Amos Fayette, Director of Sales
Growing up in a family of string players, the value of having access to the best possible equipment was made known to me from an early age. My parents always made sure that they provided the very best equipment possible, and as a result, my development as a musician was unencumbered by the limitations of lesser instruments.
Throughout my career, I have seen the results of what happens when a student, amateur, or professional ends up with equipment that is unreliable, of poor quality, or in some cases, just isn't a good fit. Our mission is to make sure that this doesn't happen to any customer we serve. Your instrument or bow purchase should add something to your musical experience, and never take anything away.
Acquiring a new violin family instrument can be incredibly stressful and difficult for many people. Even those who are fortunate enough to have the means to buy the very best instruments available can at times find the process difficult to navigate. That is why we founded Salon Strings: to take the guesswork out of the process of buying and selling exemplary violin family instruments and helping my customers get back to what's important: the enjoyment of playing beautiful music.
In addition to performing, I have also led workshops and written several volumes on the art of practicing. Something I find that most people don’t realize is a skill in itself. Together with my partner we have published two volumes of Practice 101 along with a practice journal. These can be found on Amazon in paperback or available free with a Kindle Unlimited membership.
Currently I actively perform with several orchestras in Northeast Ohio, and am also an adjunct faculty member of Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) where I lead their youth string program, and a teaching artist with the Rainey Institute, a proud member of El Sistema USA as well as maintaining a studio of private students that range from beginner to professional. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the Peabody Institute of Music in 2008, my Master’s Degree from The Juilliard School in 2016, and am an alum of The New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy. My main violin was made in 2012 by master luthier Edward Maday, especially for me, and is a member of a family of instruments also played on by other family members. For more on my performances and teaching, check out AmosFayette.com.
Jennifer Ford Fayette, Director of Operations
A third-generation performer, I was strongly influenced by my grandfather, a self-taught jazz drummer who, after World War II, went on to run one of the largest radio and television studios in the Southeast United States. My mother and aunt were also performers and teachers. So you could say music is in our blood. We do! Trained as a vocalist, I made my solo debut at the age of three and continued to sing and perform until college, where life intervened and I ventured into the corporate world, focusing on sales and marketing.
Learning how companies of all sizes operate and helping them grow, I became fascinated by how, at their core, the smallest mom and pop shops to the biggest Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies ran the same, if on different scales. As a passionate supporter of the arts, music specifically, I have sat on multiple boards and volunteered with a variety of non-profit organizations, which is how I came to be involved with string instruments when I married into a family of string players and teachers. Together with my husband and business partner, we have also literally written the book on how to practice music and singing, called Practice 101, which you can find on Amazon, along with a practice journal designed for performers by performers.
Using my experience in the corporate world as well as my experience as a mother, I find running a family and running a business to be similar, and have become passionate about helping others. Taking inspiration from my grandfather, I am a self-admitted addict to learning new things, and can often be found listening to a podcast or audiobook on a variety of topics from history to business, music to the Stock Exchange.
In addition to working alongside Amos in building Salon Strings, I also run the Ford Fayette Media Group, which includes several other small businesses, and work as a freelance business consultant helping businesses and individuals reach their own goals, develop training, and continue to grow. In my free time, I enjoy finding new trails to explore, listening to history podcasts and rage cleaning.