
General Instrument Handling!
There is one aspect of bowed string instrument instruction that is not often discussed outside violin shops, and that is how to properly handle instruments when you are not playing them.
As we discussed in our first newsletter, varnish can be very fragile and susceptible to wear when interacting with outside forces. Damage to varnish can be costly to repair, and can even impact an instrument’s value.
In addition to reactions with our natural body chemistry, any number of chemical reactions can occur when varnish interacts with the everyday things we use on our hands: lotion can gum up an instrument, hand sanitizer can dissolve varnish, cheeseburger grease can make you drool…
One of the best ways to help preserve the instrument is to hold it by the neck and chin rest area rather than grasping the body.
In short (thank you to Dmitry for modeling):

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