T_Yee

WAMU is a good tip but even if they don't charge on your end the other side probably will charge and you might get stuck with the bill. I know they said they would cash the euros if I had an account. Terrible rate though.

"Some rob you with a six gun, and some with a fountain pen."

Well, my experience with WAMU was that I wasn't charged for a large sum wired nor was I burned by the bank or other side. The rate to my knowledge was the current rate which just changes constantly and was the same as if I had gotten the exchange rate almost anywhere else. My overall experience was good, not to say that others may have been bad. My experience was exchanging from US$ to Euros, not the other way around, since we all know WAMU is a US bank. I'm just talking from a USD from US to Euros, not the other way around. I dunno how that works if you have lots of euros trying to get them back to the US.

Thomas Yee
Violinist
thomasyee.net

Good info everyone. I've found that Washington Mutual Bank (WAMU) does well for wire transfers. They are also FREE; they don't charge and will call someone to find the conversion quote at the time of wire transfer. Hope that helps.

Thomas Yee
Violinist
thomasyee.net

This seems odd bringing this in on a topic of Sam Z, but on the topic of learning, the Oberlin Workshops I'm sure functions as a place for talented and serious makers learn and teach, music like elite music festivals. For example, the Aspen Summer Music Festival or Tanglewood, where learning is maximized and knowledge shared. Since I am a performer, I'd like to give some modest observations. I just recently getting back from auditions, few performing, and Summer Music Festivals (Mendocino & Aspen) this summer, and I believe that for these projects to thrive, there has to be a balance of amateur and expertise involved. At Music Festivals such as these, where a select number of gifted students are invited as these students and veteran artists reside to share knowledge and perform for concert-goers and patrons. In this example, perhaps extent of prestige of the Oberlin Workshops could be maximized if there were adequate funding from donors for an endowment. Luthier fellowships could be granted, regarded luthiers are invited to teach & work, and good makers/students Amateurs could be invited pending they pay tuition costs. The famous luthiers would be invited to offer master courses, which I am sure is what is happening already, much like certain music festivals.

Of course, the kicker is to bring in willing concert-artists to have demonstrations and concerts on new instrument works, experimental or traditional, exhibited from "faculty" and "students" during the courses. This would most definitely add a very interesting mix to string-making, and would allow a lot more interest within the public for funding in the form of donations/grants. It could indeed turn into an awesome workshop of shared learning, making, and music performance, funded by an endowment of patrons. I'm sure there are a myriad of complications with ideas like this, but what do you think?

Thomas Yee
Violinist
Thomasyee.net