The violin is a precious and fragile instrument that needs to be treated with great care. Learning how to protect your violin is of the utmost importance.
Remember, the sound box is made of wood, an organic material that can change based on the environmentit is in.
It can feel hot, cold, dry, and humid. And under extreme conditions, these environmental forces can be damaging to the violin, and its sound.
As we all know, the most significant factor of a violin is its sound. A violin could be worth millions because of its irreplaceable sound.
And violins do appreciate over time. As long as it’s kept in good condition.
In this article, we will go over the top 11 methods of protecting your violin, to ensure that it’s sound and value continues to grow.
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1. Treat Your Violin Like A Child
If your child runs out into the cold weather, you make sure he or she puts on a jacket.
And you wouldn’t leave your child in a car under the hot sun with all the windows closed either.
This is how you need to treat your violin as well. Now these may seem like extreme examples, but we have to pay attention to the little things as well.
Do you place your violin (even in its case) close to a window? Where at a certain time of the day, sunlight starts to directly shine on your instrument or case?
Paying attention to the little details will ensure that the sound of your violin is well protected.
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2. Keep Your Hands Clean
Remember how we’ve always been taught to wash our hands before eating? This is a good concept to keep in mind before playing the violin as well.
Dirt and oil on our fingers can damage the varnish on the violin. It can also cause the strings to fray and unwind sooner than expected.
So wash your hands and pat them dry before each playing session.
What if you get sweaty easily? Then make a good habit of wiping down your violin often with a piece of dry fabric every time you sweat on the violin.
Sweat is water. Water on wood is water damage. The wood of the violin can absorb water, causing it to expand or warp, affecting the overall sound of your violin.
Which leads us to our next tip.
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3. Wipe Down Your Instrument After Each Practice
After each practice, wipe your instrument with a dry piece of fabric. Ideally made of microfiber.
Wipe the strings as well of any rosin, so that it doesn’t cake and become residue.
This is a very simple step, but an incredibly important one. Taking care of your violin is 95% simple daily routines.