How to Care For Your Instruments in the Fall

 

 

As we move farther into the fall, the weather becomes more unpredictable. Fall can bring both warm and cold breezes, as well as showers and even snow, all within the same week, in some areas. It's hard to know what the weather will be like from one day to the next during this season.

 

These humidity and temperature changes can be exhausting for many of us to keep track of and adjust to. Yet, musicians have another challenge as well – the damage these weather conditions can cause to their musical instruments. We’re going to break down exactly how autumn/fall weather can affect your musical instruments and what you can do to protect them.

How Can Autumn Weather Affect Your Musical Instruments?

 

Science teaches us that most objects expand in the heat and contract in the cold. Like most other objects, musical instrumentsmay also expand and contract when subjected to significant temperature changes. At the same time, moisture and humidity can cause wood to swell, warp or crack, as well as make metal rust, which is true for musical instruments as well.

Therefore, the transitions from cold to hot or from dry to wet (and vice versa) that typically occur during autumn can be significantly harmful to your musical instruments and can lead to expensiverepairs if you’re not careful. Since musical instruments are not weatherproof, proper instrument care is crucial during this time of year.

 

 

What Can You Do To Protect Them?

 

When it comes to instrument protection during fall, the main rule of thumb is to try minimizing your musical instrument's exposure to temperature changes, wind, humidity, and rain.

 

The first thing you can do to avoid such exposure is keeping your musical instrument inside its protective case when you're done playing or cleaning it. After all, this is the primary purpose of a case: to safeguard your musical instrument from the adverse effects of moisture, dust, temperature fluctuations, and direct sunlight. Ensure that the case is tightly closed, and properly latched.Remember to occasionally inspect it for any gaps or holes. If you spot any signs of damage,repair or replace it as soon as possible.

 

As the level of humidity inside your home may rise during fall, investing in a hygrometer and a dehumidifier may be a good idea. The hygrometer will help you measure the humidity level in your home, and the dehumidifier will help you adjust it accordingly.

 

Of course, sometimes you have to travel with your musical instruments. As a musician, you might regularly tour around the world, performing in open-air festivals, or maybe even be a member of a symphony or quartet. In this case, trying to limit the amount of time your instrument will be out of the house might not be a viable option, but there are some things you can do to help minimize your risks.

 

If you’re musical instrument has been out in the cold for an extended period of time, remember to let it gradually warm up to room temperature before attempting to play it again. Use covers to protect it from rain whenever possible, and soak up any excess water or moisture with a towel as soon as you can. An important point to follow year-round is to avoid leaving your musical instrument in the car, where temperatures can fluctuate dramatically and rapidly.

 

 

What Can Clarion Do For You?

 

Regardless of whether your musical instrument is kept at home or travels with you, the best way to keep it safe and sound in the fall is by investing in musical instrument insurance. With Clarion Associates by your side, you’ll be protected against most of the dangers that may befall your instrument.

 

At Clarion, we've designed a specialized, customization musical instrument insurance policy that offers worldwide coverage for damage due to weather conditions, as well as many other benefits you won't find anywhere else! With over 50 years in the insurance industry we have worked with thousands of musicians, so you can rest assured that we understand and respect our customers' unique needs and situations.

 

We offer various specialized services and customization coverage for musicians, music stores, recording studios, instrument collectors, and more! We cover instruments ranging from strings to wood winds, and even pianos! Contact us for a quote today and see why thousands of musicians worldwide trust us with their protecting their prized musical instruments.

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.

Plan and Buy an Instrument Coverage in Minimal Steps

Own a musical instrument but, don’t have instrument coverage? Well, that’s where you would go wrong in investments. The instrument coverage works as your savior in case you need to invest real high amounts on repairing or replacing your instrument. There are copyright issues too you may face, which requires you to have an insurance that can help you reduce the burden of costs that you might face. However, when purchasing instrument insurance, there are a few things you need to understand and take into account, especially if you are buying one online.

• Most musicians own the homeowner’s insurance, and believe they do not require a insurance for their music instrument or gear. Not every home owner’s insurance covers the gear that you have bought. In fact, most often the instrument may or may not be covered. For most insurance companies, this is probably a business that you operate from home. If you are thinking of owning nothing beyond the homeowner’s insurance, consider re-reading all the inclusions of the insurance. If it does not cover repairs of the instrument or replacement costs, you might want to think again, and invest in a proper insurance.
• When it comes to insuring your instrument, it is important you know what the true value of your instrument is. When you visit an insurance provider, they may not be able to value your instrument, given they are not musicians in real. Without the proper valuation, you cannot identify the premium you should be paying for your instrument. Make sure you consult someone who is an expert with music Instrument Coverage and understands their true value. That will make your valuation easy.
• There are instances where you would be traveling as part of your career, carrying your gear with you. As a musician, you are always worried about your instrument’s well-being, which is why you need to be assured by the insurance company. The insurance will make sure your travel is smooth and worry free. If, during the travel, the instrument gets damaged, then the insurance will cover the repair costs. In case, your instrument is stolen and needs to be replaced, the insurance will help you with the replacement cost too. In fact, the insurance will also help you with the rental cost and place and make sure you don’t face troubles when playing the instrument at your gig.

If you are willing to pay a little to save your pockets from being dented in the future, the insurance is not that expensive. You will need to make the right choice, have a budget in place, and choose the right inclusions for your insurance

• Research on the providers. There are plenty available in the market. Only a few actually provide you with what you need.
• Set a budget for the insurance. Make sure you don’t go beyond the set budget
• Check for the reviews and ratings provided for the providers. Make a list of all those who are rated high and provide the insurance features that you are looking for

If everything works for you, make sure you have at least one meeting set with them, before proceeding with the insurance provider. The idea is to understand the premium they are planning to offer you, and whether or not it is worth the investment.