NINE-MONTH COMPREHENSIVE
See a blog by a Nine-Month student here.
The bench room of the Satterlee Building, where the Comprehensive takes place.
Second-project toolbox built by Nine-month Comprehensive student Christopher Fair in 2004.
Work by Comprehensive students in their booth at CraftBoston in 2008.
September 7, 2009 - May 28, 2010
Curriculum
The Nine-month Comprehensive curriculum is designed for aspiring professional furniture makers and dedicated amateurs who seek in-depth training at the highest standard of excellence. The hands-on, project-oriented format includes the full range of furniture making skills. Eight sequential projects take students from the fundamentals through the fine points of design and craftsmanship.
The eight projects, in order, are:
- Our Basic Woodworking curriculum, which introduces the full furniture making process, from drafting through finishing, and gives students a solid foundation in hand joinery skills and safe use of machines for stock preparation. (3 weeks)
- Machine joinery – explores the use of power tools in the construction process. Each student builds a tool cabinet that involves a myriad of machine-cut joints and shaping techniques using the table saw, router, router table, slot mortiser, and shaper. (3 weeks)
- Case piece construction – each student designs and builds a solid-wood case piece with a door and a drawer, employing both hand and machine skills. (7 weeks)
- Veneering – students learn to work with veneer and inlay by making tabletops. (1 week)
- Bending – students explore steam and laminate bending, as well as other techniques. Each student designs and builds a project that utilizes curved components. (5 weeks)
- Multiples – the assignment is to design, make, and sell a multiple object within a set price range. This emphasizes real-world concerns such as speed, efficiency, and marketing. (4 weeks)
- Chair making – each student builds a working prototype chair following an extensive design process. (6 weeks)
- Self-directed – students engage in deeper exploration of those areas of furniture making which they find most compelling and expand their portfolios with one or more additional projects. (5 weeks)
Additionally, time is set aside for sessions with guest instructors on specialized topics such as drawing, turning, marquetry, carving, furniture history, business practices, and finishing.
Audience
We teach furniture making for the joy, growth, and satisfaction it brings, whether you are pursuing it professionally or as an avocation. We expect students to graduate with the confidence and skill to design and build fine furniture on their own, and to be qualified for employment by other fine furniture makers
The audience for the Nine-month Comprehensive includes: (1) college-age people who want to become professional furniture makers; (2) men and women of any age who are exploring woodworking as a potentially more fulfilling, second career; and (3) individuals of all ages who want to learn furniture making as a life-enhancing skill.
Many of our students come with the dream of self-employment as fine furniture makers in one-person shops. In all fairness we advise applicants that, while the rewards of such a career are many, it is a challenging way to make a living.
Application Process
Applications should be submitted by March 1, 2009 for the first round of selection. Notification will be mailed by March 15. After March 1, applications will be reviewed for acceptance as they arrive
To apply, please submit:
- A letter explaining your interest in furniture making and your goals
- Digital images of any woodworking or other artwork you have done previously
- Names and telephone numbers of three character references such as teachers, employers, and business associates
The only pre-requisite for attending the Comprehensive is that applicants have enough prior woodworking experience to be sure that they can sustain their commitment to a nine-month course.
Open to everyone except absolute beginners.
Enrollment limited to 13
Tuition: $16,500
Faculty
The primary instructor for the course is David Upfill-Brown. For each project David is joined by a co-teacher who specializes in the relevant skills. See list of instructors here.
� �
Lead Instructor David Upfill-Brown (right) discusses a project with Nine-month Comprehensive student Jesse Hagey. A chair by David is at right.