5 Easy Ways to Take Care of Your Instrument
By: Linda Numagami
It’s the start of the school year, and there is a palpable buzz of excitement and anticipation around Music Haven. Students are arriving, and now begins a big push to prepare all the behind-the-scenes work, music, lessons, and activities! Learning and sharing music is an incredible journey that can last a lifetime. Taking care of our instruments helps that journey become as smooth and long-lasting as possible. Here are five easy ways to keep your instrument in good shape this year.
Keep It Clean!
How do you keep an instrument clean? No soap is involved—but you’ll use a dry microfiber polishing cloth to wipe any excess rosin that will accumulate on the instrument from playing. Once rosin cakes on the strings and instrument, it dampens the sound and makes it harder to produce a pure, resonant sound.
You’ll clean multiple spots including the strings, the area on and under the tailpiece, and the fingerboard, as well as a gentle swipe of the body of the instrument. Be mindful to check the bow stick for rosin buildup (particularly the inner part!), but avoid cleaning or touching the bow hair itself. Our fingers have natural oils on them that interfere with allowing the bow to “catch” the string.
2. Instrument Storage
Proper storage is critical to keeping your instrument in good condition. Avoid placing instruments directly next to an open window, a radiator, or within direct sunlight. Extreme heat or cold will hinder your instrument’s performance! During the winter months, our wooden instruments tend to dry out and are more susceptible to damage from temperature fluctuations. Store your instrument in a stable environment to keep it happy and healthy!
3. Applying Rosin Wisely
Rosin is crucial for creating sound, but too much or too little application can be problematic. If your bow hair color is turning yellow or brown, it is a sign you need to apply rosin. If you don’t have enough rosin on your bow, it will be difficult to activate the string and start the sound. However, if your bow hair produces a giant cloud of powder after drawing the string with the bow: whoops, there is too much rosin! If there is an excess of rosin on the bow, it will produce a crackling or gritty sound. When applying rosin, first try five even, smooth strokes from the frog to the tip of the bow and then test the sound. The bow hair’s color should change slightly, and the instrument should be easier to play. If nothing changes, you may have to “start” the rosin cake by very lightly scraping the rosin. This can be done gently with a key or something with a point. Please do this little by little if needed, since crumbled rosin is not usable!
4. All About the Tapes
If you are using finger tapes, make sure they’re in good condition. Worn or damaged tapes can affect your playing and technique. If you notice that your tapes are in need of replacement, let your studio teacher know so they can help you get them replaced.
5. String Life
When you see a string unraveling or frayed, it is about to break. Common places for this to appear are by the peg box, or where the string meets the bridge. If you see this, we can determine if and when to change the string. You may also hear that the sound may become more metallic and tinny if it’s time to replace the string.
These are the basic requirements to maintain an instrument! If you follow these tips, you’ll do a big part in keeping your instrument healthy. I look forward to seeing you all around Music Haven!
Happy Practicing,
Ms. Linda
Violist of the Haven String Quartet