How Temperature Changes Can Affect Your Instruments

 

 

As a musician, playing in extreme weather conditions can be rather challenging. Regardless of what musical instrument you are playing — heat, cold, rain, and even high humidity can all make you feel uncomfortable and impact your performance. You won’t play the same if the cold wind is whipping your face and your fingers are freezing, or conversely, if you can’t stop sweating or feel like you can’t breathe because of high humidity.

 

While bad for your performance, bad weather can also affect your musical instruments, affecting each instrument in unique ways. While all musical instruments may face damage due to temperature and weather changes, string instruments, woodwind instruments, drums, and pianos will all react differently.Continue reading to discover helpful tips on how to prepare for seasonal changes and better protect your instruments.

String Instruments

 

In the case of string instruments like guitars, violins, and cellos, heat and cold can cause the strings to expand and contract. Simultaneously, these conditions can also cause the wood to warp or even crack, and the glue that holds the instrument together may start to dry and detach. In the best-case scenario, these will affect your sound quality, and in the worst-case scenario, the damage will be irreparable. To prevent this, string instruments should be stored in a weatherproof case in a temperature range between 72-77°F with humidity levels of around 45-55%.

Woodwind Instruments

 

Woodwind instruments like flutes, clarinets, oboes, and bassoons are subject to various forms of wear, such as shrinking, expanding, drying out, and cracking. While avoiding excessive temperature swings is vital, managing humidity is also essential. The recommended level of humidity your woodwind instruments should be exposed to is no more than 40-55%. As far as temperature levels go, try to avoid playing your instrument if it feels cold to the touch. Allow it to gradually warm up by holding it under your jacket for about half an hour before playing.

Brass Instruments

 

Brass instruments are less susceptible to damage from heat and humidity than other instruments, but there are still some tips to keep in mind. For instruments like trumpets, saxophones, tubas, and trombones, corrosion and bacteria growth are common in hot and humid environments. Therefore, you should make sure you always keep them clean, oiled and stored correctly in a weatherproof case when not in use. Avoid temperatures higher than 78℉ and humidity levels greater than 50%.

 

 

Drums

 

Drums can be a bit finicky as opposed to other instrument types. High levels of humidity can damage the wood in your drums and cause your drum-heads to warp, while low levels of humidity can make them dry out and crack. Simultaneously, low temperatures can cause the wood to contract, making the drum-heads tighter and resulting in a higher pitch. Try to keep the drums in a thermos-table environment and avoid exposure to direct sunlight if possible.

 

Keys

 

As proper conditions produce better sound, how you take care of your instruments is vital to their performance. This type of musical instrument is also subject to the harmful effects of high temperature and humidity. In a piano, excess moisture and heat can cause the bushings to swell. As a result, the time between when you hit a key and when the hammer hits the string will increase, causing the keys to feel sluggish. To prevent this, ensure adequate ventilation and humidity levels of around 40-45% for prolonged performance.

 

 

Do’s and Don’ts

 

Although the recommended storage temperatures, humidity levels, and care process for each musical instrument may vary, there are some universal dos and don’ts to abide by when it comes to protecting your musical instruments.

 

●      DO store your musical instrument in a protective weatherproof case when not in use. Always make sure the case is secured and closed correctly.

●      DON’T expose your instruments to extreme temperature changes.

●      DON’T expose them to extreme humidity, as this will be detrimental to its performance.

●      DO regulate the temperature where your instruments are stored.

●      DO invest in a hygrometer, as well as a humidifier or dehumidifier, if needed. The first will help you measure the humidity level in the air, while the latter will help you manage and adjust it.

 

Get Full Instrument Protection

 

Sometimes, doing your best to protect your musical instrument during the seasonal changes may not be enough. Therefore, getting full protection with a specialized musical instrument insurance policy is something you should consider.At Clarion Associates, we create customizable musical instrument insurance policies to meet your needs. We offer worldwide coverage, as well as an array of other benefits you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us for a quote today and see for yourself why we are trusted by thousands of musicians and musical instrument owners the world over.

Who Needs Musical Instrument Insurance?

 

A high quality, finely crafted, or rare musical instrument can cost a significant amount of money. Depending on the materials used, the year it was made, the number of same instruments available, or even the previous owner's identity, a musical instrument can quickly become quite expensive. Given the amount of money and time one spends to find and purchase their ideal musical instrument, it's no wonder that musicians often form a special bond with them.

A musical instrument is undoubtedly a precious asset, for both professional and sentimental reasons. With this in mind, it's easy to understand why instrument protection and insurance is so important. Like with other valuable items, the owner of a musical instrument can get an insurance policy that will provide coverage in the event of damage, loss, or theft. So who needs musical instrument insurance? Let's find out in this brief article.

Who Is Musical Instrument Insurance Really For?

A musical instrument can be priceless and irreplaceable for many people. For a professional musician, a musical instrument is likely something they depend on to make a living. If their musical instrument were to get lost or damaged, they would have to repair, or replace it quicklybecause they won't be making any money while they are unable to perform.

The same thing goes regardless of whether you're an independent artist or even a member of a band or orchestra. Many professionals will also be traveling frequently with their instruments to perform in various venues around the world. Anything can happen on the road; you never know if your instrument will get tossed around while traveling, or get lost or stolen. Without your musical instrument, you won’t be able to performance.

Additionally, if you're a music teacher and something goes wrong with your instrument, there will be nothing for you to teachwith. If you're a music student and need your instrument to attend your courses, being left without it could be quite detrimental. Even if you're just a dedicated hobbyist, a damaged or stolen instrument can be a significant personal and economic loss.

Another group that would benefit from musical instrument insurance are collectors. Instrument collectors tend to own significantly expensive, rare, or even vintage instruments. Anything can happen in life, and it's best to be prepared. Should the unexpected occur, a good insurance policy will cover the cost of any repairs needed and help cover the cost of renting instruments in the meantime.

Whether you're a professional, an independent musician, a hobbyist, or even a collector, securing your artistic investment is imperative. If you own an instrument you can't afford to replace, or simply want to safeguard it, you should strongly consider protecting your investment with musical instrument insurance today.

Why Get a Specialized Musical Instrument Insurance Policy?

The benefits of specialized musical instrument insurance go far beyond those of an ordinary homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. Household insurance will sometimes exclude musical instruments outright or offer coverage for specific named perils but only inside your home. Furthermore, it typically tends to cover only a percentage of the insured instrument's value, meaning it won't offer sufficient protection for rarer and more expensive instruments.

On the other hand, specialized musical instrument insurance is different. It offers protection from accidental damage, loss or theft for all kinds of musical instruments and other equipment, whether you're at home or on the road. Musical instrument insurance gives policyholders the peace-of-mind to focus on their art, rather than worrying about the world's what-ifs.

Conclusion

Accidents can happen anytime, and a specialized insurance policy that offers sufficient coverage for your musical instruments can be a lifesaver. We at Clarion have developed unique, customizable policies designed for musical instrument owners. We offer benefits you won't find anywhere else – including worldwide coverage to protect your instruments while you’re traveling with them and against natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. We also provide coverage for replacement or rented instruments, ensuring you're protected no matter what.

At Clarion Associates, we have over 40 years of experience insuring musical instruments for thousands of musicians worldwide. We offer access to one of the largest networks of authorized dealers and repairers in the industry. Not only that, but we understand your concerns and will settle your claims quickly and fairly. Reach out for a quote today, and see for yourself why Clarion is a trusted partner you can count on for your musical instruments' protection.

Do I really need to insure my recorders?

Good recorders are expensive! The truth is that good individual instruments, whether large or small, can cost thousands, and a collection or a consort can easily run into the tens of thousands.

How should we insure against loss or damage of these precious investments?

Homeowners insurance policies: For amateur players, musical instruments are usually covered like any other possession. However, there can be unanticipated surprises arising in homeowners' policies.

•    You might run up against settlement limits if an entire consort or a collection of recorders is lost.Some standard homeowners' policies will only pay out a limited total on such a loss. Check your policy. If necessary, you might be able to add a specific rider to your homeowners policy, or you could opt for specialty coverage (see below). For such coverage, your recorders should be inventoried on detail. You might need receipts.
•    Flood and earthquake damage are often not covered.
•    Breakage may or may not be covered, depending on the insurance company.
•    Appreciation of value over time may not be covered.
•    Are you using your recorders professionally? Homeowners policies generally exclude professional use.

Specialty musical instrument coverage: There are many companies that specialize in the insurance of musical instruments. One such company, Clarion, is a business member of the ARS and offers discounted rates to ARS members. For approximately $25,000 of coverage they charge $160 per year versus $250 for non-members. Of course cost isn't everything; it is always a good idea to shop around online or in person for the specialty coverage you need. Carefully compare the deductible amounts, coverage of floods, earthquakes etc.

Your sheet music collection: Finally, a word about another priceless but often overlooked item - your collection of recorder sheet music and books. Many of us have hundreds or even thousands of pieces and collections purchased for not insignificant amounts of money over the years, and their value can be up in the thousands of dollars. Many people house their music collections in the basement of their house, the first area to be damaged in the case of a flood or an earthquake. Imagine what a catastrophe losing your music would be. Insurance of your music collection is definitely worth considering. Clarion does not cover sheet music, but other companies seem to. Waterproof and fireproof cabinets are also worth considering.

Summary: Calculate the total value of your recorders. Check your homeowners' policy (if you have one) to see if it will cover the value of your entire recorder collection. If necessary, contact a company such as Clarion for specific recorder coverage.

Tony Griffiths
Vancouver, BC