Zelia Music Ltd

Zelia Music Ltd Zelia Music specialises in a carefully edited selection of string instruments, suitable for everyone from beginning students to professionals.

10/02/2023

Under a microscope, the hairs of a bow look like the teeth of a saw. To keep these teeth sharp when putting on rosin, it is best only to rub in one direction. Use a series of long down bow strokes, beginning at the heel. Protect the rosin from chipping by putting your middle finger over the ferrule (the metal band on the frog from where the hair emerges).

The exception is when putting rosin for the first time on new hair. Then it is best to use short back and forth strokes of about six inches. Begin at the heel and gradually move up the hair. Judge the speed you move up by the feel of the hair on the rosin. As long as the hair feels rough, there is not enough rosin: when there is sufficient, the hair feels smoother. Go along the length of the bow twice, followed by between eight and twenty long down bow strokes, according to the feel of the hair on the rosin, i.e. rough or smooth. (This process is not necessary if your bow rehairer has put rosin on for you.)

This approach can also be used on a bow with hair that has not been rosined for some time, or is old. Obviously, less rosin will be needed than with new hair.

31/12/2022

Nowadays, many music courses insist that you bring with you a spare set of strings in case of breakages. It is a good idea always to carry a set. The easiest way is to keep your last used set of strings in your instrument case, providing they are in a good enough state to be reused briefly. If a string breaks in a concert, it is quicker to put on a used string than a new one, because a new string may need stretching and may well go out of tune.

Generally, lower strings have a longer life than upper ones. You can hear when a string needs changing: the sound becomes thin or weak. Another reason for a change is if the fifths become affected. However, with the high price of modern strings, it can be a help if you only need to change the top ones.

25/11/2022

Changing from a three-quarter cello to a full size involves a hazard not generally considered. The widely used semi-rigid half and three-quarter cases are wisely rounded at the bottom, so that they cannot stand upright. By contrast, full size hard cases can stand upright, but are liable to fall over with the slightest knock, resulting often in a broken cello neck and a four figure repair bill.

The solution is never to stand a cello case upright in a public or outdoor location for more than half a second, unless you have a hand on it. Remember that an uneven surface, or even a thick pile carpet can be a danger. If a cello case lies on its side, the cello is fairly safe.

Another way to protect your cello is always to put in the endpin during orchestral coffee breaks. This lessens the chance of the cello being knocked over by passing traffic.

16/10/2022

It is best to have your violin or cello cleaned by a professional. Keep a clean yellow duster with your instrument and wipe off the rosin each day, particularly on hot days. The primary need of those instrument cleaning formulations sold to the public is that they cannot cause any damage if misused. Professionals do not normally used these products. They have their own techniques which need an experienced hand to produce good results.

22/09/2022

The high price of stringed instruments, particularly cellos, can be a problem for players who have more talent than money.

Cellos that have a repaired sound post crack on the back usually are sold for half the price of intact ones. Provided that this crack has been professionally repaired with an internal patch, such instruments can offer good value. You get twice the quality of instrument for the price paid.

However, some knowledge of the quality of this repair is advisable. A patch laid on the surface gives little protection; one partly let into the back is better, but can still be inadequate. Only a deep patch makes the instrument viable.

Whereas prejudice against cellos with a post crack on the back is understandable, it is rather old-fashioned. Old Italian instruments in this condition are sold for a very high price, so why should there not be a similar regard regard for lesser instruments?

05/04/2022

When, before purchase, you are considering the condition of an instrument, there are two main considerations.

The first is the amount of damage the instrument has sustained over the years; the second is the quality and state of the repairs.

The front of a violin or cello is made of soft wood (spruce): the back and sides are made of hard wood (usually maple). Generally, cracks in the front are considered less of a problem than cracks in the back, as the resinous spruce wood knits together better. The ribs are relatively thin and can easily pick up cracks.

If an instrument is offered for sale in a restored condition, one should be able to trust the viability of the instrument over the coming years. The hard part is when there has not been recent restoration. Not just in judging the state of the cracks, but whether there is any twisting or sinkage of the front.

This problem is particularly relevant to cellos. Modern metal strings have more pressure on the front than the old gut ones. The bass bar, must be of a size and resilience to handle this. Cellos with old or small bass bars can be a problem in this way. A new bass bar is an essential part of restoration.

04/03/2022

Just as you shouldn’t believe that the violin in your attic was made by Stradivari because it has a label bearing his name, it is healthy to distrust labels in instruments. Labels are often put in for possible financial gain.

It requires much time and talent to develop any expertise in authenticating instruments of the violin family.

An important consideration is the difference between a copy and a fake. A copy is follows the style of a famous maker: a fake aims to deceive a possible buyer.

Experts generally only look at the label of an instrument after examining it, to see if it confirms their view of its provenance. A label might have been put in last week.

Sometimes the label has a frayed or uneven edge, showing that it was cut out of a book, or a carefully placed blot going from the label to the wood. Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware.

21/11/2021

When looking for a cello for professional use, you need to choose between volume and tone quality as your primary need. Some old Italian cellos have both, but they are hard to find and highly priced. As a rough guide, old French and modern cellos tend to have more volume, while old English have more quality.

This becomes most apparent when playing a concerto with a symphony orchestra. Instruments should tested in a good sized hall, not just in rooms. A cello that sounds loud under the ear may not carry to the back of the hall. Conversely, Italian cellos often don’t sound loud nearby, but their sound expands with distance.

Cellos set up for maximum brightness may not have the weight of sound to carry. Similarly, when there is no edge to the sound, a cello can easily be drowned when playing with a grand piano. Tone quality can often be improved with careful adjustment.

20/09/2021

There are many checks necessary when choosing a violin
or cello. As well as size, there is condition, authenticity, value
and many other factors, all relevant when you are offered a
private sale. It takes much experience to master this.

Even if you are offered a instrument by a professional, there
are many marginal issues such as the size and condition of a
cello bass bar and how this affects any visible sinkage on the
table.

It is not just the way the instrument sounds today - it may be
held together by the woodworms linking arms!

If you need any assistance in evaluating an instrument, get in touch with us and perhaps we can help.

08/06/2021

When choosing a cello, the single most important consideration is
size. Even if you are tall and have a large hand, measure carefully
the string length of the cellos you try. The standard string length is:
27 1/4 inches (69.2cm), 27 3/8” (69.5) is ok if comfortable, and
27 1/2” (69.9) is already rather large.

If you have a medium-sized hand, full-sized cellos with a 27” (68.6) can be found.

For a small hand, 7/8 cellos from 26 1/4” (66.7) are available, particularly modern Chinese.

Small-sized old French or German are more rare, but there are small old English, though usually in a higher price bracket.

07/03/2021

The need to unwind your bow when you have finished playing is generally accepted. Leaving the bow under tension can distort the stick and stretch the hair.

Unwind the bow enough to take all the tension off the stick, but not so much that the hair spreads. This can result in hairs stretching or breaking as the become entangled, particularly with the bow holder in your case.

You do not need to slacken the bow when stopping for a short period, except on very hot or humid days.

19/01/2021

When the atmosphere is dry, particularly in winter in centrally
heated homes, it is possible that stringed instruments can
come unglued or even develop cracks, particularly on the table
or the ribs.

Apart from basic care about atmospheric conditions around your
instrument, the use of a Dampit can help prevent problems.
This item should be used correctly, making sure that you do not
over-saturate the inner sponge and wipe off the outside, so that
it does not drip into the instrument. A good alternative is a
humidifier, although this will only protect your instrument while
you are at home.

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