Today’s Brit Lit assignment, a descriptive essay about HOW to do something. This is based on how Gawain slaughters a deer in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
The first step is to take your instrument out of its case. Now, this may sound easy, but trust me, it can be harder than it looks, therefore we will be dividing it into several substeps. The very first one is to determine whether you have a soft case or a student case. This is a fairly easy process, but contrary to what you might think, “students” can also use soft cases and vice versa.
Tip: if your case is molded black plastic it is a “student” type case. If it’s a different color and square or oblong, it is most likely a “soft” case.
*** Sidenote: Soft cases actually offer your instrument more protection, despite the name. ***
Unlatch the case. On a student style case you will simply lift the two silver latches and open the lid. On a soft case, you will lift the front flap, usually secured with a snap or Velcro, and slide the latch to the right. If the latch doesn’t go, try sliding it to the left. If it goes to the left, close it and turn your case right-side-up. If it won’t move in either direction, it is probably locked. This can present a problem: you will need to either: locate and use the key or, for a second choice, a bobby pin. If neither of these works, try metal cutters.
Once the latch is open, unzip the case and lift the lid. Notice that if you see only a flat layer of fabric, you have unzipped the wrong zipper and are looking at the sheet music holder.
Lift the lid. Congratulations, you should see your violin! (If not, you have got a problem and should stop right here.)
Un-Velcro any straps that may be restraining your violin, and lift it out of its case. Hold it by the neck. The strings (four long thin wires) go on the top of the instrument. Set the violin down in a safe place (Hint: Not on the floor, the bed, a chair, or anywhere there are pets or children.) You should also have in your possession, preferably in your case, a shoulder-rest. The wide end slides onto the right bottom corner of the violin, while the thin end goes on the left. Note: Always put the shoulder rest on the BACK side of the violin. Put the wide end on first and adjust to a comfortable position across the widest area of the bottom of the violin.
Again, set the violin down in a SAFE, non-dangerous place. Look into the case again. You should see, restrained against the top of the case, a long thin pointy stick. This is your bow. Unclick whatever latches are holding it in place and remove it from the case, always holding it by the fat end, or “frog”. There should be horsehair on the bow. If there is no horsehair, you need to find immediate help. (Tip: Not Wikipedia.) Holding the bow by the “frog” with one hand, locate the silver piece at the very bottom of the bow with your other hand. This is called the “nut”. Turn it to the right until the hair (the bow hair, not yours) is an appropriate tension. This can be roughly determined by holding the bow at either end and squeezing down on the middle—you should be able to balance a pencil in between the hair and the stick without excessive tension.
Congratulations! You must be a very bright person to have used these instructions! And we wish you the best of luck on your musical journey! May it be legato and arco and no stupid 2-octave F scale that I still have trouble with, so much trouble, in fact, that it wrecked my auditions in 8th grade.
Not that I am bitter.
