AboutDavid Expertise I mainly aim to answer questions about playing techniques--intonation,
vibrato, bowing etc. I am somewhat familiar with Baroque and Classical music, though not as much with Romantic. I am unable to answer questions about advanced music theory, violin crafters/brands or the monetary value of a violin.
Experience I have played the violin about nine discontinuous years. Most of my work has been orchestral, with some soloing throughout. I was principal 2nd violinist of the Disney Honors Orchestra in 1998, a six-time All-State Orchestra violinist, a two-time assistant concertmaster and two-time concertmaster of my All-County Orchestra. I also have perfect pitch, which I believe can be learned (though I do not claim to know how to teach it).
Since starting medical school in 2004, I have had fewer chances to play, but I hope to someday resume on a regular basis.
Expert: David Date: 8/8/2000 Subject: Violin maintenance
Question I`m very new to violin. How and what are the necessary things to maintain a violin? How to use rosin? How often do we change the strings?
Answer In my opinion, weather changes are the biggest enemy of the violin. If you live in a humid, hot area (e.g. Florida), you should change your strings no less often than once every 9-10 months (E strings may need changing every 4-6 months), and I also suggest that you get a case with a hygrometer (a hygrometer looks a little bit like a compass but tells you the humidity level of your case; try to keep the humidity low). If the area where you live is less humid and has regular weather, then changing strings perhaps once a year would be often enough. Changing strings too seldom often means you'll be playing on false strings. You can check for falseness by drawing the bow across the strings, gradually increasing the pressure and speed--if a change in pitch is detected, the string is likely false. (While we are on the subject of strings, I would recommend Corelli Alliance or Thomastik Dominant. Avoid all Super-Sensitive strings like the plague, as they can't deliver what they claim to and aren't worth even the small amount of money you'll pay.) If you are playing your violin regularly i.e. at least once a week, then there is probably little maintenance necessary other than the routine (loosen bow and remove shoulder rest when packing up, rosin bow each time you unpack). When using rosin for the first time, its surface will be shiny, this may be pretty but it is a useless state for rosin. Take a nail file, emory board, or sandpaper and gently roughen the rosin's surface, not excessively but enough to eliminate the shine. Then, with your bow tightened (not too tight--the distance between the stick and the hair at the narrowest point should be no more than about 1.3 times the stick's width), draw the rosin across all the bow hair, back and forth, taking care not to let the rosin contact the frog of the bow as that can cause annoying splintering. Occasionally, check the surface of your violin under the strings near the bridge; rosin dust tends to collect here and can mar the finish of the body; also check the strings themselves where the bow contacts them as rosin will inevitably collect here and can cause a scratchy sound. A shoe cloth does a nice job of removing this dust, even though the sound of cleaning is high-pitched and makes you cringe.
If you are not playing regularly, then it is good to check the instrument perhaps once every two weeks or so, to make sure that it is still in tune and no strings have popped or come loose. Too many popped strings or too much slipping of pegs will change the tension on the instrument and the soundpost inside the box may fall, requiring uprighting by an expert (not on Allexperts.com of course). It's not a bad idea to buy a slightly more expensive case in exchange for greater protection. I highly recommend the Mustang Suspensionair series, as they look nice, protect well, and have adequate storage areas. Whether or not they come with hygrometers, I can't say for sure, but hygrometers can be purchased separately and aren't overly expensive.
I may have scared you with such a long answer, but it really is not hard at all but quite intuitive to maintain a violin. The most important thing is that you enjoy playing!
Good luck,
David
