Summer Festival Self-Care Kit
- nmhmusic
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
For your bows and instruments!
We all look forward to the exciting performances of Summer Festival Season, but between the hot dry air, blazing sun, and the quick humidity of summer showers, summers can wreak havoc on bowed string instruments and bows! Here are some good tips and tricks for navigating playing shows and attending festivals in the Centennial State and beyond.
HOT VEHICLES
If you wouldn't hang out in your car, your instrument shouldn't either.
On a sunny day, a car's interior can heat up by 40 degrees F within an hour, regardless of the temperature outside: when it's sunny, the air trapped under the glass acts like a greenhouse.
At 100 degrees F, hide glue, rosin, and soft varnishes begin to soften. This can cause rosin to melt in your case and make a sticky mes, it can cause the glue that holds seams together to melt an dseparate teh pieces of your instrument, and it can leave your varnish "imprint-able". At higher temperatures, cracks can form as well! Really, high heat is a true nightmare for an instruments-- just bring it with you wherever you're going!
It's also worth noting: insurance companies will often not cover damage done to instruments that have been left in a car.
What to do: just don't leave your bebé in the car! Heck, bring it into a restaurant and flaunt what a baddie you are!
BATTLING HUMIDITY FLUCTUATIONS
Extreme shifts in moisture are a nightmare for wood. Whether you're heading to the bayou or the mountains, keep these ideas in mind:
Low to High Humidity: Keep an eye on your bow hair length. Excessive moisture makes hair stretch. If it gets too long, you'll end up playing directly on the stick which can damage the wood! Additionally, the frog can travel to the back of the mortise, and if overly tightened can crack the handle of the stick! Pegs can also swell and be difficult to tune.
High to Low Humidity: Sudden dryness can cause wood to shrink, which can lead to open seams and cracks. This can shrink pegs causing difficulty keeping strings in tune.
What to do: We are big proponents of using Boveda packs (particularly the 49% packs). They are two-way humidity stabilizers-- if it's too humid, they absorb moisture; if it's too dry, they release moisture. Additionally, they are cost-effective, easy to use, and have no drawbacks that we've found! You can buy these here at Denver Violins!
SUNSCREEN AND BUG SPRAY: THE SILENT VARNISH DISSOLVERS
Sunscreen, hand sanatizer, and bug spray all contain ingredients that can dissolve varnish!
What to do: wash your hands! If you need to wear sunscreen on your neck where it touches the instrument, create a barrier with a microfiber or silk cloth :-)
IN GENERAL
Always loosen your bow when it's not in use: if you're in drier climes than you're used to, your bow hair will shorten, an dif the bow is left tight, it can cause long-term issues with the stick, and can leave the bow more vulnerable to breakage of the head.
When it's hot out (and really, in general), try to touch the body of your instrument as little as possible-- sweat, sunscreen, bug spray, lotion, and hand sanitizer can all dissolve varnish and make your instrument very messy!
Have FUN! If your instrument encounters any long-term issues, we're here to help!
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