To view this e-mail as a Web page, click here »

Instruction, Information & Inspiration for Players of Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass & Fiddle | Mar. 16, 2010

I’m That Girl, the One Whose Viola Was Stolen

Violist Beth Meyers’ instrument was stolen from her apartment while she went out to dinner with a friend. Meyers wrote about the experience for the October 2007 issue of Strings magazine and offers the following tips that helped her insurance claim go smoothly:

I have to say that being organized smoothes the process of dealing with such a loss. Here are a few things you can do to help guarantee that your instrument is properly insured.

Do some research to find an insurance company that best suits your needs. I found my insurance carrier through my membership in the American String Teachers Association. But there are several, and a good violin shop can help you find the right carrier. My insurance company was extremely helpful, professional, and speedy with the paperwork in the weeks following the robbery, also offering many words of sympathy during my initial phone calls. I can’t stress enough how valuable it was to be with a company that didn’t require excessive paperwork.

Make sure that your instrument and bow appraisals are up-to-date and update your insurance values annually for the new amounts.

Know the conditions of your insurance coverage. Luckily my policy included theft—though not under conditions such as “theft that couldn’t be avoided” such as leaving a valuable instrument in an unlocked car or easily accessible backstage area.

Take pictures of the instrument from a few angles including top, back, and scroll, and keep one that shows the label inside, plus any other unique, defining features such as scratches. Keep the photos somewhere safe and inconspicuous.

Include the peripheral items, such as your case and bow, in your insurance coverage and save receipts of anything associated with your instrument. I remember standing at the register buying my new bow, when I realized that I also needed a case, rosin, a shoulder rest, extra strings, mutes, and a tuning fork. I was truly starting from scratch! You can include an itemized list on your insurance policy, but it never hurts to back this up, if possible, with receipts.

By Beth Meyers

For more helpful advice on protecting your investment, order the Violin Owner’s Manual. It’s a comprehensive guide to understanding the ins and outs of your instrument, keeping it in excellent condition, and sounding your best when you play it. Whether you have a modest fiddle or a priceless Stradivari, this is the book that should have come with your violin. Get all this invaluable advice by purchasing this guide online today.

FORWARD TO A FRIEND  |  UPDATE PROFILE  |  UNSUBSCRIBE  |  MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS

Copyright © 2010 String Letter Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
You are welcome to forward this e-mail to your friends. Other reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of String Letter Publishing is prohibited. Strings and the respective logos are trademarks of String Letter Publishing.