when i always played w/ my grandfathers fiddle, untill he bought me my own. It was my pride and joy for a while then i put it up and haven't played it since. Now that Im grown and a teacher my class (2 year olds) is learning the word fiddle friday so i am going to take mine to the classroom and introduce the kids to it.
My question is..the resin in it is hard and I guess dried up. I don't really know anywhere around here that sells it, is there a way to soften it up so that I can TRY to play them a few notes. right now it doesn't work b/c i dont have any resin....I am wanting to take it thsi coming friday..any advice would be appricated it..thanks!
Disagree with mickray there. I've seen the effect of old, dried up rosin, and it's unuseable, whatever you do to it. I can't believe there's nowhere to buy rosin. Just go to the nearest big(ish) town and find a music shop. Any music shop will sell rosin.
I don't know if this would work for old dried up rosin, never had that yet, but when my rosin has shattered when I dropped it on the floor, I've used a candle flame to melt it back together, and it gets very gooey and sticky, not at all hard. Then it hardens back up to its normal consistency when it cools down. I wonder if you were to melt your rosin, if it would bounce back. Maybe worth a try? Just don't set anything important on fire!
Depends on how old it is and what kind of rosin it is.
I know from experience that rosin's still usable when it's up to 25 years old. In that case - as mickray says - just score the surface with sandpaper or something and the rosin cake ought to be usable.
Another question though is, "what kind of rosin is it?". If it's the cheap yellow rectangular brick - then it's arguable whether or not it was usable the day it was purchased. You can get it on the bow hair, but it gives a lousy tone and powders off onto the fiddle quickly.
So, in that case you're better off just driving as far as you have to and buying a better grade of dark rosin. Hill dark rosin's the most common. Most music stores carry it. And it'll do just fine.
thanks for the replys! I tried scratching the surface and I do have a sound when I play the fiddle now. It sounds horrible still but I dont know if its in tune..like I said its been years since I've gotten it out..it could of always been that hard, i don't remember just seemed like it didn't work until I scratched it. I haven't gotten the fiddle out for at least 10-15 years. Now I've just got to figure out how to tune it..anyone know of any sites to help me with this or to show me notes. I used to could play mary had a little lamb..I'd like to play at least one song for the kids.
also to answer the question asked..it is a dark kind I'm not sure what kind but I'm pretty sure it is hill dark. also, I'm going to try to find a music store..I'm new to the area.
If the fiddle has been in its case for 10-15 years, then it's not going to be in good condition to play. The strings will be far past their due, and you probably need new hair on the bow and a check of the soundpost.
But you don't seem to be going for putting the fiddle in top order, so that stuff may not matter to you.
As for tuning, you need a reference A, from a pitch pipe, piano, tuning fork, or whatever else can give you the note, to use to get the A string in tune. Then you tune the other strings to the A, by plucking or bowing adjacent strings at the same time and adjusting until they are in tune.
That's the standard way to tune, but as you can see it's pretty hard to describe exactly how to do it. It's much easier if someone can show it to you.
You could also buy an electronic tuner to help you tune it, but you may not want to pay for something like that just to show the fiddle to your class.
Since the fiddle has been in the case so long the strings should be very flat. Turn the fine tuner(s) out all the way and start tuning up from the pegs. Be careful to turn the pegs slowly up to pitch, if you go too far you can easily break the strings. Once you get close to the pitch, use the fine tuners to tune up to exact pitch. If the bridge tilts forward during tuning, you'll have to carefully pull it back and retune.
I hope that helps. Be careful, as the old strings may break easily.
Let us know how it goes. I'm interested in what the children ask - and how you relate what you do with the violin to what they're currently studying. I went into a school with my harp and asked them questions about which strings they thought were high ones, and then (since they were doing "Jack and the beanstalk" as one of their stories) we made up some music on the harp by following their suggestions about how we could make the music sound like climbing, etc. Probably stuff you already do a lot of but I'd never done it before. It was great fun!!
hey thanks everyone for you comments! Mark Harmer..that is a great idea about jack an dthe beanstalk!..we are also doing that as a story at the end of the month..I may have to redo my lesson plans and have it on the same day or day before! thanks!..I am planning on learning to play it after playing w/ it the last few days i'm really interested in it agian..I'll let everyone know how it goes friday!
For tuning in a pinch, when you do not have to be in tune with anyone else, start by tuning the lowest string to just about any pitch. Then, start singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at the pitch of the lowest string. That string is the first Twinkle. Tune the next string up to the second Twinkle. Then start over making the 2nd string the first Twinkle and match the 3rd string to the next Twinkle, and so on. That way all the strings will be a 5th apart and will be in tune with eachother. If you have to play with someone else, you will have to match your lowest string to their G note and then Twinkle up from there.
question aboutmy fiddle
question aboutmy fiddle
when i always played w/ my grandfathers fiddle, untill he bought me my own. It was my pride and joy for a while then i put it up and haven't played it since. Now that Im grown and a teacher my class (2 year olds) is learning the word fiddle friday so i am going to take mine to the classroom and introduce the kids to it.
My question is..the resin in it is hard and I guess dried up. I don't really know anywhere around here that sells it, is there a way to soften it up so that I can TRY to play them a few notes. right now it doesn't work b/c i dont have any resin....I am wanting to take it thsi coming friday..any advice would be appricated it..thanks!
# Posted on October 6th 2007 by haleyshay
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
Rosin is supposed to be dry and hard.
If you can't get the bow to pick up any, try scoring (scratching) the surface of the cake a bit.
# Posted on October 6th 2007 by John Galt
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
Disagree with mickray there. I've seen the effect of old, dried up rosin, and it's unuseable, whatever you do to it. I can't believe there's nowhere to buy rosin. Just go to the nearest big(ish) town and find a music shop. Any music shop will sell rosin.
# Posted on October 6th 2007 by ethical blend
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
I don't know if this would work for old dried up rosin, never had that yet, but when my rosin has shattered when I dropped it on the floor, I've used a candle flame to melt it back together, and it gets very gooey and sticky, not at all hard. Then it hardens back up to its normal consistency when it cools down. I wonder if you were to melt your rosin, if it would bounce back. Maybe worth a try? Just don't set anything important on fire!
# Posted on October 6th 2007 by seisflutes
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
Depends on how old it is and what kind of rosin it is.
I know from experience that rosin's still usable when it's up to 25 years old. In that case - as mickray says - just score the surface with sandpaper or something and the rosin cake ought to be usable.
Another question though is, "what kind of rosin is it?". If it's the cheap yellow rectangular brick - then it's arguable whether or not it was usable the day it was purchased. You can get it on the bow hair, but it gives a lousy tone and powders off onto the fiddle quickly.
So, in that case you're better off just driving as far as you have to and buying a better grade of dark rosin. Hill dark rosin's the most common. Most music stores carry it. And it'll do just fine.
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by OTJunky
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
How about putting it into the microwave?
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Pere
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
thanks for the replys! I tried scratching the surface and I do have a sound when I play the fiddle now. It sounds horrible still but I dont know if its in tune..like I said its been years since I've gotten it out..it could of always been that hard, i don't remember just seemed like it didn't work until I scratched it. I haven't gotten the fiddle out for at least 10-15 years. Now I've just got to figure out how to tune it..anyone know of any sites to help me with this or to show me notes. I used to could play mary had a little lamb..I'd like to play at least one song for the kids.
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by haleyshay
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
also to answer the question asked..it is a dark kind I'm not sure what kind but I'm pretty sure it is hill dark. also, I'm going to try to find a music store..I'm new to the area.
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by haleyshay
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
If the fiddle has been in its case for 10-15 years, then it's not going to be in good condition to play. The strings will be far past their due, and you probably need new hair on the bow and a check of the soundpost.
But you don't seem to be going for putting the fiddle in top order, so that stuff may not matter to you.
As for tuning, you need a reference A, from a pitch pipe, piano, tuning fork, or whatever else can give you the note, to use to get the A string in tune. Then you tune the other strings to the A, by plucking or bowing adjacent strings at the same time and adjusting until they are in tune.
That's the standard way to tune, but as you can see it's pretty hard to describe exactly how to do it. It's much easier if someone can show it to you.
You could also buy an electronic tuner to help you tune it, but you may not want to pay for something like that just to show the fiddle to your class.
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Marklar
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
This link will give you reference pitches for each string, just adjust your strings until they match:
http://www.get-tuned.com/violin_tuner.php
Since the fiddle has been in the case so long the strings should be very flat. Turn the fine tuner(s) out all the way and start tuning up from the pegs. Be careful to turn the pegs slowly up to pitch, if you go too far you can easily break the strings. Once you get close to the pitch, use the fine tuners to tune up to exact pitch. If the bridge tilts forward during tuning, you'll have to carefully pull it back and retune.
I hope that helps. Be careful, as the old strings may break easily.
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Marklar
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
Here is another ste to help tune your fiddle:
http://www.violinstudent.com/
And here is a site that sells rosin at fairly good prices if you live in the USA:
http://www.swstrings.com/Store/Shopping.jsp?Category=Accessories&SubCategory=Violin&Section=Rosin
Sara
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
After the kids have a look at it take it to a luthier get it set up properly, of course get new strings on and learn to play it.
You won't be sorry.
Mary
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Antikhntr
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
Let us know how it goes. I'm interested in what the children ask - and how you relate what you do with the violin to what they're currently studying. I went into a school with my harp and asked them questions about which strings they thought were high ones, and then (since they were doing "Jack and the beanstalk" as one of their stories) we made up some music on the harp by following their suggestions about how we could make the music sound like climbing, etc. Probably stuff you already do a lot of but I'd never done it before. It was great fun!!
Just make sure they don't sit on your violin.
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Mark Harmer
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
Put the rosin in a tin can and heat it gently over a flame.
When melted tip the very hot liquid into a wooded or ceramic container.
When that cools tip the lump into a soft cloth,
# Posted on October 7th 2007 by Schlongbow
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
hey thanks everyone for you comments! Mark Harmer..that is a great idea about jack an dthe beanstalk!..we are also doing that as a story at the end of the month..I may have to redo my lesson plans and have it on the same day or day before! thanks!..I am planning on learning to play it after playing w/ it the last few days i'm really interested in it agian..I'll let everyone know how it goes friday!
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by haleyshay
Re: question aboutmy fiddle
For tuning in a pinch, when you do not have to be in tune with anyone else, start by tuning the lowest string to just about any pitch. Then, start singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at the pitch of the lowest string. That string is the first Twinkle. Tune the next string up to the second Twinkle. Then start over making the 2nd string the first Twinkle and match the 3rd string to the next Twinkle, and so on. That way all the strings will be a 5th apart and will be in tune with eachother. If you have to play with someone else, you will have to match your lowest string to their G note and then Twinkle up from there.
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by gilesg