Keep the viola away from extreme temperature changes, store it in its case when not in use, polish it, clean it, and look after the pegs and strings are the best viola care tips. It’s also a good idea to insure a viola because musical instruments can easily break, get lost, or stolen. Daily use of the viola can put a lot of strain on the instrument, necessitating more maintenance as time goes on.
Wooden instruments necessitate a great deal of attention. Putting constant pressure on the strings will cause them to wear out much faster, so knowing how to re-string a viola is ideal. Grease and debris on the hands can erode the wood finish, so viola cleaning should be done frequently.
The sound and overall structure of the viola are also affected temperature. Extreme temperature swings should be avoided at all costs because they have the potential to permanently warp the wood. The wood finish and strings can also be damaged direct sunlight. Viola care also entails keeping the instrument away from extremely humid environments or direct sunlight.
If a viola cannot be kept away from very dry or hot areas, a damp cloth can be placed inside the viola to provide humidity. Cracks in the viola can form in dry and hot environments. As a result, the viola should never be placed near a heat source or a heating vent. The varnish or glue can also melt if it is left in a hot vehicle for an extended period of time. A visible instrument that is left unattended in a vehicle is also vulnerable to theft.
The varnish on a viola should only be touched once in a while, according to proper viola care. Fingerprints and dirty fingers can permanently damage the viola and make it look unsightly. Because the varnish is so delicate, hard surfaces can dent or nick the viola’s finish. There are special cleaners for violins and violas that safely remove dirt and fingerprints without harming the varnish.
The viola’s strings deteriorate over time, especially if rosin is allowed to sit on top of the strings for an extended period of time. As a result, daily viola care typically entails rubbing off the rosin with a dry cloth after each use. If you play the viola frequently, you should replace all of the viola strings after a year. Pegs can also be lubricated or made stickier with viola compound or plain chalk.