Instrument Care
Regardless of the quality of your instrument and its accessories,
it’s important they are cared for properly to keep your learning experience stress-free.
Learning to play an instrument is a much more enjoyable experience when everything is working as it should!
History of the Cello & How it Works
Storing Your Instrument
1). Proper temperature and humidity are vital in maintaining your cello; extremes can cause severe damage such as cracking, splitting, or even completely coming apart. These types of repairs are incredibly expensive. Because the cello is made of wood, it naturally expands a little in hot/humid weather and contracts in cold and/or dry environments. The ordinary and small changes that happen in our day-to-day are why the cello needs tuned so often. To keep your cello safe, the space where it lives should be both temperature and humidity-controlled with as much consistency as possible (don’t leave it in the car).
Try to avoid air vents and drafty windows in your home. A cello should never be stored in an attic, basement, garage, or shed. It can be helpful to keep a humidity meter in your practice space and if you live somewhere that experiences temperature or humidity extremes, investing in a small humidifier (called a “dampit”) that sits in the sound holes of your cello.
Handling Your Instrument
1). Move slowly and be gentle. The cello is a delicate instrument and can be damaged easily.
Take care not to drag or slide the cello when you set it down or pick it up. Take care not to
bump into anything as it can damage the varnish, crack the wood, break the bridge, cause
a seam to come unglued, or knock down the sound post inside the cello.
2). When you do set your cello down, lay it on its side. Always use both hands and keep eyes
on the instrument as you set it down. Never set the cello with the bridge facing down
or propped up against a chair, wall, or corner of a room. When travelling with a cello
in its case, best practice is to rest it on its back so it doesn’t roll over onto the bridge.
3). If you’re going to step away from your cello while it is resting on its side, put the endpin in
all the way to avoid it getting bumped or knocked over.
4). Avoid touching the varnish with your hands as much as possible unless they are completely dry.
A note on the bow: the cello bow should only be handled by the “stick”. Touching the bow hair can cause a residue to be left behind that interferes with our ability to apply rosin and, as a result, produce a desirable sound.
Before Playing
1). Adjust the endpin to the appropriate height
2). Tighten bow & rosin if needed
(your teacher will discuss this with you in detail during your lessons)!
3). Set up your space- make sure it is quiet and that you have ample lighting.
Make sure a pencil and your practice journal are handy along with your
other lesson materials and accessories.
After Playing
1). Remove rosin dust with a dry cleaning cloth every time. Rosin dust naturally ends up on your instrument and strings when you play. There are elements in rosin that, over time, can eat away at your cello’s varnish if left unchecked. Be sure to clean not only your strings, but also the underside of the strings, the fingerboard, the soundboard beneath the fingerboard, between the feet of your bridge, and the stick of the bow. Never use alcohol, water, or anything abrasive for cleaning purposes as they will cause permanent damage.
Don’t forget to loosen your bow and put your accessories and lesson supplies in a safe place, too.