Violin Repair Basics: DIY Instrument Repairs for Orchestra Instruments

Violin Repair Basics: DIY Instrument Repairs for Orchestra Instruments
violin under repair

Keeping orchestral stringed instruments in good playing condition and in the hands of young musicians keeps students practicing and participating in every-day instruction and rehearsals. After taking this course, you will be able to pass along these strategies to students who often learn instrument care and maintenance only from their teachers. Orchestral Music Educators, Department Chairs, District VAPA Coordinators, private teachers, and anyone interested in learning more about their orchestral instrument will benefit by helping keep their students' stringed instruments healthy. Learning, teaching, and practicing the basic maintenance and preventative care outlined in this one-day workshop will help keep repair expenses down as well. In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Learn all the parts/components to the instrument
  • Properly clean instruments
  • Lubricate friction areas including pegs, nut & bridge
  • Keep the bridge in the right position and the right place
  • Check the sound post
  • Properly install strings
  • Care for your bow
  • How to select strings that are best suited for your instruments
  • How to help identify quality from the VSO's (Violin-Shaped-Objects!)
  • Identify and prevent issues that may keep instruments out of a musician’s hands

Teaching and practicing these skills will help keep your class and ensemble on track and sounding their best, as well as help your student musicians develop good habits, develop pride of "ownership" of caring for an instrument that will last a lifetime.

A list of the tools and materials required for this course can be found in the Tools & Materials tab below.

This work was previously titled "Orchestra Repair Basics: DIY Instrument Repairs for Educators"

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Orchestra Repair Basics: DIY Instrument Repairs for Educators

Instructor: Charles Wolf

Tools and Materials

Item Notes
Violin   N/A
Bow With horse hair
Glasser student-level bow Optional - bring if possible
Set of Student-level violin strings to fit your Violin String Sets may be available for purchase in class
Towel For Violin to rest on while on the table/desk
Mechanical #5 or #7 pencil N/A
300mm flexible metal ruler  N/A
Small clean cloth/rag N/A
Bow rosin Any brand is fine
W.E.Hill Peg Compound ("peg dope") Optional, but recommended
Notebook w/ blank, lined paper & pencil/pen N/A
Paper towels N/A
Rubbing Alcohol N/A
Water For dilution purposes
Rosin Remover  N/A

Strings, ruler, rosin, etc. is available from many local music stores, online, or email all4stringssd@gmail.com with questions on where to look.