From the field

Tag: orchestra

  • The Importance of Winterizing Your Fleet

    “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

    – Ben Franklin, 1735 regarding fire safety in Philly

    If you usually have your classroom instruments on racks for convenient racks, like I do, the thought of casing them all up every time it gets cold sounds daunting.  But doing so protects your fleet from open seams, cracks, broken strings, and warping (bow included).  Here’s your suggested game plan for three different scenarios.

    Scenario 1. Annual Common Sense 

    Place an HVAC request with your campus asking for temperature control on your classroom, not to drop below 70 degrees, at the start of winter break until after you return from spring break.  (earlier if temperatures will be sustained below freezing)

    The lack of humidity in the winter is an ongoing problem.  If you have Dampits for every instrument in your room then good for you, you little weirdo!  If not, placing containers of water in your classroom can provide some relief due to steady evaporation and doesn’t require monitoring and refilling.  You can use buckets or plastic containers, just try to place them in corners to avoiding spilling. 

    Scenario 2. Business as Usual – When Temps Hover Near Zero and Classes are in Session

    At the end of class or day have students case instruments, including the bow.  Not only are you teaching your students how to care for their instruments, you’re also checking to see how many put their cases on backwards!

    Scenario 3. Emergency Mode – Classes May be Suspended for an unknown Amount of Time Due to Weather

    During your final class or after dismissal move instruments away from exterior walls and off the floor.  This protects bottoms of cellos/basses from the freezing concrete slab (increased protection against open seams) and water if your pipes burst.  Have students help uncase and move everything back when you return.

    Stay cozy and please share your winterization photos and videos with me!

  • Passing the time with bows

    Checking the angles of the tip plug.

    After a long week at school I chose to unwind by rehairing some bows.  The quiet, the unique nature of each bow, and the possibilities each piece of musical materiel I return to service fuel my passion for repair.

    I started by choosing some viola bows unmarked by brand or maker but of sturdy student quality.  I thought they would be great to keep around my classroom for demonstration purposes or, more usefully, as spares when a student bow fails.  However, I quickly realized why the hairs were so old on the ones I’d chosen to return to service…the bows were never meant to be rehaired in the first place.

    Using my plug pusher to put the plug in place.

    This collection of bows once accompanied low quality student instruments that had been purchased online then donated to my program after the student quit (no wonder).  The price point of these instruments makes it so the instrument and bow are barely functional, frustrating to use, and not meant for longevity.  As an orchestra director, you quickly realize it’s always a good idea to have some extra instruments and bows in your fleet in the event of damage, need, or a newly-enrolled student who needs to start playing yesterday.

    Cutting the plug.

    After detaching the frog I discovered the slide was just decoration and cracking it open revealed the remaining hair and plug.  Furthermore, both the frog and tip plugs appeared super-glued!  I would resign myself to the inevitability of throwing the sticks away as they are useless without functional frogs.

    After realizing my viola bow rehairs will go nowhere that night, I moved on to a lonely 1/2 size cello bow.  Lovely bow in need of rehair and deep cleaning, but otherwise healthy.  After cleaning then polishing, I trimmed the hair from the student-grade hank I keep on hand and tied one end with care.

    A view of my bench and assorted tools.
    Tying the end of the hairs.
    Singing the ends of my knot.
    Trimming some excess hair.
    Getting the hairs ready to be placed in the mortise.

    The original tip plug was a bit gluey and hardened with age but, most disappointingly, was a bit loose.  I cut a new plug which takes great time and attention, not only to get the angles right but to get every part of the plug to match the mortise.  My new plug, alas, was also eventually a bit loose.  Both plugs went in my ziplock bag of “didn’t fit but might fit something else” plugs. 

    Assessing the fit.
    Retrieving a wayward plug.
    The cello bow in my bow jig and my collection of handmade plugs.

    So, the journey continues.  Correctly diagnosing the problem, finding the least invasive solution, and completing the job, all the while reducing the time from start to finish is what I consider time well spent.  Time to brew a fresh cup of tea and try again. 

    “Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.” – Johannes Brahms