How to choose violin rosin and use it correctly?

If you play a bowed string instrument, then you are definitely familiar with such an accessory as rosin. Unfortunately, musicians know little about which variety to choose. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to choose rosin for a violin and use it correctly.

Violin rosin is a very important accessory, without which it will not sound. It is usually presented in the form of a piece of resin and is used to rub the hair of the bow. Rosin can be of different types and from different manufacturers, so you should be careful when choosing it.

As you know, rosin is produced from the resin of coniferous trees. It can be spruce, larch or pine. There are even varieties that combine several types of resins. The resin is usually harvested only in the fall. To begin with, it is heated in a crucible, the result is turpentine. Next, it is necessary to completely cleanse of impurities and once again heat the resin, while various components are already added, because each manufacturer uses its own recipe for making rosin. Then they give it the desired shape - it is a rectangle or a circle, but expensive varieties can even have the shape of a violin.

Quality rosin is made according to a good and proven recipe. But each manufacturer uses its own recipe, some ingredients are kept secret. Usually one company makes several varieties, because each of them allows you to create a different sound. Violin rosin can be soft or hard in terms of sound.

You should also consider which variety is best suited to your strings.For example, the hard variety is suitable for steel strings, while the soft variety is suitable for vein or synthetic strings. The choice of rosin even depends on the size of the room where you plan to play, as well as on the microclimate of this room. For colder climates, it is better to give preference to mild species. Among the most famous manufacturers are brands such as Larsen, Pirastro, Kaplan, W. E. Hill & Sons and others.

Before you go to the store to buy your first rosin, you need to decide for yourself what it should be. Initially, it can be divided into professional and student. Of course, the second option will be cheaper, but when you use it, the sound will seem sandy, and a lot of rosin dust will remain on the instrument.

If you play mainly classical music, then you do not need to save money, it is better to purchase expensive products, focus on professional-grade rosin. Expensive rosin is cleaner and better quality because it is made from natural resin using special recipes. This solution allows you to create a smoother and more beautiful tone of the violin.

Before playing the violin, be sure to use rosin. This action should be automatic for the musician if he is playing a string instrument. The use process includes the following steps:

• you need to pull the bow hair;
• the bow should be taken in the right hand, and the rosin in the left;
• the product must be applied quite gently to the hair, while not applying pressure;
• it is worth applying a little product, since excess will not be beneficial - it is recommended to make one or two movements back and forth; of course, a new musical instrument would require a little more product.