I should be getting a new viola (well, my first one!) very soonish.

How do I look after it? I take it I need to remove rosin from the viola after playing? My teacher said I needed 2 cloths, she recommended synthetic or silk scarves that she got from charity shops any other ideas/suggestions?

I'm a bit lost

Thanks

I wipe the body with a lint free, cotton cloth to remove the rosin and then use a small microfibre cloth to clean the strings (silk scarves won't pick up the rosin off the strings properly) - that's all.

About once a week, I use a string cleaner to remove any ingrained grease and stuff in the strings.

I don't do anything else except check the bridge after I've retuned it and take it to the luthier once a year for a check up.

Enjoy your new viola!

Thanks! This might be a stupid question, but where could I get such a cloth?

You'll be able to get good safe cloths from photography shops or opticians (though the latter might be a bit small; you can get decent sized clothes in camera shops, though). These are usually termed microfibre cloths, they are lint free, very soft, don't damage (that's why you can use them on your camera lens, or spectacles!), and also can go in the washing machine for a clean

Which tells me who your teacher is going to be!!! She's very good, you'll do well with her and we can compare notes as you go along. Have you got your book(s) yet? I'm only on stage 2 of book 2, but I've had to take things very slowly for health reasons etc.

BTW, you should only have to remove rosin from the strings after playing. If it's all over the instrument body as well, they you're using far too much and Someone will 'tsk!' at you!!!

On cloths, I just use a regular duster. The main complaint against these is that they might leave tiny scraps behind, but I just remove the occasional fibre that appears on a string (usually near the bridge).

Nothing wrong in using a soft cotton duster. Older dusters that have been washed a number of times are best. All the fluff will have been removed by then.

Avoid plain cotton rags or similar, as they are actually quite abrasive. You also need to use quite a lot of pressure behind them to get the rosin dust off the varnish - and this can result in scratching.

Wrapping the body of the instrument in a silk scarf, before placing it in the case, will halp avoid any scuffing and abrasion. Although to be honest, unless you have a valuable antique instrument, this isn't really necessary.

Thanks for the advice everyone

I've only got cotton (?) hankies lying around at the moment, looks like I might have to find something else

Which books are you using, elisabeth? I'm using Tune a day... got it cheap-ish off ebay along with some others and that's the one she liked best

other than cleaning rosin off the strings (i use the yellow dusters), i can't suggest much, except sometimes the rosin accdumulates anyway, so every month or so i use nail polish remover/perfume on the strings (dont get it on the instrument!) to remove the rosin.

x

I'm assuming you mean that's the book of the ones you have that she liked best? We do the 'Essential String Method' series, which I daresay you'll be encouraged to get hold of at some point.

I got the 3 old Tune a Day books at the exam centre recently for 50p each!!!

Yep, that's what I meant

First proper lesson tonight, eeeek!

And I want to hear all about it!

Well.... I did a lot of pizzicato SO I have to practice that over the next week or so, as well as bow hold (on a pencil!)

We also did a lot of adjusting my shoulder rest, and making sure my posture was good

I'm just about to start a new thread to talk about our lessons etc.....