An instrument, such as the violin, that makes such an exquisite and finely tuned sound is bound to be sensitive and delicate. Because of this, they require daily maintenance and sometimes professional violin repair.

From your own home, you can ensure that your violin lives a long happy life by giving it daily care. The most basic and perhaps essential task is cleaning the rosin off after playing. Excess dust from rosin will not only wear the string out quickly, it can also build up on the face of the violin and eventually cause damage to the varnish.

Many violinists experience frustration when the tuning pegs slide too easily or stick. This may be fixed by creating and applying a solution of alcohol and rosin or simply some chalk will suffice. If the problem persists, the instrument should be brought to the shop. Care must be taken in winding the strings as well, so they do not break from friction.

Replacing a broken string is a simple repair that may be done by the musician himself. This is simply done by threading the string through a tiny hole in the peg and winding away from the body. When tension is first sensed, one should take care in continuing to twist the peg little by little to tune the instrument. Fine tuners are a good idea, especially for beginners, because they allow the strings to be tuned in small increments and reduce the risk of breaking a string.

A bridge is a small wooden object that supports the strings on the surface of the instrument. Sometimes it breaks or warps from either tension or humidity. If this occurs, the bridge may be replaced by the owner. This small repair and the replacement of strings are the only adjustments that the musician is recommended to do himself.

Adjustment to the sound post is one of the most important repairs that can be made on the violin. This is because the size and position of the post has a startling effect on the sound quality of the instrument. One should seek out a skilled luthier to perform this task. If the wood is cracked in any way, a skilled professional can also take care of this.

Violins, especially those made with great skill and care, are expected to last for hundreds of years. An old violin does not mean a poorly functioning one, unless it has not been properly cared for. Along with daily maintenance, instruments should be brought to the shop about twice a year for violin repair.