There is no way around it: learning a musical instrument is going to be challenging this coming school year. School orchestra, music classes, and lessons with a private teacher are crucial interactions for progressing and staying engaged in music. For some students, losing access to a good instrument at school stands in the way of their musical education. In the days of seemingly endless time at home, continuing to play an instrument this fall could be the best tool for a student to stay engaged in another semester of virtual learning. Besides the proven benefits of stress reduction, increased cognitive function, and sharper problem solving skills, musical instruments require a regimen of daily practice that can offer structure and routine to students and parents while we are safely social distancing.
How do you maintain your musical journey at home? First, start by making sure you have a good instrument.
“With music lessons being online, it’s even more important to have an instrument that works,” says Rebecca Hannigan, owner and luthier of Annapolis Bows and Violins. “Having an instrument that is easy to play and set up properly can be the difference between a student quitting or continuing.”
“In times of a pandemic,” Rebecca adds, “it is safest not to share your instrument with other players.”
When faced with the prospect of starting a string instrument, many parents look to find the cheapest deals on violins and violas. “This can backfire,” Rebecca explains. “You might end up spending much more money fixing that instrument to make it playable than you would have on a solid student instrument in the first place.”
Even if you’ve never played before, renting makes trying an instrument easy. For an affordable monthly fee, you can play a professionally set-up violin and know that your local luthier will attend to any adjustments, broken strings, or equipment needs. At Annapolis Bows & Violins, customers can rent any size violin or viola month-to-month, and rest easy knowing that all repairs and maintenance are covered through the rental agreement.
Once you have your instrument, maintenance at home is simple. It’s important to always wash your hands before playing. (If you must use hand sanitizer before playing, make sure to let the hand sanitizer dry fully before you start your practice session! Alcohol-based sanitizer will damage the varnish.) After playing, wipe the top and strings with a soft cloth to clean off any rosin your bow left behind.
Annapolis Bows & Violins is ready to safely take appointments for rentals, rehairs, repairs, adjustments, and restorations! To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit their site at www.annapolisbows.com.