Instrument Care:
Orchestra instruments are made of wood and should be handled with care so as not to cause any damage. Instruments should always be kept and stored in room temperature, dry areas. Instruments should be transported in their cases and never left in hot or cold conditions. Please be especially careful of the bridge area (as it is not glued down) and never turn the pegs which are located at the top of the instrument. (This is an easy way to break a string.) Your orchestra teacher will tune your student’s instrument if it is out of tune or you may take it to a music store to be tuned if there is no school.
Bows should be tightened before playing (only about a ½ in) and loosened every time before being put away. It is important not to touch the bow hair as the oil from your skin damages the hair.
Cellos and basses should always be carried (whether in or out of the case) vertically and not horizontally like a guitar. We recommend keeping cellos and basses out of their cases at home for easy access and home practice if at all possible. Cellos and basses should always be kept on their side, with their back against a wall. Please do not lean cello or basses against anything in a vertical position as this leads to a high chance of the instrument falling and breaking.
Tuning:
Your orchestra teacher will tune your student’s instrument if it is out of tune or you may take it to a music store to be tuned if there is no school. Students will begin to learn how to tune their instrument towards the end of 6th grade. This is a process that takes time and practice to refine. Students will only use their fine tuners (located by the bridge) to tune their instrument during middle school. We highly recommend purchasing a Snark Silver Chromatic Tuner for your student to use for tuning both at school and at home.
Link to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snark-Silver-Guitar-Instrument-SIL-BLK/dp/B09479VYD7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EQGB6ZJETN3K&keywords=snark+silver&qid=1694096668&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=snark+silver%2Cmi%2C120&sr=1-1
Repair:
If your student’s instrument is damaged, broken or a string breaks and you are renting from Quinlan and Fabish please give it to your student’s orchestra teacher and they will send it in for repair. If you are renting from another company please bring it to the rental store and they will repair or replace the instrument or string. The rental company should also provide you with a loaner instrument until your student’s instrument is repaired.