Should you scratch rosin?

There's no real need to scratch the surface of rosin - it will deposit itself onto the surface of the bow hair naturally. Scratching your rosin is not hurting anyone, but it is not helping either.

Why do you have to scratch rosin?

One classroom tradition is to scratch the surface of the rosin with a key – the idea being that it will make it easier to apply to the bow. However, putting scratches in the surface of the rosin can potentially provide a groove for individual bow hairs to travel and be pinched/broken.

Should you touch rosin?

Correct handling and application of rosin

Tighten the bow. Slack hairs will accept the rosin unevenly and it becomes possible the rosin will touch the bow wood (not good). Don't touch the hairs. Natural skin oils are bad for the bow hairs because it prevents the rosin from binding.

Is my rosin supposed to be hard?

For violinists, a light, hard rosin works best for most of the year. Light, hard rosins provide enough grip for violinists without being sticky. In very humid weather, you might need a very hard rosin. In very cold, dry weather, you might need a stickier rosin that's darker, softer, and has more grip.

Is violin rosin toxic?

For potential human health effects, the totality of the data demonstrates that rosin has minimal toxicity. Rosin has no acute oral toxicity (i.e., LD50 > 2,000 mg/kg), and repeat dose toxicity data demonstrate no observed effect levels (NOEL) of approximately 105 - 200 mg/kg/day.

Rosin Q

How long is rosin good for?

Additionally, your rosin should be soft enough that the bow leaves a dusty path when drawn across the block. If it remains shiny and free of dust, you are unfortunately working with old rosin. Generally, a block of rosin will last for anywhere between six months and two years.

Why is my violin scratchy?

Too much rosin on the bow hair produces a scratchy, unpleasant sound, while too little will cause the tone to fade out during your bow stroke. Finding exactly the right level of rosin to apply is like everything else involved with learning to play the violin… it takes practice.

How often should I rosin my bow?

In most situations, you'll only have to rosin the bow per 3-5 hours of play time. People with stringed instruments that have thicker gauge strings like basses, cellos and even violas, will probably end up rosining their bows a little more frequently than violinists.

What happens if you play violin without rosin?

Without rosin, the hair of the bow will slide across the strings and won't provide enough friction to produce any sound. It is necessary that the violinist rub the rosin on the full length of the bow; this will allow the bow hairs to generate grip on the violin strings, hence produce a sound.

How do I know if my bow has enough rosin?

Optically: you can scrape across the bow hair with the thumb nail. If there is some rosin sticking to the thumb nail, then there currently is enough rosin on the hair. Rosin ages and becomes sticky with time. Approximately every two years, you should buy a new rosin, so it is always available in the best quality.

Why is my violin bow bouncing?

Correct your bow grip to reduce excessive pressure, which can be one of the primary offenders for a bouncing bow. Keep your grip soft (but also not too loose), and your thumb relaxed. Additionally, avoid tensing up when you're playing, especially in your wrist and shoulder.

Should I whip my rosin?

The main reason to whip rosin is to stabilize the consistency and make a budder-type texture. Budders are easier to handle and less prone to metamorphosis with temperature changes.

Can I use cracked rosin?

Rosin can break apart into pieces or shed little "chips" of rosin if it is bumped or cracked. Rosin also has the potential to melt in extremely hot environments (Like if left in a hot car). If you do break your rosin, you don't need to panic. A broken piece of rosin will function just fine, so you can save the pieces.

Can I freeze live rosin?

Long Term Storage: Placing your rosin in an airtight container and storing it in the refrigerator or freezer can give it a shelf-life of up to a year.

Is light or dark rosin better?

“Lighter rosins tend to be harder and more dense—a good fit for violin and viola. Darker, softer rosins are generally preferred by the lower strings.” Some companies also add precious metals to their recipes—another choice to consider when shopping for rosin.

What happens if you inhale rosin?

Rosin dust is not harmful to your skin or your bronchial passages.

Can I eat violin rosin?

Anything can be bad for you but, generally speaking, eating rosin isn't dangerous. Rosin is primarily tree sap so, sniff a tree and you're doing just about the same thing. However, some people have allergic reactions to rosin dust. If you heat or burn rosin prolonged exposure to smoke can cause asthma.

Why is my rosin not sticky?

If you don't always get sticky rosin, but have been with a new strain, then that is most likely the culprit. Some strains simply produce stickier extract than others. If it's not that (i.e. you get sticky extract with different strains), then try reducing temperature and pressure and see if it makes a difference.

How tight should my violin bow be?

A good rule of thumb that I use is a pencil width. If you tighten your bow a bit and can just fit a pencil in between the bow hair and the stick in the middle of the bow, that is enough tension. You can also use your pinky, but in this case, only the tip of your pinky will fit.

How much rosin should I use?

On average, you should apply a few (about 5) strokes of rosin before each practice session or performance. If you are practicing frequently or for many hours in a day you will find that you need more rosin more often. If you are not practicing much, you will go longer before more rosin is needed.

Why are my violin strings sticky?

The root problem is that rosin dust is sticky, and builds up on the strings over time because it combines with moisture in the air, sticking on when it dries. Gradually, this caked on layer of rosin thickens, altering the diameter of the string, affecting the tone.