Be certain to care for your bow as much as you care for your violin. Violin bows are also highly frail! If you break your bow, it is tougher to repair than a crack in your violin. A broken bow that is fixed is far more sure to break again and it has lost its value. A good rule is to treat it like it were made of glass or quality china.
To take care of your bow, always store it in your violin case in the bow holder. Don't leave it scattered around where it can most likely be damaged. When the bow isn't being used, loosen the hair on it before you put it away in the case. The bow hair will shrink and stretch depending on changes in humidity. If your bow hair shrinks while the hair is not loosened, the head could break. If you store your bow with the bow hair still tightened, it may damage the bow by warping the camber. In acute temperature/humidity cases, it can potentially crack or break the bow under the tension.
Depending on how much time you spend practicing, for proper care of your bow, some endorse having the bow re-haired at least once each year. Bow hair tends to wear out from playing. When you lose too many hairs, this causes uneven tension and the bow to warp. Due to temperature and humidity changes, bow hair stretches in the summertime and shrinks in winter. You may consider re-hairing a bow in the spring or fall.
Use caution not to hammer your bow against anything if you're moving around with it in your hand. Be aware of your surroundings. Bows can and do break if you snap them against furniture or a low ceiling, for instance. If a tightened bow falls on its tip, there's a high possibility the head will break. The bow can also break if it falls on its end-screw.
To look after your bow means that you also care for your violin.
Rosin is applied to the bow hair just when required. Rosin improves the sound by assisting the bow in gripping the strings. But the result of too much rosin is a cloud of rosin dust which settles back on the instrument. Rosin is slightly acidic. It essentially attacks the polish on the violin. Therefore , applying less rosin on the instrument is better. Rosin build-up on the string significantly affects the strings capability to vibrate. While you are attempting to improve the sound, you are actually defeating the purpose with unacceptably rosined strings. A good rule is to apply rosin thoroughly to a bow every 5th to tenth time you play. This, of course, is a case of opinion and depending on how much you play also. There are 2 sorts of rosin which are designed for the climate conditions where you live: light rosin is most suitable for warm climates. It is harder and not as sticky as the dark rosin. Dark rosin is most suited for colder climates and is softer than the light rosin. When heat and/or humidity is high you might want to employ a lighter rosin; when it is cold or dry, employ a darker rosin.
If you treat your bow with care and clean after every use. Utilise a soft, non-abrasive, clean, lint-free fabric. There are special cloths that are untreated with chemicals of any type that may be acquired. If the violin bow is wiped correctly after each and every use, you should not have to use any cleaner and/or polish. If you feel you have to utilise a cleaner or polisher, do a spot test on the bow stick first. You don't wish to discolour or hurt your bow in any fashion. Do Not USE Any Sort Of COMMERCIAL CLEANER AND KEEP ALL CLEANERS AND CHEMICALS AWAY FROM VIOLIN BOW HAIR. Remember, there is no safe cleaning of bow hair.
Check the finger end of your bow to work out if the grip is in good shape and not worn. Also, the ivory, bone or plastic tip on the bow's head should be replaced if it is broken.
Regularly I have seen musicians applauding by tapping their violin bows on a music stand or furniture. If you care for your bow, you will not do this. Bows have been broken in this manner! If you care for your violin, you will want to ensure your care for your bow just as well.
To take care of your bow, always store it in your violin case in the bow holder. Don't leave it scattered around where it can most likely be damaged. When the bow isn't being used, loosen the hair on it before you put it away in the case. The bow hair will shrink and stretch depending on changes in humidity. If your bow hair shrinks while the hair is not loosened, the head could break. If you store your bow with the bow hair still tightened, it may damage the bow by warping the camber. In acute temperature/humidity cases, it can potentially crack or break the bow under the tension.
Depending on how much time you spend practicing, for proper care of your bow, some endorse having the bow re-haired at least once each year. Bow hair tends to wear out from playing. When you lose too many hairs, this causes uneven tension and the bow to warp. Due to temperature and humidity changes, bow hair stretches in the summertime and shrinks in winter. You may consider re-hairing a bow in the spring or fall.
Use caution not to hammer your bow against anything if you're moving around with it in your hand. Be aware of your surroundings. Bows can and do break if you snap them against furniture or a low ceiling, for instance. If a tightened bow falls on its tip, there's a high possibility the head will break. The bow can also break if it falls on its end-screw.
To look after your bow means that you also care for your violin.
Rosin is applied to the bow hair just when required. Rosin improves the sound by assisting the bow in gripping the strings. But the result of too much rosin is a cloud of rosin dust which settles back on the instrument. Rosin is slightly acidic. It essentially attacks the polish on the violin. Therefore , applying less rosin on the instrument is better. Rosin build-up on the string significantly affects the strings capability to vibrate. While you are attempting to improve the sound, you are actually defeating the purpose with unacceptably rosined strings. A good rule is to apply rosin thoroughly to a bow every 5th to tenth time you play. This, of course, is a case of opinion and depending on how much you play also. There are 2 sorts of rosin which are designed for the climate conditions where you live: light rosin is most suitable for warm climates. It is harder and not as sticky as the dark rosin. Dark rosin is most suited for colder climates and is softer than the light rosin. When heat and/or humidity is high you might want to employ a lighter rosin; when it is cold or dry, employ a darker rosin.
If you treat your bow with care and clean after every use. Utilise a soft, non-abrasive, clean, lint-free fabric. There are special cloths that are untreated with chemicals of any type that may be acquired. If the violin bow is wiped correctly after each and every use, you should not have to use any cleaner and/or polish. If you feel you have to utilise a cleaner or polisher, do a spot test on the bow stick first. You don't wish to discolour or hurt your bow in any fashion. Do Not USE Any Sort Of COMMERCIAL CLEANER AND KEEP ALL CLEANERS AND CHEMICALS AWAY FROM VIOLIN BOW HAIR. Remember, there is no safe cleaning of bow hair.
Check the finger end of your bow to work out if the grip is in good shape and not worn. Also, the ivory, bone or plastic tip on the bow's head should be replaced if it is broken.
Regularly I have seen musicians applauding by tapping their violin bows on a music stand or furniture. If you care for your bow, you will not do this. Bows have been broken in this manner! If you care for your violin, you will want to ensure your care for your bow just as well.
About the Author:
Greg Weir is a fiddle player from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia Canada. Greg runs the Violin Price website. A resource for folks interested in studying about, playing or collecting violins. Visit http://violinprice.org/category/violin-care/ for more detailed info on violin care.
