Page 3

BOW CARE Always hold a bow by the frog, not by the tip or hair, and carry it with the tip raised, cradling the fragile head; if the bow is dropped, it is better that the bow falls on its frog than on the delicate tip. Avoid contact between fingers and bow hair; oils from the skin on the hair will make it more difficult to draw a clear, resonant tone. Always loosen the hair after playing. This keeps it from stretching unduly, preserves the camber (sweep or curvature of the bow) and helps keep the bow from warping. Keep the bow clean by wiping the stick with a soft, clean, cotton cloth after playing. Pay particular attention to the area underneath the shaft between hair and stick. Never tap or strike the head of the bow against the stand, or swish the bow through the air to remove excess rosin. Make sure the bow hair is even and full. When the ribbon of hair becomes uneven due to broken hairs, the bow becomes more susceptible to warpage and needs to be rehaired. Should the hair stretch to the point that tightening does not allow sufficient tension for the hair to clear the stick, or if the hair becomes so short that the stick is under constant tension even when the screw is fully loosened, the hair will need to be shortened, lengthened, or the bow rehaired. It is unnecessary to rosin the bow every time an instrument is played; too much rosin produces a gritty sound. Apply rosin sparingly and evenly, drawing the bow hair over the rosin in even strokes. Rotating the rosin cake will prevent deep grooves from forming in it. To avoid damage from mites and insects which can destroy bow hair, keep your case off the floor, especially carpeted areas or closets. Where this problem is severe, a cedar block placed in the accessory compartment of the case may help repel these pests. Mothballs (napthalene) can be used, placed only in the accessory compartment, not the instrument case cavity. Caution: mothballs may have an adverse effect on the varnish of the instrument. On any bow, there is a tendency towards wearing out the edge of the leather thumb grip near the frog, causing the thumb to erode the wood underneath (especially forcellists). The leather thumb grip should be replaced, or a protective leather patch put, on to prevent further damage. Some players use a length of surgical rubber over this area to protect the stick. Avoid playing on the side of the stick, which will damage octagonal facets, and wear the stick. Players may vary the tension of the hair to accommodate the type of piece being played; an aggressive, fortissimo passage may require a slightly more tensioned stick. "Providing music education for our children is an essential part of developing cultural literacy in this country. When people are culturally literate, it means that they can think about things on many different levels, consider things thoroughly, and make choices based upon an understanding of things spoken and unspoken. It means that people can be articulate about their ideas and feelings. It means they can promote excellence in all areas. There is no place that develops these skills like the study of music. Music enhances the education of our children by helping them make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children's education."-Yo-Yo Ma, cellist