Title: Maintaining Your Instrument!
Course: Elementary School Orchestra

Maintaining your instrument

* Never use water or furniture polish on your instrument.

1. When done playing always use a soft cloth to wipe off the fingerprints. If you can't get all the prints, you can put a few drops on water on your cloth, and remove the rest of the prints. But just a few!
2. Use a different cloth to wipe the rosin off the strings. There can be quite a build up on the strings, so don't be afraid to really wipe it all off. It will stop squeaking, when all the rosin is off. Wiping off the strings each time, will help your strings last longer.
3. Once in a while, you can use special polish to shine your instrument. Ask your teacher about that.

Storage of your instrument

1. Never leave your instrument in a cold or warm car. Extreme heat or cold will crack the finish and could possibly tighten your strings, so the bridge pops off. Or in a hot location, they will loosen the strings and your instrument will be extremely out of tune.
2. Just remember to keep it in a safe place, out of the reach of small children.

Be smart about who plays your instrument!

1. Unless it's your parent, do not let anyone else play your instrument. It is very expensive and delicate, and very easy to slip out of your hands.
2. A general rule: Only you should handle your instrument!

Fixing a problem:

* If a string breaks, or in desperate need of tuning, notify your director. Do not let someone else try to fix it (unless they are an experienced string player).