Yes it’s freezing; what a beautiful weather it was this morning in Drenthe and I’m sure you too! Our turkeys don’t want to go inside but are sitting proudly on the lumberyard roof. Dear devils!
Cold so…
I got some apps; “Help teacher, my string is loose”, “The key is lame; what should I do?” and more of these call for help.
Why are the keys jumping off? They’re not stuck in your curl. They are tapered and just “couture”! Tailor-made. When it freezes, the air gets dry and it takes the moisture out of your cello and therefore also from your wooden key. It gets smaller and doesn’t fit correctly in the keyhole anymore and comes loose.
How do you prevent loose jumping keys and thus strings?
The wood must remain moist enough not to shrink. So moistening your space is great for your instrument. Check your hygrometer; some violin makers recommend 55% humidity and some up to 65%. Do you have an old cello? Consider the Trophy Humidifier which is a sponge trunk you hang in your cello. Yes just like Dampit, a more expensive brand but seemingly the same material, colour and also weight…
Consider Gear4music; they are cheap providers of this article. Read here how it works and what to do.
Time for a movie how to rewind your string. I didn’t have time to make one myself yet: that’s why I looked on Youtube and in every movie there was the truth of course, but what surprised me is that most movies lying on their cello provided with a new string. The most difficult thing with this weather is to push the key firmly into the curl of the cello so that it stays stuck by itself.
It is after all tapered and must remain stuck due to the pressure. I prefer to do this standing up so that I can use a lot of pressure and feel good with the string. Slowly turn the string to its height, for example one second or one third per turn. Above all try to prevent that you pull your D string for example to an E; then it can just jump to pieces and then unfortunately you have to replace the string. (If you are going to replace a string, ask your teacher for advice and please do NOT go for cheap. You will regret this a lot. Consider my “top of the bill” preference; A and D by Larsen, G and D ditto or for beginning cellists D’Addario Helicore: more elastic and easier to carry with you because of the stick.)
Come a movie!
It takes its time.
Are you the pointer? I hope so.
Moisture arrow so up; nice damp towels on your heater, pots of water with newspapers upright, and the worse your house is insulated the better. Because if there is moisture outside, it can come in. In view of my studio on the Haparandaweg:
* closer to the window it’s fresher than in the back of the studio, fresh is good.
* Low on the ground is better than higher in the air on the (cello) closet.
* Grids open is fresh but best.
Are you helping this? I hope so.
Success! Mail me your questions.
Greetings Scarlett!
