Orchestra Care & Maintenance Tips

Last updated 7 months ago

If you play an orchestra instrument, it is your responsibility to take good care of it. There are a couple of basic steps to follow to keep your instrument in great shape. Here are some of the basics of caring for and maintaining stringed orchestra instruments.

Regularly clean your instrument, including the strings. After you are done playing, carefully wipe off the body and strings of the instrument with a soft cloth to remove fingerprints, dust, or body oils that may have accumulated during practice time. Be sure to only use a cleaner or polish that is designed for the type of instrument you are playing.
Restringing is an important part of maintaining your orchestra instrument. If your music sounds off, flat, or strange when you play, then it's probably time to change the strings. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, ask your music teacher to give you some pointers, but this is something that a musician should know how to do.
Just as the strings on your instrument will need to be replaced, so will the hair on your bow. Many professionals agree that this is a job best left to the experts. If your bow hair looks worn, frayed, or breaks, then send it to a repair shop to be rehaired.
Another part of caring for and maintaining your stringed orchestra instrument is rosining the bow. The rosin creates a smooth, rich sound, because it helps the bow catch the string and vibrate, enhancing resonation from the instrument. You can rosin your bow on your own, and this is a crucial step to taking care of your musical instrument.

At RentMYinstrument, we offer students high-quality orchestra instruments for practice and performances. We also carry flutes, trumpets, and saxophones that are available for rental.