Student Guide to Instrument Care

Dear Student Musician:

          I have written this guide to instrument care to help you take good care of your instrument.  Please don’t be afraid of all these words - the telling takes more time than the doing.  Once you establish good habits with your instrument, you will see that your instrument looks and plays better, and you make much better progress with your musical studies.  Please keep it in your case and reread it each time you change your strings.

In General:

1.  Heat and dry air are bad for instruments and cause cracks.  Keep them away from radiators or hot air registers.  If you don’t humidify your home in winter, use a dampit and store your instrument (in its case) in a cool closet.  Never leave your instrument in a car.  In the summer the varnish can melt, and the trunk or rear window can get very hot even in the winter.

2.  Always loosen the bow after playing.  For best tone, use as little rosin as possible and try never to touch the hair (hand oils make it dirty and ruin it).  The bow tip breaks easily, so guard it carefully from hitting anything.  Keep the tip off the floor when not playing by bending your right elbow and putting your bow hand by your tummy, then holding the bow straight up, or letting it hang down on your finger (if it doesn’t touch the floor).

Each time your finish playing you should:

1.  Check the bridge position.  It usually should be in line with the inside nicks of the f-holes positioned so the strings are centered on the fingerboard.

2.  Check the tilt of the bridge.  When you look at it from the side, it should be standing straight up and leaning just a tiny bit back (away from the fingerboard).  It should not be bent in the middle, and the feet of the bridge should contact the top of the instrument perfectly.  Ask your teacher to show you how to do this safely.

3.  Wipe the instrument clean with a soft cloth (every so often you can shine the instrument up with cleaner-polish specially made for instruments).

4.  Check if the strings are false, frayed or unraveling.  Old strings sound bad and make playing in tune impossible.  Strings should be changed at least twice a year.

5.  Loosen the bow before putting it away.  Be sure it’s held firmly and won’t come loose 

Charles J. Rufino