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Re: How Cold Is Too Cold?

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-10-06 21:10

The traditional wisdom on cracking is that it's the sudden change - especially from cold to warm - that can cause a crack to occur in a piece of wood that already has a weak spot at that point. The old advice has always been to warm a cold instrument up slowly with body heat (under the arm, under a jacket if you're wearing one). I think it's probably true that some instruments - because of the wood they were made from - are more likely to crack than others. Many of us have played in all kinds of conditions without a problem. You don't know which instrument is likely to crack until it happens, so large, quick temperature changes will always have to be regarded as a risk.

On the other hand, cracks can be repaired, these days well enough that you can't even see them much less notice a difference in the way the instrument plays.

I agree with the others who have said 66 degrees doesn't seem in itself dangerous. Playing in a very chilly environment (colder than 66 - e.g. football weather or November outdoor concerts) can affect the mobility of your fingers (especially if you're older) and your general feeling of comfort. It can also cause a lot more water collecting in your tone holes. Playing in very warm conditions can make your hands slippery with sweat and, again, make you uncomfortable enough to affect your concentration and composure.

Whether or not it's too hot or cold to play may become a group decision. String players are more likely to have trouble with their bows that can cause more predictable problems - saggy bow hairs in heat, hairs that pull tight enough to break the bow tip in cold.

Karl

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