A fine stringed instrument is designed to last for hundreds of years. There are a number of fine violins, violas and cellos that were made in the early 1600’s that are still in daily use by professional musicians. At the same time, some instruments and bows have a relatively short life span because of carelessness and neglect on the part of their owners. To keep your investment in the best possible condition, we have put together this guide to assist you in maintaining your instrument and bow.
Sizing the Violin or Viola – To ascertain the correct size of the instrument for you, put it in the playing position. Put the left-hand fingers around the scroll, with the elbow slightly bent. If you can achieve this, and it feels fairly comfortable, then the instrument is not too large. Using an instrument that is too large can be bad for your music or your health.
Sizing the Cello – Put the cello in the playing position. As a ‘rule of thumb’, if you can touch reach down with the back straight and touch the middle of the bridge with your middle finger of your left hand, then the instrument is not too large.
Sizing the Double Bass – Stand behind the bass in playing position, with the nut level with the temple. If the middle finger of the left hand is able to touch the top of the bridge without bending forward, then the bass is not too large. The normal “adult” size bass is 3/4, not 4/4.
Chin Rests and Shoulder Rests – These are important for comfort and security. Ask your teacher for advice. When selecting, watch out for worn pads that might scratch your instrument.
Cleaning – Use a dry, untreated cloth to clean the instrument after use. If you need to clean or polish it, use only the product from the string instrument shop. Make sure there are no cracks or openings, and wipe it on with a paper towel and rub it all off. Do not get it on the strings, bridge, peg holes or bow.
Bow – Don’t polish the bow, or touch its hair. Be careful to make sure that it only touches the strings. Tighten it when playing, and loosen it after playing. In soft cases, remove the bow first when unpacking, and replace it last when packing away. Round rosin is the best. Get your bow serviced if it loses hair or becomes warped, slippery or cannot be adjusted.
Strings and Tuning – Use the right size strings. Do not over stretch the strings. If pegs slip or stick, have them checked by your teacher or corrected at the violin shop. The tailpiece side of the bridge must be kept vertical. If you are not sure, ask your teacher or the shop. If you have fine tuners, only use them with steel core strings, not with gut and synthetic strings. If the tuner screws go in too far, then unscrew them and retune the pegs. Sometimes a sticking tuner screw can be fixed by removing it and rubbing it on a wax candle. If not, have the violin shop replace it.
Problems – If any parts of your instrument such as the fingerboard, sound post, or bridge comes loose or breaks, or if you find cracks or openings, loosen the strings right away and take it to the shop. If the strings buzz or dig deeply into the bridge, or feel too high or too low, then take it to the violin shop. Do not attempt to fix things yourself.
Protecting Your Instrument – Avoid extremes of temperature or humidity. The best place to leave your instrument is in your case. If you can’t then place it gently on its side on the floor. A hard case is best, but if you must use a soft case, get a thickly padded one and don’t leave your instrument near doorways. Always close your case to make sure your instrument does not fall out, even if there are straps holding it.
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Celebrated American violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn has earned a stunning reputation as one of America’s most beloved soloists. Ms. Pitcairn made her New York debut at Lincoln Centre’s Alice Tully Hall in 2000 with the New York String Orchestra and she appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Academy of Music.
She has recently been named the Artistic Director of the Luzerne Chamber Music Festival, and she is a member of the distinguished faculty at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, where she currently resides. Read more...
