Precautions

As we approach the heating season, I'll throw out my usual advice about instrument care.  Keep the humidity up!  Wood in an instrument remains hydroscopic for most of its life.  That means that the cells in the wood will absorb or release moisture in response to the relative humidity in the environment.  In layman's terms that means that wood swells when the humidity is high and shrinks when low.  The swelling is not usually a problem for instruments.  It is the shrinking that is.  If wood is glued or bound on its edges, if it shrinks to much it can split.  To avoid that scenario, keep a humidifier going in your house or practice room.  Your instruments will thank you and I won't have to do the repair.  For more tips on instrument care visit http://jamesjonesinstruments.com/hdaccessories/instrumentcare.html