First, try to keep your instrument clean. This sounds simple enough, yet many people do not perform this routine maintenance step. Rosin dust and fingerprints will be your main problem. You should rub your instrument down with a lint-free cloth after each playing session. About once a month you should polish your instrument to remove oil and other dirt. Only use string instrument polish, never furniture polish or polish for non-wooden instruments.

Next, keep your instrument in good tune. If your pegs are constantly slipping and your instrument is always out of tune you run the risk of breaking the strings from continual peg tuning. Peg slipping can be remedied by application of "peg dope" which you can buy at Chris B's Music or your local strings store. If your pegs stick peg dope may also help. However, slipping and sticking both mean that your pegs are improperly fit on your instrument, and you should take it in to a shop to have it repaired.

About once a week you should unscrew all of you fine tuners (if you have them) to their top position. Remember to unscrew them until they are loose and then tighten them one or two turns so that they do not rattle. After loosening your fine tuners you will need to tune your instrument with pegs. Don't try to use your pegs if you don't know how, as it is very easy to break a string by turning the pegs too far.Occasionally you should check the angle of your bridge. Look at your bridge from the side, along the thin edge. The back of the bridge (towards the tailpiece) should make a right angle with the top of your instrument. Sometimes, if you use your pegs a lot, your bridge will lean toward the fingerboard. If this happens, you should reallign it. If you've never done this before, don't try it! Take it into a shop or to a teacher and they will do it for you and show you how to do it. It is extremely easy to break your bridge by moving it incorrectly.

Another important preventitive maintenance measure, especially for children:keep your instrument in its case when not playing. An accident can leave your instrument seriously damaged, or even beyond repair.