Instrument Care Tips
I’m sure that both you and your child are very excited to finally have a violin! You may already know how to care for your new instrument, but if not, this information will help. Many problems can be avoided with some simple preventative care. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s instrument, please feel free to ask me. The most important thing to keep in mind is that violins and bows are fragile, so treat them with respect.
General Care
Avoid exposing your instrument to extreme temperatures (even in the case)! For example, do not leave your instrument in the car EVER. In the winter, it is too cold; in the summer, too hot. Also, many insurance policies and warranties are void if the instrument is left in a car. In your home, store your instrument in a location away from sources of heat and cold (forced air vent, radiator, window with direct sunlight, etc.).
When the instrument is not being played, it should be in the case. Store the case in an out of the way location where it is unlikely to be damaged.
Bow Care
Every time the bow is put away, loosen the hair by turning the screw on the end of the frog counterclockwise. Otherwise, the bow will warp and it will be much more difficult for your child to play.
Your bow will need to be rehaired at least once each year. As the name implies, rehairing is replacing the hair on the bow. This should be done by the store from which you rent your violin, or by any music store if you own your violin. It is very important to get this done yearly because over time the hair loses its ability to grip the string; this causes the bow to slip all over the strings no matter how hard your child works to keep it in one place!
The most frequent cause of damage to the bow is “messing around”. I will do everything I can to make it clear that this is not appropriate behavior, but it is important that you reinforce this message at home.
Violin Care
Clean the violin with a soft cloth after every use. Pay special attention to the fingerboard and any areas where rosin gathers (usually on the body of the violin under the strings).
The strings on the violin need to be replaced at least once every year. You should not wait until a string breaks to replace it! As strings disintegrate gradually, they will sound different and make it difficult for your child to hear proper intonation. Unless your rental shop repairs strings free of charge, buy an extra set of strings and bring the violin to me or a violin shop to replace them.
I’m sure that both you and your child are very excited to finally have a violin! You may already know how to care for your new instrument, but if not, this information will help. Many problems can be avoided with some simple preventative care. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s instrument, please feel free to ask me. The most important thing to keep in mind is that violins and bows are fragile, so treat them with respect.
General Care
Avoid exposing your instrument to extreme temperatures (even in the case)! For example, do not leave your instrument in the car EVER. In the winter, it is too cold; in the summer, too hot. Also, many insurance policies and warranties are void if the instrument is left in a car. In your home, store your instrument in a location away from sources of heat and cold (forced air vent, radiator, window with direct sunlight, etc.).
When the instrument is not being played, it should be in the case. Store the case in an out of the way location where it is unlikely to be damaged.
Bow Care
Every time the bow is put away, loosen the hair by turning the screw on the end of the frog counterclockwise. Otherwise, the bow will warp and it will be much more difficult for your child to play.
Your bow will need to be rehaired at least once each year. As the name implies, rehairing is replacing the hair on the bow. This should be done by the store from which you rent your violin, or by any music store if you own your violin. It is very important to get this done yearly because over time the hair loses its ability to grip the string; this causes the bow to slip all over the strings no matter how hard your child works to keep it in one place!
The most frequent cause of damage to the bow is “messing around”. I will do everything I can to make it clear that this is not appropriate behavior, but it is important that you reinforce this message at home.
Violin Care
Clean the violin with a soft cloth after every use. Pay special attention to the fingerboard and any areas where rosin gathers (usually on the body of the violin under the strings).
The strings on the violin need to be replaced at least once every year. You should not wait until a string breaks to replace it! As strings disintegrate gradually, they will sound different and make it difficult for your child to hear proper intonation. Unless your rental shop repairs strings free of charge, buy an extra set of strings and bring the violin to me or a violin shop to replace them.