After a first degree in mathematics at Cambridge, Jim Woodhouse did a PhD on the acoustics of the violin in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge (this work was inspired by a hobby interest in building instruments). He then worked for the engineering consultancy firm Topexpress for a few years, on a variety of problems in structural vibration, before joining the Engineering Department of the University in 1985. He is retired now. His research interests involve vibration, and musical instruments have continued to form a major part of his research.