Your decision to buy a new instrument means that maintenance will not be a major part of your life. Caring for your Prodigy Instrument doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. It can be as easy as following a simple routine , as prescribed by your teacher, and remembering these helpful care of string instruments tips from the luthiers at Prodigy.

1. Wash your hands before playing.
2. Know where string instruments are vulnerable.
3. Keep your instrument clean.
4. Clean your bow.
5. Loosen the bow hair after playing.
6. Always use the case.
7. Consider investing in a better case.
8. Learn to do simple maintenance.
9. Know when to visit a professional.
10. Protect your instrument from non-players.   

Think of all the things your hands touch in a day. You can be transferring minute particles from everything you touch to your instrument’s strings and fittings. Even if they appear clean to the eye, your instrument can still be affected by unseen contaminations, sweat and acid from your hands. Washing your hands before handling your instrument is a good habit to get into.

Necks are not varnished on most string instruments, including Prodigy. So the neck is the best place to hold your instrument. Endpins and chinrests are also less likely to be damaged by your hands. So feel free to hold your instrument by them, particularly if you’re using two hands. Perspiration and abrasion from fingers can degrade the varnish and eventually damage the instrument.

Always wipe the strings, fingerboard and the top of your instrument with a soft cloth before putting it back in its case. Remove rosin and make sure any dirt or sweat from your fingers has been removed from the fingerboard. Dirty strings and fingerboards compromise your Prodigy instrument’s natural good looks. If left to corrode they will eventually require replacement.

Run your cleaning cloth between the stick and the hair of your bow to remove rosin from the stick . Ensure that your bow makes it back into the case as clean as when it came out.

Loosen the bow hair before putting the bow back in the case. It’s a very simple thing to do. But failing to do so will stretch the hair and eventually, the stick will become weakened, causing it to warp. Loosening the hair relieves this needless pressure, which results in a longer lasting bow .

How you choose to store and transport your string instruments has a great long-term effect on their appearance, playability, sound and value. Repair shops report that the majority of damage they see results from careless placement of string instruments and bows after use. Quite simply, if your instrument is not in your capable hands, it should be in its case. There, it is safe from almost any potential harm

Prodigy provides a good high-quality case with every string instrument. But depending on your rehearsal and travel schedule, it might be prudent to invest in a flight-case . This stronger, heavier case is resistant to higher levels of impact, pressure and temperature extremes. Your instructor can recommend a case that suits your individual situation.

There are many examples of simple maintenance that you can participate in. Keeping your string instruments clean and safe is the first order of business. Replacing strings is also something that musicians can learn to do themselves. Your instructor will take you through those steps when the time is right.

Take your Prodigy Instrument and bow to a qualified repair shop from time to time. Minor adjustments, such as straightening the bridge, adjusting the soundpost, cleaning accumulated rosin and dirt, repairing minor openings, must always be done by professionals . This also includes rehairing of bows, repairing or replacing grips. If you’re not sure, take your instrument and bow to the repair shop. Qualified service is your best insurance to maintain your instrument’s long-term value.

As a musician, you’ve spent a huge portion of your life learning how to look after your string instruments. Eventually, caring for your instrument, and handling it properly becomes second nature. Those who don’t play string instruments always want to hold them and play with them. But it’s imperative that you resist the temptation to let non-musicians handle your Prodigy Instrument. Playing music is fun. Having your instrument damaged by someone, even someone who means well, is no fun at all. There’s no point in trying to explain why they can’t touch your instrument. They just don’t understand all the things that can affect string instruments. The best policy with people who don’t play is to leave your instrument in its case. Buying your Prodigy Instrument new means that care and upkeep is never a chore. But there are many other reasons why your Prodigy instrument is such a great value . Now that you know how to take care of them, get up close and personal with our violins, violas, or cellos .