appraisals re-hairs.
11/26/2022
Our Holiday Sale started yesterday! Stop by today to shop!
11/23/2022
2022 Holiday Sale Is Here!
Click the link in our bio for more details!
09/30/2022
Come visit Noah and Steven at IBMA in Raleigh NC booth 415
09/08/2022
Please don’t ever check your cello when flying! Our customer checked this cello. The ribs were damaged and the top was badly cracked.
Hee Young Kang was able to repair everything. Next flight they will buy a seat! Swipe to see the repair ➡️
09/06/2022
New in our sound adjustment tools: The Krentz modulator for cello. Manage any wolf note without sacrificing tone.
08/30/2022
Rental season is here! Have you gotten your rental instrument yet? Visit our website to fill out our rental form to reserve your instrument and size before it’s gone!
08/27/2022
Stop by to visit us at Glen Crest Middle School!
08/10/2022
So excited to have Oisin Mac Diarmada playing one of my violins. Come see him at the Old Town School of Folk Music this Saturday night!
07/25/2022
New violin cases just arrived. Pedi Superlight Pro, Bam Panther, Gewa Air and the Gewa Space Bag
07/23/2022
New pernambuco bows from L’archet Brazil
06/25/2022
Andrew Bird on the cover of Strings Magazine playing his 5 string violin made by Peter Seman 🎻
06/17/2022
GEWA Air cello cases are back in stock!
06/11/2022
Fresh from Yamaha- A YEV-104 violin and a SVC-50 cello. These walk out of the shop as quickly as we get them lately!
06/08/2022
Tomorrow! Join us for the Tim Kliphuis Workshop - A few tickets are still available on our website, we would love to see you there!
Thursday, June 9, 2022
5:00 PM 6:30 PM
Seman Violins
Tickets $35 available on our website or by calling Seman Violins at 847-674-0690. Paid receipt valid for admission.
05/31/2022
Don’t miss this Sunday! Lonesome Ace Stringband Concert at Seman Violins
Sunday, June 5, 2022
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Seman Violins
Tickets $25 available on our website or by calling Seman Violins at 847-674-0690. Paid receipt valid for admission.
05/22/2022
Great to see Chris, Bill and Katie playing their PRS 5 strings at the Celtic Knot!
05/10/2022
Seán Cleland: The Kilgubbin Project Evolution Concert at Seman Violins
Saturday, May 14, 2022
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Reserve your tickets on our website!!
04/10/2022
New Instrument: Violin by Romeo Antoniazzi of Milan, 1920 - message us to learn more or stop by the shop to try it out!
04/09/2022
Happy Birthday to our owner, Peter Seman! 🎂🎂🎂
04/03/2022
Recently found inside a commercial German violin from the late 1800s.
A five piece, slab cut, bass bar of unusual dimensions….
Why is it the worst repairs and tone enhancements come with a label claiming the work?
03/17/2022
Very proud to debut Pirastro’s new Flexocore Deluxe cello strings at ASTA. A great sounding and affordable cello string targeted at the aspiring musician. #.com
03/17/2022
We are here at The ASTA conference in Atlanta! Stop by booth 909 to play some violins, violas, and cellos made in our shop!
03/13/2022
The late cold in March couldn’t keep the pickers away from the monthly jam
03/12/2022
The latest violin by Noah Scott. It will be at the ASTA convention next week.
03/05/2022
New Tri-point Mandolin by Steven R. Thomas
02/19/2022
Great jam at the shop tonight
02/19/2022
Excited to have Emily Park Jones owning my 1741 Kochanski Del Gesu copy.
02/14/2022
Violin Made by Peter Seman:
“Even though I play a right handed violin left handed, this is the first left handed violin I ever made. It was not as easy as I thought it would be!! Everything is backwards! It is a Balestrieri copy commissioned by my client Dale. Akiva Wax was in the shop (left handed violinist) and gave it a spin. “
01/29/2022
Congratulations to Noah Scott for receiving the distinguished service award from Illinois ASTA!
06/26/2021
Customer appreciation BBQ!!! So happy to see so many loyal and loved clients!
04/13/2021
Who has stopped by to visit us yet? We’ve been at this location for over 10 years! Our shop is made up of 3 practice rooms, a concert hall, a workshop space, and shopping for instruments, rentals, cases, and accessories. Due to covid, we encourage you to make an appointment ahead of time by emailing or calling us. We can’t wait to see you soon!
04/09/2021
Happy Birthday Peter Seman! 🎂
04/03/2021
This is a great example of why it’s worthwhile to insure your instrument and invest in a good quality case. Contact us if you have any questions about how to protect your instrument. 🎻
04/02/2021
Time to set up this cello wall hanger. Do you think it will sound good?
03/23/2021
Peter Seman starting on his next 5 string violin 🎻
03/18/2021
In case you were wondering what the rest of the violin with the “drunken f holes” looks like 🎻
03/18/2021
Drunk f holes
03/15/2021
Dominant Pros are now in stock! More color, quicker response and broader midrange than original Dominant strings. Message us for more info!
Address
4447 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL
60076
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 6pm |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 4pm |
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Videos
The late cold in March couldn’t keep the pickers away from the monthly jam
Great jam at the shop tonight #kitchengirl #oldtimefiddle #bluegrass #semanviolins #bass #banjo #mandolin
Drew Harding Banjo Break
Seman Violins Luthier, Drew Harding taking a quick banjo break from his home workshop.
Great concert tonight with Gangspil Trio at Seman Violins!
Great concert last night with Tim Macdonald and Jeremy Ward playing Scottish tunes on period instruments.
Steve Gibons and friends!
Sean Cleland visit to Seman Violin
Sean Cleland of The Irish Music School of Chicago visited us this past Thursday and is trying out a new violin built by Noah Scott and a bow by Manoel Francisco.
Violin shop discus
Great concert with Kevin Burke at Seman Violins!
Scraping my cello top
Bruce Molsky on banjo! @bruce_molsky
Bruce Molsky on guitar @bruce_molsky
Bruce Molsky on violin @bruce_molsky
Our favorite - #steviewonder @mcdoughboys
@mcdoughboys #raycharles #letthegoodtimesroll
A @mcdoughboys original song!
Jim Cox playing the NS Design NXT 4 string bass
Jim Cox playing NS Design NXT 5 string bass with tripod stand
Peter Seman shaping the bass bar on his viola 🎻
Stay tuned! We're going to be posting some wacky and never before seen videos of our very own Weird Instrument Collection starting tomorrow.....here's a sneak peek!
Owner Peter Seman graduating his viola top
Our new 78 Crosley record player - thanks to Bruce Layton - playing "Black and White" by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli (don't forget to follow us on Instagram @semanviolins for more fun posts and videos!)
Amazing concert last night with Unbande at Seman Violins concert hall!!
Great Fiddle Club of the World last Sunday with Colby Maddox and Sunnyside Up
Duo le Fils CD release party
Thanks to everyone who came to the Duo le Fils CD release party last week. Martin Davids and Antonin Stahly sound great!
We had an awesome concert here at the shop this past Thursday. Thanks to Brittany Haas, Matt Brown, and Patrik Ahlberg! Here is a video clip from the concert:
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Our Story
We're a team of professional violin makers, all graduates of the Chicago School of Violin Making. We're also musicians representing a wide variety of genres. We understand what musicians are looking for, and we're experts at crafting quality instruments that deliver.
We offer a wide range of instruments and accessories that suit every level. Our clients range from renowned musicians to students. We also specialize in repairs, restorations, and rentals
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Comments
Can't wait to hear this fun group perform at Seman Violins on Oakton Street!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! 🎶🎄🎉 And the nights are HOT with live music! Weekly Round-up here with a BIG weekend ahead!
Get out there and enjoy…
12.16 Special C Alumni Band at Seman Violins
12.16 River Valley Rangers at Two Brothers Roundhouse
12.16 Horseshoes & Hand Grenades with Coyote Riot at Martyrs'
12.17 Bluegrass Brunch at the Beat Kitchen
12.17 Wheels North at Werk Force Brewing
12.17 Andy Miller & The 145s at Smallbar
12.17 Big Sadie Country Christmas at Judson & Moore Distillery
12.17 Rachael Davis at Hey Nonny
12.18 Tiny Country Brunch at FitzGerald’s
12.18 JR Simpson Memorial Bluegrass Jam at American Legion Post 42 - Evanston
12.18 Bluegrass Sundays at Sidecar Supper Club & Beer Garden
12.22 Miles Over Mountains Duo at Tighthead Brewery
LIKE and FOLLOW for Weekly Round-Ups
More details on these dates and MORE on our website!
Get out there and enjoy…
12.16 Special C Alumni Band at Seman Violins
12.16 River Valley Rangers at Two Brothers Roundhouse
12.16 Horseshoes & Hand Grenades with Coyote Riot at Martyrs'
12.17 Bluegrass Brunch at the Beat Kitchen
12.17 Wheels North at Werk Force Brewing
12.17 Andy Miller & The 145s at Smallbar
12.17 Big Sadie Country Christmas at Judson & Moore Distillery
12.17 Rachael Davis at Hey Nonny
12.18 Tiny Country Brunch at FitzGerald’s
12.18 JR Simpson Memorial Bluegrass Jam at American Legion Post 42 - Evanston
12.18 Bluegrass Sundays at Sidecar Supper Club & Beer Garden
12.22 Miles Over Mountains Duo at Tighthead Brewery
LIKE and FOLLOW for Weekly Round-Ups
More details on these dates and MORE on our website!
Quite the strong Chicago showing at the International Bluegrass Music Association conference in Raleigh, NC last week! 💪🎶 Here’s the 📸 proof! 👉
1) Seman Violins
2) Henhouse Prowlers
3) Ben Wright with Charlie Lowman
4) Sullivan Sisters Bluegrass
5) Special Consensus
1) Seman Violins
2) Henhouse Prowlers
3) Ben Wright with Charlie Lowman
4) Sullivan Sisters Bluegrass
5) Special Consensus
Here's another one from the hills of Berkeley...Durang's Hornpipe!
We're at The John Hartford Memorial Festival this weekend, then off to Seman Violins (Skokie, Il) on Sunday, The Montrose Saloon (Chicago) on Wednesday, Voices in the Valley (Peninsula, OH) on Thursday, The Alpine (Toronto) on Friday, and GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co. (Alton, ON) next Saturday!
Have a great weekend, and hope to see you at one of these shows!
We're at The John Hartford Memorial Festival this weekend, then off to Seman Violins (Skokie, Il) on Sunday, The Montrose Saloon (Chicago) on Wednesday, Voices in the Valley (Peninsula, OH) on Thursday, The Alpine (Toronto) on Friday, and GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co. (Alton, ON) next Saturday!
Have a great weekend, and hope to see you at one of these shows!
We're going on a little run next week...
Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Ontario dates!
June 3/4 at John Hartford Memorial Festival
June 5 at Seman Violins
June 8 at Montrose Saloon
June 9 at Voices in the Valley
June 10 at The Alpine - https://fb.me/e/2oHlMbKxU
June 11 at GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co.
Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Ontario dates!
June 3/4 at John Hartford Memorial Festival
June 5 at Seman Violins
June 8 at Montrose Saloon
June 9 at Voices in the Valley
June 10 at The Alpine - https://fb.me/e/2oHlMbKxU
June 11 at GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co.
Join us this Saturday at Seman Violins for some very lively Irish music with Seán Cleland and The Kilgubbin Project! Tix available at https://tinyurl.com/muydxfz9.
MAY'S HERE! And its a big month for Chicagoland! 🪕🎶 Fill up your calendar with these awesome shows below.
May 3 | The Sweet Water Warblers at City Winery Chicago
May 6 | Frankfort Bluegrass Festival Fundraiser 2022 at CD&ME Fri. 5/6 at CD&ME Fri. 5/6 with Coyote Riot, River Valley Rangers, The Grateful String Band
May 6 | Anderlik & Church Bluegrass Band at Abbey Farms
May 6 | Make it a Double at Oswego Brewing Co..
May 6 | Special Consensuss at The Venue
May 6 | Pert Near Sandstone & Armchair Boogie at Bourbon on Division
May 7 | Lucky Pickers at Harbor Brewing Co.
May 7 | River Valley Rangers at Pollyanna Brewing Company
May 7 | Bluegrass Brunch with Burnt Biscuits at HeyNonnyAH
May 7 | Make it a Double at The Anvil Clubb
May 7 | Black Partridge Duo at Celtic Knot Public House
May 8 | Bluegrass n’ Bloodies with the Mountainaires The Outtaspace
May 8 | Fox Crossing Stringband Mother’s Day Brunch at FitzGerald’s
May 13 | Hillbilly Frolic at FitzGerald's
May 14 | Bluegrass Brunch with Anderlik & Church at Hey Nonny AH
May 14 | Fox Crossing Stringband at Werk Force Brewing
May 14 | Black Partridge at Cary's Lounge
May 17 | Dave Bruzza: Unsafe at Any Speed with Jordan Tice at Evanston SPACE
May 18 | Valerie June wsg Chastity Brown at Old Town School of Folk Music
May 20 | Make It A Double at Mockingbird Bar + Garden
May 20 | Chris Jones and the Night Drivers at Epiphany Center for the Arts
May 20 | Jonas Friddle Musicc at Golden Daggerr
May 21 | Chicago Farmer wsg/ Matt Grant from Coyote Riot at Harte's Saloon
May 21 | Bluegrass Brunch with Trillium at Hey Nonny AH
May 21 | Make It A Double at Plank Road Tap Room
May 26 | Jon Stickley Trio at Hey Nonny AH
May 26 & 27 | The SteelDriverss at City Winery Chicago
May 27 | River Valley Rangers at Werk Force Brewing
May 27 | Sunnyside Up at Seman Violins
May 28 | Bluegrass Brunch with Keith Baumann at Hey Nonny AH
May 3 | The Sweet Water Warblers at City Winery Chicago
May 6 | Frankfort Bluegrass Festival Fundraiser 2022 at CD&ME Fri. 5/6 at CD&ME Fri. 5/6 with Coyote Riot, River Valley Rangers, The Grateful String Band
May 6 | Anderlik & Church Bluegrass Band at Abbey Farms
May 6 | Make it a Double at Oswego Brewing Co..
May 6 | Special Consensuss at The Venue
May 6 | Pert Near Sandstone & Armchair Boogie at Bourbon on Division
May 7 | Lucky Pickers at Harbor Brewing Co.
May 7 | River Valley Rangers at Pollyanna Brewing Company
May 7 | Bluegrass Brunch with Burnt Biscuits at HeyNonnyAH
May 7 | Make it a Double at The Anvil Clubb
May 7 | Black Partridge Duo at Celtic Knot Public House
May 8 | Bluegrass n’ Bloodies with the Mountainaires The Outtaspace
May 8 | Fox Crossing Stringband Mother’s Day Brunch at FitzGerald’s
May 13 | Hillbilly Frolic at FitzGerald's
May 14 | Bluegrass Brunch with Anderlik & Church at Hey Nonny AH
May 14 | Fox Crossing Stringband at Werk Force Brewing
May 14 | Black Partridge at Cary's Lounge
May 17 | Dave Bruzza: Unsafe at Any Speed with Jordan Tice at Evanston SPACE
May 18 | Valerie June wsg Chastity Brown at Old Town School of Folk Music
May 20 | Make It A Double at Mockingbird Bar + Garden
May 20 | Chris Jones and the Night Drivers at Epiphany Center for the Arts
May 20 | Jonas Friddle Musicc at Golden Daggerr
May 21 | Chicago Farmer wsg/ Matt Grant from Coyote Riot at Harte's Saloon
May 21 | Bluegrass Brunch with Trillium at Hey Nonny AH
May 21 | Make It A Double at Plank Road Tap Room
May 26 | Jon Stickley Trio at Hey Nonny AH
May 26 & 27 | The SteelDriverss at City Winery Chicago
May 27 | River Valley Rangers at Werk Force Brewing
May 27 | Sunnyside Up at Seman Violins
May 28 | Bluegrass Brunch with Keith Baumann at Hey Nonny AH
From Seman Violins, one of Skokie's gems:
Scottish Fiddle Jam
Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 10am - 12pm - FREE
Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend.
Please join us for the next meeting of the Chicagoland Scottish Fiddle & Accordion Club (CSFAC) at Seman Violins. The CSFAC provides a place for musicians interested in Scottish music to meet, play, and learn in a cooperative and relaxed environment. We will play a few tunes and medleys from the Scottish tradition, led by one of our veteran members. All instruments friendly to indoor Scottish traditional music such as fiddle, accordion, keyboard, and guitar welcome. Sheet music will be provided at the beginning of the meeting.
Space is limited! Please RSVP to [email protected]
Scottish Fiddle Jam
Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 10am - 12pm - FREE
Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend.
Please join us for the next meeting of the Chicagoland Scottish Fiddle & Accordion Club (CSFAC) at Seman Violins. The CSFAC provides a place for musicians interested in Scottish music to meet, play, and learn in a cooperative and relaxed environment. We will play a few tunes and medleys from the Scottish tradition, led by one of our veteran members. All instruments friendly to indoor Scottish traditional music such as fiddle, accordion, keyboard, and guitar welcome. Sheet music will be provided at the beginning of the meeting.
Space is limited! Please RSVP to [email protected]
Our last two stops of the year. The White Gull Inn Fish Creek, WI and Seman Violins Skokie, IL. Thanks to the Coulsons and the Coulson-Kanters and Peter Seman (pictured with Greg Cahill) for leading us into this holiday season. We had a great time and we’ll see you all next year! Greg Blake Music Michael Prewitt Music
Due to popular demand, we will also livestream this concert tomorrow for those who wish to attend virtually. Join us from wherever you are for this wonderful evening of music from Seman Violins!
Join us in the pristine listening room at Seman Violins for an intimate, acoustic concert introducing music to be featured on Seán Cleland's first solo album later this year. Special guests Jesse Langen, Niall O'Leary, Jeff Lindblade and Steve Morrow.
Diana just picked up her tiny violin from Seman Violins and is all set for her first beginning Irish fiddle class this Monday at the Irish American Heritage Center! There's still room for a few more young musicians.
Beautiful photos...unique business - right here in Skokie! Seman Violins We look forward to the time they can resume their concert series!
Meet Chicago based Peter Seman!
Peter’s lifelong passion for building and playing violins began when he was growing up on Long Island, NY. A self-taught left-handed violinist, he began playing summers in upstate New York. After 10 years of playing for a traditional Bluegrass and Gypsy Jazz band that became locally renowned, he decided to focus on building the instruments he so loved, and in 1984 he moved to Chicago to attend the Chicago School of Violin Making, Inc. (CSVM).
After graduating the school, he opened his own shop with a partner in 1989. Since then, Seman Violins has grown from the original two people to eight, all of whom have either graduated from the CSVM or are currently enrolled.
Peter and his team of craftsmen have been making and repairing violins for clients around the world.
Peter is currently the President of the Chicago School of Violin Making Board.
You can visit his website at: https://www.semanviolins.com/
Peter’s lifelong passion for building and playing violins began when he was growing up on Long Island, NY. A self-taught left-handed violinist, he began playing summers in upstate New York. After 10 years of playing for a traditional Bluegrass and Gypsy Jazz band that became locally renowned, he decided to focus on building the instruments he so loved, and in 1984 he moved to Chicago to attend the Chicago School of Violin Making, Inc. (CSVM).
After graduating the school, he opened his own shop with a partner in 1989. Since then, Seman Violins has grown from the original two people to eight, all of whom have either graduated from the CSVM or are currently enrolled.
Peter and his team of craftsmen have been making and repairing violins for clients around the world.
Peter is currently the President of the Chicago School of Violin Making Board.
You can visit his website at: https://www.semanviolins.com/
A viola being created by Luthier Noah Scott of Seman Violins for a musician with limited mobility. Read about this and more stories at https://iltech.org/stories/
My daughter has launched her Instagram account, SylviaPineMusic! She posts improv videos almost every day, mostly violin or singing. Improvisation has always felt a bit intimidating for me, so it's inspiring to watch Sylvia being so happy and fearless while creating her own spontaneous music.
I once explained to her that I felt more secure when performing composed music, because I knew what notes I was supposed to play. Sylvia said that she felt the opposite - when she's improvising, she doesn't have to worry about getting anything wrong, because she can just play exactly what she feels!
In honor of Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow and predicting six more weeks of winter yesterday, I'd thought I'd share her about the first day of spring. She's playing on her beautiful 3/4 viola from Seman Violins which she named Persephone.
If you watch Sylvia's videos, please be sure to put your ideas in the comments. She's always looking for suggestions about what to play next - emotions, animals, etc.
I once explained to her that I felt more secure when performing composed music, because I knew what notes I was supposed to play. Sylvia said that she felt the opposite - when she's improvising, she doesn't have to worry about getting anything wrong, because she can just play exactly what she feels!
In honor of Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow and predicting six more weeks of winter yesterday, I'd thought I'd share her about the first day of spring. She's playing on her beautiful 3/4 viola from Seman Violins which she named Persephone.
If you watch Sylvia's videos, please be sure to put your ideas in the comments. She's always looking for suggestions about what to play next - emotions, animals, etc.
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