I am an amateur violinist and enjoy playing at home in my spare time. However, my violin seems to have a problem, maybe due to the dry climate here. Can you suggest any specialist I can show it to?


I always say there is a remont -- repair shop -- for everything, and believe it or not, there is indeed a remont shop for musical instruments. Now, I wouldn't go as far as suggesting that this is the best place to have your precious instrument fixed, but the store is well worth a visit, if only for the atmosphere.


Just across from the Kremlin, at 5 Bolshaya Polyanka, you will see several dusty shop windows, Onder the sign Kamerton. The amazingly intricate timetable hanging on the front door is enough to make you feel like heading back home, but the man inside takes no account of this. He works at his own rhythm, two days yes, one day no, approximately from 11 A. M. to 6 P. M. I therefore strongly suggest you phone (if the phone works that day) on 238-6388.


Once inside, you will be greeted by the "master", an equally dusty gentleman who roams alone in these vast and derelict premises. From the uninviting, wood-panelled reception room he will lead you into his workshop, where broken instruments, tools and various pieces of wood are stacked high in an undescribable mess.


The "master", however, is a true lover of the art and will spend endless amounts of time showing you how superior his hand-made instruments are to the factory-produced Soviet violin. In a corner stands a huge bass balalaika. Further on, there are some repaired and repolished guitars.


If your violin is at all valuable, the safest place to take it is the workshop of the Moscow Conservatory. Walk into the teaching building of the Conservatory and ask for the masterskaya. Here you will find real specialists, but they will only agree to operate on precious instruments for exclusive customers. Also expect the price to be rather steep and ask for an estimate.


There are a handful of string instrument specialists in town, but they have a brisk business with foreign students and professionals and do not desire any extra publicity. Only a music teacher or a friend in the musical field can lead you to them.


Talking of instruments, I am often asked where to buy a decent piano, since taking music lessons is one of the rather better occupations for children in Moscow. Here again, your best bet is to let your teacher track one down for you. But there are other sources too.


The majority of second-hand pianos are sold through ads. You can check the notice boards at the Conservatory on Gertsena Street and the Gnesin Institute for Music on the corner of Paliashvili and Vorovskogo. Every week, about 20 to 30 instruments are on offer in the paper Is Ruk v Ruki (From Hand to Hand) under the title "Art and Collections". This paper appears twice a week in the kiosks and costs 12 rubles. The advertisements are free.


Moscow music stores tend to be despised by the true professionals, but one at least is revamped and seems to be making a real effort to ensure supply and quality. This is the share-holding company Akkord at 6 Nizhnaya Maslovka (near the Savyolovsky Station).


This huge store is well stocked with a full range of instruments, from castanets and triangles through all the strings (including tiny 1/8 violins) and a full panoply of percussion. They seem to be very keen on electronics, with a display of equipment sufficient for several nightclubs. Accordions must not have found many buyers, nor did the "cheap" Russian Lirika piano selling at 50, 000 rubles.


Akkord recommends the services of its professional piano tune, and you can call him on 111-0896.


For piano tuning (nastroika in Russian) and minor repairs, pianist friends recommend Vladimir Preklonsky, who will do a very careful job. His phone number is 731-4744.


Rondo is another music instrument shop at 8 Neglinaya (right behind TsUM), though it is not half as grand and flashy. Its main attraction is that it serves as a sort of bazaar where private individuals come and display their goods.


You can always hope to strike a deal with a needy clarinetist. Both shops sell spare parts such as strings and stands. They also have a section where they buy and sell second-hand.