Instrument Care
Humidity/ temperature change steps you should take to protect your instrument
String basics and how often to replace them
Bow basics and hair replacement
The instrument bridge and proper care and alignment
The fingerboard-dirt, arch protectors, and maintenance of it
Problem solving a pesky peg
Fine tuner adjustment
Other instrument adjustments
Structural damage from changes in humidity and temperature
Repairing open seams because of instrument expansion and contraction
Advise on cleaning your instrument
Bow basics and hair replacement
Always give your bow hair a few long swipes of rosin whenever you take your instrument out of the case. If you don't use
rosin, your bow will be slick, and you will get a poor, weak sound. Don't overdo the rosin either. Too many swipes will
give you a scratchy sound and will deposit more rosin dust on your violin.
Tighten your bow to the correct tension. Generally, the distance between the bow and the hair at the middle of the stick
should be the same as the thickness of the bow stick. There should be a curve in the middle of the stick towards the
hair. If you tighten your bow more than this, your bow will be too straight and will lose some of its performance, and it will
be more difficult to play some strokes, such as spiccato, which require the bow to bounce.
When you are finished playing and are ready to put your instrument in its case, loosen the hair, so that there is no
tension on it. This will help keep your bow from warping. Also, wipe any rosin dust off your instrument and bow stick
before you put them in the case. If you don't, the sticky rosin dust will build up into a crust that will harm your sound and
damage the varnish.
If you must put your instrument down, always put it in its case. Never leave your instrument on a chair, a table, a couch,
the floor, or hanging by its scroll from a stand as accidents can too easily occur.
Humidity/ temperature change steps you should take to protect your instrument
String basics and how often to replace them
Bow basics and hair replacement
The instrument bridge and proper care and alignment
The fingerboard-dirt, arch protectors, and maintenance of it
Problem solving a pesky peg
Fine tuner adjustment
Other instrument adjustments
Structural damage from changes in humidity and temperature
Repairing open seams because of instrument expansion and contraction
Advise on cleaning your instrument
Bow basics and hair replacement
Always give your bow hair a few long swipes of rosin whenever you take your instrument out of the case. If you don't use
rosin, your bow will be slick, and you will get a poor, weak sound. Don't overdo the rosin either. Too many swipes will
give you a scratchy sound and will deposit more rosin dust on your violin.
Tighten your bow to the correct tension. Generally, the distance between the bow and the hair at the middle of the stick
should be the same as the thickness of the bow stick. There should be a curve in the middle of the stick towards the
hair. If you tighten your bow more than this, your bow will be too straight and will lose some of its performance, and it will
be more difficult to play some strokes, such as spiccato, which require the bow to bounce.
When you are finished playing and are ready to put your instrument in its case, loosen the hair, so that there is no
tension on it. This will help keep your bow from warping. Also, wipe any rosin dust off your instrument and bow stick
before you put them in the case. If you don't, the sticky rosin dust will build up into a crust that will harm your sound and
damage the varnish.
If you must put your instrument down, always put it in its case. Never leave your instrument on a chair, a table, a couch,
the floor, or hanging by its scroll from a stand as accidents can too easily occur.
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| Latoya Lamons Director Orchestra Room Voice Mail (703) 799-6225 LCLamonsSloc@fcps.edu |
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Orchestras Alexandria, VA
Orchestras Alexandria, VA
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| © 2009-2012 The Carl Sandburg Orchestra Boosters |
