Choosing and Preparing the Rosin
Buy light rosin for smaller instruments. There are different types of rosin, but the two most common are light rosin and dark rosin. Light rosin is harder, and not quite so sticky as dark rosin. It's sometimes called amber or summer rosin (for the time of year it's tapped), and it's appropriate for the higher strings, like violins and violas.
Choose dark rosin for a fuller sound for larger instruments. Dark rosins, or winter rosins, tend to be very sticky. The stickier the rosin is, the fuller the sound will be. Select a dark rosin if you play a low-stringed, large instrument like the cello, for which a fuller sound is preferred.
Select boxed rosin for a durable, low-priced option. Boxed rosin, as its name suggests, comes in a box. This makes it less prone to cracking and breaking. It's typically only available as a light or summer rosin and is usually a lower quality than cake rosin. But its low price tag makes it a good option for beginners.
Opt for cake rosin for a higher-quality product. While cake rosin tends to be more expensive than boxed rosin, you're getting a purer, more high-quality rosin. It comes in a variety of colors, from amber to black, so you can select the best kind for your instrument.
Rub new rosin with fine-grit sandpaper to increase stickiness. New rosin needs to be roughened in order for it to stick to your bow. Take a piece of sandpaper, around 220-grit, and rub it all over the top of the rosin block. Stop when you see the rosin producing dust. You can also use a knife to score it and cut a crosshatch pattern into the top.
Applying Rosin to a New Bow
Tighten the bow. Twist the screw at the end of the bow and tighten it until it appears straight and parallel with the hairs. Then slacken it just a little until you see the curve reappear in the wood. This is the best position for the bow to be in while you play. Don't touch the hairs or bounce them on your arm, as this will make them greasy and harder to play.
Hold the rosin in your left hand and the bow in your right hand. It doesn't matter if you are right- or left-handed, as you always hold the bow in your right hand while playing. Cup the rosin block in your left hand, being sure to keep your fingers off the side you’ll be stroking the bow against.
Stroke the bow all the way across the rosin. Run the bow along the rosin from the tip down to the frog (the part you hold with your hand), and then stroke it back again. Grasp the bow gently and press down just hard enough that the bow hairs produce some dust, but not so hard that you’re clenching the bow. EXPERT TIP Dalia Miguel Dalia Miguel Experienced Violin Instructor Dalia Miguel is a violinist and violin instructor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is studying Music Education and Violin Performance at San Jose State University and has been playing violin for over 15 years. Dalia teaches students of all ages and performs with a variety of symphonies and orchestras in the Bay Area. Dalia Miguel Dalia Miguel Experienced Violin Instructor What Our Expert Does: "When I rosin my bow, I imagine that the rosin is the violin. I like to hold the rosin in my left hand and then hold the bow in my right. Then, I pretend as if I'm bowing the violin right into the rosin. It really works to add the rosin perfectly and efficiently."
Repeat for 20 full strokes. Stroke the bow back and forth across the rosin 20 times. Each time you finish a complete stroke (down and back), move the bow hairs over slightly to a new spot so that you don’t wear a line straight down the middle of the rosin. If your rosin block is circular, rotate the circle slightly in between each stroke.
Play the instrument and listen for a full sound. After twenty strokes, draw your bow along the strings of your instrument. Listen for a full, uninterrupted tone. If the sound is uneven or you feel the bow slide around on the strings, you’ll need more rosin.
Stroke the rosin 20 more times. If the first 20 strokes didn’t produce the sound you want, repeat the process of stroking the bow over the rosin again. Add 20 more strokes, and then play the instrument to check the sound again. If you’re still unsatisfied, continue adding twenty strokes at a time and then checking the sound.
Applying Rosin Regularly
Apply rosin once for every three to four hours you play. If you’re playing about an hour a day, you should apply rosin to your bow hairs every three to four days. If you play significantly more than that, you may need to apply rosin daily before playing. For less frequent practicing, apply it less often.
Stroke the bow on the rosin about five times. Once the bow has been rosined once, you won’t need to apply as much during each subsequent application. Stroke the bow back and forth over the rosin about five times before you begin practicing.
Wipe the bow hairs with a lint-free cloth after playing. Rosin dust can accumulate on the bow after a while. Keep a lint-free cloth in your instrument case along with your rosin. At the end of each playing session, wipe the bow hairs from frog to tip once or twice to remove excess rosin dust.
Wipe rosin dust off the violin and bow stick. Regularly check your instrument and bow stick for any rosin dust. Wipe if off with a lint-free cloth as soon as possible. Allowing the rosin to build up on your instrument can damage the finish, and you may need to pay for costly refinishing.
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