Welcome to Strings!

Violin: The violin possesses the highest pitch range of the four instruments, and the modern violin shape
became common in Italy around 1550. The violin borrowed ideas from three separate string instruments
that were already commonplace. Gasparo da Salo and Andrea Amati, two well-known sixteenth-century
luthiers (maker of stringed instruments), are credited as the two pioneers of the modern-day violin,
whose instruments still exist today.

Viola: The viola, with the next-highest pitch range, came into existence around 1530. Slightly bigger
than the violin, the viola has gone through several modifications during its history, and some would argue
the viola is still in development. The term viola could have referred to any stringed instrument of the day
and was not used exclusively for our modern-day viola (referred to as the alto or alto-tenor violin) until
the eighteenth century.

Cello: Also known as the violoncello, the cello can trace its history to the bass violin. Antonio Stradivari is
credited with standardizing the size of the cello in the early eighteenth century. Early bass violins were
played with the instrument resting on the floor, but by the early eighteenth century, common practice
became to play while holding the instrument between the legs. The use of the endpin was not employed
until the late nineteenth century.

Double String Bass: Possessing the lowest pitch range of these four instruments, the string bass
became a standard fixture of the modern-day orchestra only as recently as in the early nineteenth
century, thanks to the efforts of luthiers developing the modern shape of the bass and players that
highlighted the string bass musical abilities. Two styles of basses arose early in its development, namely
the French and German styles. The string bass has gone through several developmental changes in its
history, including number of strings that has ranged from three to six, and the size, which early versions
were up to 15 feet tall and required two players. Two bow types are still in use today, them being the
French bow and the German bow, derived from the two styles of basses.

Bow: The use of a bow to play a stringed instrument can be traced to ninth century China. The curve of
the bow was actually convex and curved away from the hair in its early history. The modern bows
concave curve was not developed until the 1780s.

Violin/Viola Cello Double String Bass Bow

Some tips to manage and care for your stringed instrument:

String instruments are quite fragile, so make sure only you and a parent are touching the
instrument at any time.
Keep the instrument away from extreme temperatures and humidity. As
the body of the instruments are wood, they can easily crack under
certain conditions.
Clean the instrument with a cloth after every use.
Loosen the bow hairs before putting the instrument away. Constant
tension in the bow hairs will cause problems with the bow.
Never touch the bow hair with your bare hands. The oil from your
body will ruin the hairs and they will need to be replaced.
Replace bow hairs annually. Rosin (above) increases the friction
of the bow hair when rubbed on for
clarity and accuracy of tone
String replacement

At times, due to various circumstances, the strings on your instrument may need to be replaced.
Although getting it done at a professional violin repair shop is ideal, here are the steps to replacing the
strings yourself if you are confident in your abilities:

1. Make sure that you remove one string at a time (if replacing multiple strings).
2. Check to see if the pegs are turning smoothly. Add some graphite (lead from pencils is an easy
source) to the top of the groove on the nut and the bridge so that the strings will slide easier.
3. Insert the string through the hole on the peg. The string should rest on top of the peg.
4. Turn the peg so the string wraps around the peg, and make sure the end is bound under the
string so the string stays firmly in place and doesnt change pitch.
5. As you wrap the string around the peg, make sure the string ends up next to the peg box.
6. Take the other end of the string and insert through the hole in the tailpiece. It may need to be
knotted at the end to secure its place.
7. Turn the peg until it is in tune, then pull on the string a few times, then retune. Repeat the
process several times. This process helps the string adjust to the new tension of the instrument
so the strings stay in tune longer for future use.

Instrument rentals/purchase

Your local music shop should have many string instruments available for rentals and purchases.
Depending on your level of commitment to learning the instrument, your purchase options may differ
from others. Some tips on what to do when you are ready to rent or purchase an instrument:

Try several different ones at the shop to get a feel for the instrument. You want the instrument
to feel comfortable. Even after testing a few at the shop, ask if you could borrow two or three
instruments for a week to try them at home, then return the ones you dont want.
If you cant find an instrument that you feel comfortable with, try a different shop.
Rent/Purchase the best quality that you can afford. Different instruments are more expensive for
a reason. A $5000 violin will sound better than a $50 violin.

We are so excited that you are

interested in playing a string instrument!
Heres to a great school year!