Caring for Your Violin: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Habits

A violin is wood under tension. Treat it well and it stays healthy for decades; neglect it and small problems become expensive ones. None of this is hard — it's just habits.

Every day

• Wipe the strings and body with a dry, soft cloth after playing. Rosin dust and finger oils are the enemy; a quick wipe prevents buildup that dulls tone and finish.
• Loosen the bow before you put it away. Storing a bow tight warps the stick over time.
• Close the case. Dust, knocks, and curious hands all do damage.

Every week

• Check the bridge is standing straight (it tends to lean toward the fingerboard as you tune). Gently correct it if it's tilting.
• Give the body a slightly more thorough wipe, paying attention to where the chin contacts the instrument.

Every month

• Inspect the strings for fraying or false (buzzy, won't-tune) notes. Most players change strings every few months to a year depending on how much they play.
• Check the bow hair — if it's gone grey, sheds constantly, or won't grip even with fresh rosin, it's due for a rehair.

The Philippine humidity factor

Our climate is hard on instruments. High humidity swells wood and loosens pegs; sudden aircon-to-outdoor swings are worse. We wrote a dedicated guide: Protecting Your Violin in Philippine Humidity.

When to see a luthier

Corona Strings doesn't do repairs ourselves — we're players and curators, not luthiers. For a fallen soundpost, an open seam, a crack, or a bridge that needs fitting, see a trusted Metro Manila luthier. Don't try to force a soundpost or glue a crack yourself; you'll usually make it costlier to fix. If you need a referral, reach out and we'll point you to someone we trust.