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

Instruction, Information & Inspiration for Players of Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass & Fiddle | July 23, 2010

How to Know When It’s Time to Call the Repair Shop

Maybe it’s just me, but there are a few things I wouldn’t try—like going out onstage to play a Bach partita, or doing my own dental surgery. Repairing and adjusting a stringed instrument requires as high a level of skill as playing it. Only after three years of violin-making school was I admitted to the repair shop and taught to do the most basic maintenance—and it was a lot longer before I was given a six-figure instrument to work on.

In the case a broken Gagliano that an untrained friend of mine once tried to repair with devastating results after discovering a small crack, what had begun as a minor problem turned unnecessarily into a 911 call. My violinist friend was right to keep a careful eye, checking for openings (although maybe not right before a performance, when it’s too late to do anything about it), but that’s the limit to what he, or you, can do.

After all, there are limits to what the untrained eye can see—like that crack in the top. This downloadable Strings Guide—a step-by-step video, featuring luthier Joan Balter, and a helpful PDF article—will help you understand why DIY won’t do when your cello suffers a major malfunction—and how to recognize one.

By James N. McKean

Get expert advice on what to do when your violin or viola malfunctions, and home repairs just won’t do in When to Call the Repair Shop: Care & Repair of Violins or Violas. This brand new downloadable Strings Guide includes a step-by-step video tutorial (5 min.), in which luthier Joan Balter demonstrates that an opened seam can be detected by tapping lightly on the top of the cello. In the written guide (2 pages of instruction), you'll learn how to recognize a major problem, how to prevent accidental damage, and what to do when a problem occurs while on the road.

Download this PDF and video guide now.

$5.99, Video (5 min.) and PDF (4 pp.) Download, String Letter Publishing

This week from Strings Daily…

Rehearsal Courtesy Rules for Beginners
Just before a rehearsal or concert begins, the concertmaster will stand to tune. Stop whatever you are doing and listen to the “A” that is given.

From Hawaii to Hanoi: How to Protect Your Stringed Instrument from Humidity
What can you do to control humidity levels? First, you must find out the moisture content of the air.

Swing to a Scott Joplin Waltz for String Quartet
Although Scott Joplin is best known for his piano rags, he composed many pieces in various tempos and styles, including “Bethena,” the beautiful concert waltz presented here.

Sign up for the free Strings Daily e-newsletter. Each day you’ll receive a tip from your friends at Strings magazine. Expect guidance on buying and caring for your instrument, career advice, and steps for improving your skills, as well as news about events, your favorite artists, and new products and offerings from Strings. Be alerted to the best deals on subscriptions and gifts, as well as our books and sheet music.

News from the String World

Get a ‘Rusty’ Seat with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Amateur musicians will be welcomed back into the fold of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on September 21 for the second edition of the “Rusty Musicians with the BSO.”

Read More News Updates

Upcoming Events

Check out our calendar for festivals, premieres, competitions, and conferences near you.

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.