Summary ofQualifications

I have worked as an educator, businessman/entrepreneur and master craftsman. My interests are broad and I am always keen to continue learning.  

Education / Academic  

1991     The University of the State of New York, Regents College, Albany New York                                                                        B.Sc.

Majors: Psychology and  Horticulture                                                                       

The majority of the coursework for this degree was completed at the University of Hawaii, Hilo Campus  

1999   James Cook University, Cairns Campus and Townsville Campus, Qld. Australia  

                                                                     

MBA / Majors: Negotiation and International Business   

2001       Cardean University, Online                                                Graduate Certificate

in Competitive Advantage and Strategic  Positioning 

 A consortium between The University of Chicago, Columbia Business School, Carnegie Mellon and The London School of Economics   

Education / Technical     

1973     Scuola Internazionale di Liuteria (IPIALL), Cremona,Italy                                

Diploma in Violin Making                                               

Studied violinmaking under G.B. Morassi, G. Sgarabotto and F. Bissolotti   

1983    

International Institute of Oriental Medicine, Tokyo, Japan                              

Certificate in Basic Acupunture, Moxibustion and Shiatsu   

1990    

Institute For Traditional Medicine,Kailua,Hawaii                                   

Certificate in The Key Herbs of Chinese Medicine                                   

Certificate in Contemporary Chinese Medicine     

1991    

Melbourne Centre of Neural Linguistic Programming, Sydney, NSW                                            

Practitioner Certificate: Neuro Linguistic Programming  

1992    

The Sydney College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sydney, NSW                                   

Certificate : Chinese Patent Medicines, Level 2     

1999      

Deakin University, in an alliance with the Australian Computer Society, Distance Study                                               

I.T Certification : Marketing and Sales Management I, II                                   

2000      

 American School of Lutherie, Healdsburg, California                                               

Certificate in Classical Guitar Making;

Top Bracing Taught by Jeff Elliot and Cindi Burton   

2002    

Workplace Education and Training, Brisbane, Queensland  Certificate IV: Assessment and Workplace Training                                                    (BSZ40198)   

2003    

National On Site Training, Brisbane, Queensland               

Senior First Aid (30117Qld)   

2005    

 Australian TESOL Training Centre, Brisbane, Queensland                                   

Cambridge Certificate:

English Language Teaching to                                                Adults  

2008    

TAFE SA, Panorama Campus, Adelaide, South Australia                                   

 Certificate: Introduction to Autodesk Inventor

(3D Parametric CAD)   

2009    

 4 Life Personal Medical Training, Adelaide, South Australia                                   

Senior First Aid  

2009    

 West Legal Education CenterCertificate: An Enterprise Approach to Contract Management    

Craftsmanship Awards  

1986    

Second American Cello Competition,

Indianapolis, Indiana                                   

Finalist

The Federation of American Violin Makers. Judges were Rene Morel  and William Moennig Jr.                                      

1978    

International Violin Making Competition, Newark, England  

 First Place in Professional Class for Cello   

Craftsmanship and Tone                                   

 The Newark Violin Making School. Judges were Charles Beare and                                              Derek Kessler  

1978    

 International Violin Making Competition, Newark, England                                                                                  

First Place in Professional Class for Viola  Craftsmanship and Tone

The Newark Violin Making School. Judges were Charles Beare,           Derek Kessler, William Luff and Harry Danks 

   

1975    

 International Violin Making Competition, Newark, England                                                                              Second Place in Professional Class for Violin Craftsmanship                                     

The Newark Violin Making School. Judges were Charles Beare,         Derek Kessler and William Luff 

 Dictionary Listings and Publications   

M.A. Alburger (1978). The Violin Makers: Portrait of a Living Craft.(London: Victor Gollancz Ltd.) Pages 138 - 142.  

Thomas Weinberg (1986). The Violin Makers of The United States.(Mt. Hood: Mt Hood Publishing Co.) 

B.W. Harvey (1992). The Violin and Its Makers in the British Isles.(Oxford: Oxford University Press) 

      

Mark Harborough (2000). A Profile of Far North Queensland Agribusiness Industries.(Brisbane: Department of Primary Industries Publications)            

 Note: James Robinson was the Marketing Lecturer at James Cook University and           

 Team Leader of this marketing project to gather and compile all the data for this publication. 

  

Alan Coggins (2009). Violin and Bow Makers Of Australia.(www.writelight.com.au: Writelight Pty. Ltd.) 

  

Professional Association Memberships 

·         National Contract Management Association 

·         International Association for Contract and   Commercial

Management 

  • The Violin Society of America 

  

Employment History 

 Training Experience  

2009                                     

 Adelaide College of Technology                             Adelaide, South Australia

‘Unpacking’ training packages of Cert IV in Business and Diploma of Management. Wrote unit descriptors, assessments, lesson plans and PowerPoint course outlines. Gathered resources in accordance with AQF guidelines and NTIS framework of competencies. Prepared for a DFEST audit of the RTO. Delivered training and assessment in the core units of the Cert. III Commercial Cookery training package to a student body of 200.     

2006 to 2009                

 Marleston TAFE                                   

Part time Instructor (HPI)             Adelaide, South Australia

Delivered training in four business related subjects to students undertaking a diploma level qualification in Furniture Making and Design. Also delivered training in violin and cello making to non award students in a weekly evening class.       

1999 to 2000             

James Cook University                                   

 Lecturer (part time)                               

Cairns, Queensland

Delivered lectures, tutorials and assessments in Marketing (first year subject) and Organizational Development (third year subject) to students studying for their Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Commerce.

  

Music Industry Experience  

1991 to Present            

James W. Robinson, Luthier                                    Owner/Manager                                   

 Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Adelaide                                               

This business has ranged from part time to full time and from                                                    

a shop premise with employees to home based, without.  

The  business activity has included making many new instruments,        repairs and restorations to professional and student level                instruments and bows, teaching violin making and sales/dealing in a wide range of violin family instruments,                                                         

 bows and accessories.     

2004 to 2005        

Tanglewood Music School                                   

 Consultant and instrument / bow repairs and restorations      

Singapore, Republic of Singapore 

 Recruited by the owners of the music school to set up a violin  shop and repair service within their  school. Performed many                repairs/restorations on instruments and bows of members of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Trained staff members in basic repair procedures.  

 2002  

Johnson String Instruments, Inc.                                    Restorer        

 Boston, Massachusetts                                               

Repaired and restored many fine instruments in this violin shop. 

  

1998 to 1999   

 Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra                                   

Consultant and instrument / bow repairs                                   

 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia                                               

 Made a number of short visits of 2-3 weeks duration.Recruited by the Orchestra Manager John Duffy to design/fit out the instrument workshop within the PETRONAS Twin  Towers Concert Hall. 

Performed repairs on orchestra     member’s instruments and bows.   

  

1986 to 1991                

 Cremona Violin Studio, Inc                                   

 Owner/ Manager                                  

  Honolulu and Hilo, Hawaii                                               

Started and operated a traditional full service violin shop.  Trained staff. Performed repairs on orchestra                                                                          member’s instruments and bows. 

    

1982 to 1986     

 Kanda & Co. Ltd.                                   

 Workshop Manager / Head Restorer      

Tokyo, Japan

Worked on and restored many very fine and rare Italian instruments(including those by Stradivari and Guarneri) and French bows.                                               

Trained staff in advanced restoration techniques. Made extensive international trips.

 Negotiated the purchase  of many fine instruments and bows for this shop.  

  

1981 to 1982     

Jacques Francois, Inc                                    Restorer                                   

New York, New York                                               

Rehaired and repaired many fine bows. Studied the                restoration techniques of Rene Morel and Horatio Pinero. 

   

1980 to 1981                

Mosa Havivi, Inc.  

 Head Restorer                                   

New York, New York                                               

 Performed major restoration work on many fine cellos and violins.Did sound adjustments on the instruments of many world famous soloists  

   

1978 to 1980       

 Paul Schuback Violins, Inc.                                   

 Restorer, Workshop manager  

 Portland, Oregon                                               

Assisted the owner in training 12 violin making students.                                                            

 Controlled all inventory in the workshop.                                               

 Studied bow making in an after hours class, along with Bob Schallock. This was taught by Martin Devillers, a French bow                        maker who was a pupil of Bernard Ouchard in Mircourt.  

       

 1976 to 1978         

 Cranston Workshop, Ltd.                                   

 Partner, Maker and Restorer                                   

 London, England

Founding partner of the firm; a full service violin shop located on the historic Portobello Road in London. The other partners were Adam Whone, Martin Godliman, Paul Ayers and Norelle Hardie. We sold fine violins, did restorations , repairs and new instrument making for many of the professional string players with London orchestras.   

1974 to 1976                

 Ealing Strings, Ltd.                                    

  Maker and restorer                                   

 London, England                                               

Constructed many violins and violas.                                                Studied the Hill restoration techniques from Brian Parkinson  and Alan Mann.                                                

 Restored and set up many fine and rare instruments.                                               

Studied Hill bow making techniques from Michael Taylor.                                               

 Made my first bow under his direction.                                              Attended after hours bow making classes from John               Clutterbuck.  

                                                                                                                 

 1972 to 1973   

 Stefano Conia, Master Violin Maker                                   

 Assistant to Maestro S. Conia    

 Cremona, Italy                                               

 Assisted the Maestro in his violin making workshop as required.