1. How to pick a suitable violin for yourself?
A performer has to learn more and more time by self. He/she can be able to pick which is suitable and even an instrument-maker as well.
Although you can pick a suitable violin in accord with your age by violin-specification provided but it is not absolutely the way for every performer.
Instrument is personal property of culture which is matched each other between performer and maker.
Both of them share their own experience and learn how to pick in a correct way. It is one of way of picking.
Violin differentiation
1. Understand the materials and processes.
2. Understand the key point of making.
3. Understand all the accessories in set up.
4. Be sure the specification of violin for performers.
5. Be sure & pick a suitable instrument for self by trying.
6. Discuss with violin-maker for further information.
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2. How to pick a suitable bow for yourself?
A performer picks a suitable bow for self; usually it is much difficult than to pick a violin.
If Violin is body, Bow must be soul absolutely.
Bow differentiation
1. Understand the materials and processes.
2. Understand the key point of making.
3. Understand the key point of assembly of bow and frog.
4. Be sure the specification of bow for performers.
5. Test bow: Bring you used instrument for trying which is suitable for self (ex: weight, tension and control).
6. Discuss with bow-maker for further information.
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3. How long need to change the string for performers?
How to be sure a performer needs to change his/her string during performing?
A set of string shall be changed after using 4~6 months. A period of top performance is around two months.
A performer usually changes his/her string before two weeks ago for concert or competition.
In order to a new string can adapt to violin and make it to be stable in tension. If the string is rusted, discolored, the pitch is become unstable; the surface of string is oxidized or even become peeled, it is the time of changing string.
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4. Attention for changing string for performers
When a performer changes his/her string who shall be changed a strip of string once in order to avoid the pressure of string losing its Sound Post position or even fall down. In the case we also suggest that you can change it to Nylon string which is in a good credit of brand. After changing the string you shall prepare a 2B pencil (or other soft pencil) and then make a mark in the four grooves of string of top-nut in order to leave the powder of pencil and graphite in
It will be helpful to adjust or lubricate during tuning, and also can be reducing its damage probabilities as well.
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5. How to maintain and inspect by self for performers (First)?
If a performer can be able to know and keep own instrument in a good status, damages and bad-maintained probabilities will be reduced.
The common damages are as follows:
a. Bow Hair wear out
b. Tip break
c. Frog break
d. Fingernail wears during using
e. Stick slant and deform
f. Others
(1) bow
If a performer takes an antique bow or famous expert made, such as the bow usually the price would be down very much after maintaining. You can select Super Sensitive Holder Auxiliary or pay attention to own fingernail length. At second quality material the common matter is that the stick cannot restore its elasticity and tension to be made the stick slant and deform in practices by using a long time; therefore we suggest repairing. For the broken section just keep an eye on own bow and used to replace after performing.
(2)Bridge
Violin’s part is complemented each other. The bridge is one of main sound between string and resonance box. The bridge’s height, depth, distance of string and seal tightness of bridge feet must be fitted with body. Be attention the bridge whether it is vertical with panel or slant during changing the string. If the bridge slants front a little, should make straight carefully in order to avoid the bridge deform, break or even damage the panel, the groove of string hollowed is as well. You can use sheep skin or fish skin to stick on the string’s groove for keeping the surface during making.
(3) Sound Post
The position of Sound Post we suggest that it can be adjusted by violin-maker. It must be according to the proportion of instrument in making. The touch surface of the left and right side of Sound Post must be fit for the panel and back of violin. The size of Sound Port should make properly in order to keep straight because heat and cold would be damaged the panel and back. If your Sound Post falls down, you shall loosen the four strings first and then take it to repair. All the accessories are fitted for violin; it will be made double effects for performers.
(4)Pegs
Performers use their pegs much more than other parts. The common damaged section is pegbox’s wear and pegs which is difficult to tune if the friction reduces. Besides, performers used to push more pressure in order to fit the pegs inside when it was difficult to tune. By the way it is very easy to make pegs crack except changing new one. However we can properly use Peg Dope and Peg Drop a little.
If the hole of peg is worn too much without assembly available, we suggest that you can take it to repair who can be able to restore in filling up with Maple or Boxwood for Peg Bushing..
(5)Vanish & Clean
Maintaining Method:
(1)Keep clean:
Clean all the powder of rosin and sweat out after performing or practicing. Both of them are belonged to micro-acidity and also can make product eroded. Furthermore, a lot of powder of rosin gather over will be crystallized; it will be influencing panel’s vibration, performance and varnish as well.
(2)Avoid sunshine directly:
The sun shines on the varnish of violin directly will be become chemical changes. If the varnish is discolored gradually, do not bring out in a space of temperature changing often in order to avoid the varnish chaps.
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6.How to maintain and inspect by self for a performer (Second)?
(1)Violin preserve in environment
As the temperature and humidity are changing often in Taiwan except from external forces, performers need to know the situation. Therefore, the best way is using Constant Temperature Control or Dry-box as well. The suitable relative humidity is around 50%. If necessary, you have to bring overseas such as Europe. We suggest that you can put in moisturized tube for keeping whole body completely.
(2) Neck and Finger Board
By using a long time in performing and practicing the common damage is Finger Board hollowed and deformed, Neck unglued and the angle of elevation of body lowered gradually.
In common damages performers used to pare the Bridge height a little in order to use convenient.
This action will be made the Stop Length increased and the pressure of String lowered for violin to be become the sound heavy. Finger Board hollowed and deformed are influenced on performance to be made noise.
Above we suggest that you can take to violin-maker who can do Plane and Adjustment.
(3)Cracks and Bruises
One of the best ways of keeping is put in violin case after performing. If you put in temperature and humidity changing often place, it will be increasing your instrument cracked and discolored probabilities.
Normally, you shall have a good habit for putting in your violin case after performing in order to keep safely. If your instrument was broken by hit, you should keep the broken section clean, even the fragment as well and then bring to violin-maker for restoring.
(4)Bassbar
It is supporting the pressure of string and transmits the section of vibration of low-pitched. It does not need to maintain ordinary but it depends on the situation of damaged in process of maintenance to be changed.
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7.How long need to change Bow Hair?
How to be sure when a performer shall change his/her Bow Hair during performing?
Performers need to loosen their Bow Hair after performing. The action can be increased its lifespan and avoid as follows:
Bow Hair has no any limit of changing but we suggest performers can be according to their habit and practice time to do.
As the following situations we suggest which can be changed:
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