Do you want to play an instrument but are worried about taking care of it properly? Here are some tips to help you maintain your instrument and keep it sounding nice. Whether you already have your own instrument or are renting, these tips can help you with the basics of instrument maintenance.
STORAGE
Don’t leave your instrument out in the open or in direct sunlight. Drastic temperature and humidity changes can cause your strings to go out of tune or even damage the body of your instrument. This is because the wood of your instrument reacts to humidity and temperature. It expands with heat and humidity, which can soften the glue and compromise the structure of the instrument. Instead, store your instrument inside a case or on a good quality stand.
BEFORE PLAYING
Before playing, you should tighten your bow, by twisting the nut clockwise. Make sure your bow still has an inward curve, with the gap at the center about as wide as a pencil. If the bow has a wide outward curve, it is too tight. You can test whether your bow is at the right tension by trying to play a little. If the wooden part of your bow frequently touches the strings, your bow may be under-tightened.
AFTER PLAYING
After you’re done playing, make sure to loosen your bow hairs. Twist the nut counter-clockwise to loosen. Make sure to avoid touching the bow hairs because oils on your hands will coat the hairs and ruin the bow.
Always wipe your instrument down with a soft cloth; remember to dust off both the fingerboard and body. Rosin dust is acidic so if it is left on your instrument, it will damage the finish of the wood. See a video demonstration here. https://youtu.be/jumNwqe2yds?si=3rZmnc-iBmTJb0H7
STRINGS AND BOW HAIR
Good quality strings and bow hair lead to better sound. Your strings and bow hair eventually wear out after use. For example, your strings can rust and sometimes lose their ability to maintain pitch. So strings should be replaced every 9-12 months. Bow hair over time becomes greasy and unable to hold rosin. This impacts the sound. Your bow hair should be replaced when the bow cannot “grip” the strings and produce a good quality sound on your instrument. For some people, this could be every six months, and for others this can be a year. It depends on how much you play. Go to a fine stringed instrument shop to get your strings and bow hair replaced.
Regular maintenance does not take a lot of time or effort. It is worthwhile because it can lead to better sound as you learn to play your instrument.
References:
https://dayviolins.com/temperature-and-humidity-can-damage-your-instrument
https://www.johnsonstring.com/resources/when-to-change-violin-strings
https://kennedyviolins.com/blogs/education-center/how-often-to-change-violin-bow-hair
https://www.myluthier.co/post/how-to-care-for-your-violin-tips-and-techniques
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