Cleaning Of Your Violin
The Violin
A violin is a musical instrument which is believed to have been invented in Europe in the early parts of the 16th century. It slowly grew in stature and use throughout Europe and it spread to other continents during the colonial when the European influence across the world continued to flourish (Stowell, 1992). The instrument became widely used in North America, Asia (Turkey, India, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia), and Latin America (Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala and Ecuador). As interaction continued to grow due to transcontinental trade, migration and leisure travel, the violin is played in all parts of the world. A violin, just like other music instruments, requires high maintenance to produce quality sound and to keep it functional for a long period of time. Cleaning a violin requires expertise and systematic effort to achieve the desired results.
Storage of the Violin
When not in use, it is always important to keep the violin in a closed case to prevent any kind of physical damage or falling down. The violin contains some very delicate parts such as the spruce top which is soft and very delicate. Though the maple back is hard which may keep it long without breaking but the edges may chip and finally break if not well taken care of (Ferreira, 2009).
Cleaning of the Violin
According to Ferreira (2009), a violin which is kept clean is a happy violin. Cleaning of the violin needs to be systematic as explained below.
Use polish to remove finger marks, rosin, and moisture from the Violin. It is important to avoid using hot water or alcohol while cleaning the body of the violin because they damage or dissolve the violin vanish. The polish, on the other hand, will retain the violin vanish and maintain the beauty of the instrument (Stowell, R. (1992). Cleaning also encompasses rubbing, erasing, chipping using stiff or soft brushes, chisels or hammers, and abrading (Bucur, 2016).
Once you are done playing the violin, wash your hands thoroughly to clear all traces of rosin, grim and sweat before you start cleaning the instrument itself.
Use a flannel cloth or soft brush to clean the violin to remove any colouration on the body or strings (Williams, & Jaggar, 2005).
In order to keep strings off rosin, it is important to wipe the strings. To achieve better results, you may use a few drops of alcohol to clean the strings only. Be careful not to let any drop touch the violin vanish as this may destroy it.
Use a clean cloth to clean the bow as well to remove any foreign materials such as rosin.
Clean also the body of violin with several dry silk or cotton cloths to ensure every part of the instrument is clean including the holes (Hoffheimer, 2010).
In the same manner, use clean clothes to remove any dirt under the bridge of the violin but handle with care as it is very delicate.
Polish the body of the violin to keep it clean and good-looking. Besides making it attractive, the polished body makes it more compact, durable, and most of all; it helps retain a perfect sound. If the body of the violin gets worn out, it is advisable to take it to a specialist (Ferreira, 2009). Another precautionary measure is always to keep your violin away from strong heat or humidity as these may cause cracks or may mutilate the vanish.
It is also important to remember that when cleaning the violin, reduce the number of places you touch with your bare hands to prevent further markings (Ferreira, 2009).
The violin case needs to be also in good shape and clean to store a clean instrument. Ensure that the violin case is vacuumed to remove any particles or rosin.
Any damage that occurs to the instrument needs to be addressed by a skilled violin restorer or conservator (Williams, & Jaggar, 2005).
References
1. Stowell, R. (1992). The Cambridge companion to the violin, Cambridge University Press
2. Ferreira, P. (2009). The violin companion, Lulu.com
3. Hoffheimer, M. (2010). Faq; Fiddle Care and Setup, Mel Bay Publications
4. Bucur, V. (2016). Handbook of Materials for String Musical Instruments, Springer
5. Williams, D., & Jaggar, L. (2005). Saving Stuff: How to care for and preserve your collectibles, heirlooms, and other prized possessions. Simon and Schuster
