Newsletter: Back-to-School Checklist

[Ashley Brockett]

South Hill String Studio
Newsletter

Back-to-School Checklist

Yes, it's that time of year again.  The stores have started their ads, sales, and specials for back-to-school.  You're getting bus schedules, school supply lists, thinking about haircuts, vaccinations, and new shoes.  Well, you can add one more thing to think about (as if you don't have enough!): your child's instrument!

The following are a list of maintenance items that need to be completed once a year.  It doesn't matter when, but September is as good a time as any.

1)  Check the size of the instrument.  If you're the parent of a growing student, odds are they outgrew their instrument over the summer.  You can take both the instrument and your student to the place you're renting from, or to me, and have them sized.  If, indeed, it's time to move up, make sure you take home an instrument that has new strings and new horsehair.  Ask them, and insist on it.  You don't want to have to come back in a month to get those changed, even if it is included in your service plan.

2)  The bow needs to be rehaired.  Bows should be rehaired about once a year.  You can take it into any violin repair shop, or the shop you're renting from, and tell them you need new hair.  They'll take a look at your bow for you, and should also inspect it for other things - like warping.  If you have a fiberglass bow, it's generally cheaper to just buy a new one.

Regular rehairing of your bow will greatly benefit playing.  Once the hair is too old, not only will it not grip the string the same way (so it makes it harder to make a good sound), it also might not be able to be tightened enough for playing.  If many hairs are missing from one side or the other, the remaining hairs will pull on the stick, and cause warping.  That's not good.  It lowers the value of the bow and makes it more difficult to play.  So, rehair your bow once a year!

3)  New strings.  Strings should be replaced about once a year.  Again, you can take them to any violin repair shop, or the place you're renting from, or to me, and have new strings put on.  No, it's not terribly hard to do, but there is a right and several wrong ways to go about it, so do yourself a favor and take it to a professional.

When strings aren't replaced, the instrument sounds dull.  The strings are "dead".  It's harder to play in tune, and impossible to get the same ringing clarity you got a year ago.  So new strings are absolutely essential.

4)  Fingerboard planed.  When you take your instrument in for new strings, ask the technician if the fingerboard needs to be planed.  It's a relatively simple procedure that makes playing SO MUCH EASIER!!  As an instrument is played a lot, the strings are pressed against the fingerboard.  Even an ebony fingerboard will wear, and grooves are created.  These grooves make playing more difficult.

5)  Soundpost and bridge adjusted.  Our instruments are wood.  As they go through weather changes, the wood changes size and sometimes even shape.  This causes the soundpost and bridge to move around.  Getting these adjusted to the correct placement will allow the instrument to make the sound it's supposed to.  Sure, your child still makes a sound with it, but it will be bigger and better when all parts are where they are supposed to be.  Ask the technician about this at the same time you get the strings replaced.

6)  While you have your instrument at a repair shop, ask them to look it over and see if anything else needs to be done.  Performing maintenance tasks as they're required will prevent costly and large repairs later.  Some other things to look for:
     Open seams - again, the instruments are wood.  They move around.  Add in a glue that's supposed to come apart easily (means the seams will come apart rather than the wood splitting), and you'll occasionally get some open seams.  They're easy to fix.
     Cracks - yes, they happen.  And catching them small makes them easier to repair.
     Pegs - sometimes you need new pegs or need the holes re-reamed.  Again, a pretty easy fix.  Ask about them when the technician is putting new strings on.

So, there you have it.  Your yearly instrument maintenance to-do list.  Performing maintenance on a regular basis will keep your instrument in top shape, sounding its best, easiest to learn on, and preserve your investment.

Have any questions for me?  Just ask - I'm happy to help!

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Ashley Brockett
South Hill String Studio
253-267-2063
www.ashleybrockett.musicteachershelper.com