Chinrest Clues

1. Carry a chinrest adjuster (or a big paper clip). Keep an adjuster on your key ring.

Soulful Strings

1. Steel strings last longer and require less tuning. Choose carefully; some brands are a lot more metallic than others. Always use fine tuners for all four strings. Always use the bridge protectors when supplied with the strings.

2. Synthetic core strings have a better tone, but are not as durable as steel strings. Fine tuners are optional on the A, D, and G strings (for violin) but for classroom use, should be used anyway.

3. If you can't change strings on a regular basis (at least once a year?) at least keep an eye on the violin E strings. They go bad two to three times more quickly than the other strings.

4.If possible, use the correct size string. On a half size instrument, for example, the correct size string will help to maintain string tension, thus resulting in a fuller sound.

5. The popular Dominant string requires more care and attention than the usual string. The notches in the nut must be smooth and not pinch the string. The string should be wound carefully on the peg, avoiding pinching or jamming of the string against the pegbox. Avoid tuning above pitch.

Blazing Bows

1. Basics. Loosen the hair every time the bow is put away. Don't touch the hair with fingers. Be careful of the fragile tip.

2. Be on the lookout for weevils if bows look as if the hair was cut with a pair of scissors (in a straight line and all in a row). Treat cases with mothballs.

3. If bow won't tighten, the bow must be rehaired (the hair is stretched out or too many of the original hairs have broken, allowing the remaining hairs to stretch). In a pinch, try putting a spacer beneath the hair at the tip.

4. If the eyelet is stripped, it must be replaced by a shop. In an emergency, squeeze the eyelet slightly with a pair of pliers so that the remaining threads will catch. You can also try turning the eyelet into the frog a half turn to give additional grip to the screw.

5. If the hair falls out at the tip (and you find the tip wedge!), you can try refitting the hair and wedge back in, holding everything back together with a drop of Krazy Glue. Don't use the glue on anything resembling a good bow!

Cleaning off Rosin

For student instruments only! Use sudsy ammonia, dilute 50%, work on a small section at a time and follow with the usual instrument polish. Or, use Windex (with ammonia) which is slower, but safer. For normal instrument cleaning, and all fine instruments, use a good brand of violin cleaner.