If a string or instrument or bow is broken or damaged during class, then the student should inform the teacher immediately, then complete the Instrument Acciedent & Repair Report Form in class.
Parent/Guardian will be notified of the instrument repair.
Then, the parent/guardian will be responsible for taking the instrument to the restoration or Luthier shop for repair.
For rental instruments, parents should take the rented instrument back to the music store where it was rented for instrument repair.
Please take care of repairs quickly within a week so that the student will not fall behind in class. Please ask if assistance is needed.
Most students take excellent care of their instruments. It is rare for an instrument to need repairs. Here are some things you can do to avoid repair costs:
Follow the teacher’s guidelines below for good instrument care and ask if you have questions.
Rent/purchase instruments only from stores that staff a luthier (repair-person).
Only let the teacher make tuning adjustments or a certified luthier (repair-person) fix the instrument.
Storing and transporting your instrument to school:
Place your instrument on the appropriate side, the flat side of the case or on its back away from the bridge. Cellos should be placed on the side not on the back.
Always hold the instrument by the neck and be sure to hold securely.
Keep instruments out of areas of traffic such as walkways.
Always place your instrument back in the case when you are finished practicing. Never leave your instrument or bow on a chair or couch where someone could sit on it.
Avoid propping the neck of the instrument against the wall, the car, a backpack, on a chair or other surfaces where it could fall.
Place the instrument and case in the shade on hot days. Store it at room temperature and avoid leaving it in hot car.
GUITARS: Always lay your instrument flat on the floor gently or flat on its side next to a chair on top of the case.
Leave your instrument and case in a safe place out of areas of traffic such as the walkway, chairs, driveways and garages.
CELLOS AND BASSES: Always lay the cello or bass on its side with the bridge facing the wall and away from doorways. Never lean the cello or bass standing in the corner or propped up. Do not leave the instrument with endpin out in the middle of the walkway. Always put the endpin back and the cello or bass in its case when you are finished practicing.
Always take the instrument out of the car as soon as you have reached your destination. Do NOT temporarily leave your instrument in the garage or near the side of a car since instruments may be stolen.
Place your instrument in the trunk or back of the car when being transported. Never leave your instrument in the hot car where the heat can warp the wood.
Avoid storing the instrument in the car overnight. Freezing temperatures can crack the wood.
Place your instrument at school in the assigned locker at school.
The instrument should be carried and stored by the student performer, not a friend.
Wash and dry hands after eating, before playing the instrument.
To prevent accidents, the instrument should always be played by the student, not a friend.
Only the student whom the instrument is assigned to may carry and transport the instrument to and from class. Avoid having friends carry or transport instruments to avoid confusion and the possibility of lost or stolen instruments.
Carry the instrument by the neck and bows with the tip pointing upward if walking or in rest position. Do not drop the instrument.
When walking especially through doorways, hold guitars, cellos and double bass sideways with the body of the instrument at a 90 degree angle (c curves facing the student) to avoid bumping or damaging the edges of the instrument.
Place the bow with its tip downward in the case. Be careful not to break the tip when taking it in and out of the case.
Avoid touching the bow hair (horsehair) since grease on fingers will make it black, making the bow unplayable.
Always hold the instrument in the hand or under the arm in rest position when not in use.
Put the instrument in the case as soon as you are finished.
Be aware of where supplies are (case, rosin cloth, rosin, shoulder rest, book, etc.) when practicing in class and at home.
Label personal or purchased instruments with a name tag and put student's name on books, sheet music, and folder, shoulder rest, music stand, rosin, etc.
Store instruments in a specific, designated place at home and in the locker/spot at school.
Store instruments in the case in a safe place such as next to a wall of a practice room, NOT in the garage.
Strings need to be replaced every three to six months.
Parent/guardians will be responsible for replacing and repairing broken strings and instruments.
Keep left hand finger nails short to avoid eroding and abrading the string.
Be careful to strum the guitar lightly and to use slightly grown right hand finger nails whenever possible on the nylon stringed classical guitar.
Turn fine tuners and pegs on the guitars slowly.
For Orchestral instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass):
Use the fine tuners of orchestral instruments before using pegs. If the tone is too low or hight to tune, ask the teacher to tune the peg (PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE PEGS to avoid breaking strings).
Rosin your bow before playing to get a good sound. Avoid touching the hair to preserve bow tone.
Always loosen the hair of the bow when you are finished using it. Turn the turning screw away from your stomach to tighten it and toward your stomach to loosen it (Righty tighty lefty loosy).
The bow is tight when the distance is about one pencil space between the hair and the bow stick (for violins/violas) or one index finger space between the bow stick and the hair for cello.
The bow stick should always be concave (smiley face bow).
Avoid over-tightening since a convex bow will ruin the bow hair by stretching it too tightly.
If the bridge (the wooden piece holding up the strings) falls down, then place the bridge underneath the strings under the tailpiece and ask the teacher to put it up or take it to a shop to have them put it back up.
Use a soft cloth to wipe off rosin off when finished playing to keep the surface of the instrument and the strings shiny and dust-free. Rosin build up on the varnish will ruin the instrument or be very tedious to remove.
Harsh alcohols, bleach, household cleaners will destroy the varnish on an instrument.
Only use Murphy’s wood oil soap to clean the wooden body (but not the fingerboard).
Take the instrument to a Luthier or restoration shop for major cleaning and repairs.