Traveling with your cello could be a nightmare if you don’t know the dos and don’ts. If you own a high-end cello, there’s a chance that you already have your instrument under insurance. But if not, it’s better to know the challenges and some tips to take care of them while traveling. Cellos face different challenges such as weather or humidity changes, case and bump problems, typical turbulence faced on rail and cars, airline limitations, and the risk of getting lost. All of these are potential problems you could face if you are planning to travel with your cello. The good thing is that you can do something to prevent this from happening.
If you’re a beginner cello player, you might need a hand to guide you when traveling with your cello. Consider the following steps.
Have your instrument insured
To keep your instrument safe and secured in times of emergencies or risk, it’s better to purchase insurance for your cello. You can check the policies in your insurance company and see if you can cancel them right after you go back home.
Get a hard case
When traveling, your cello needs shelter so you could protect it from natural elements like dust, rain, and sunlight. It’s a simple yet wise way to save your cello from such elements and other potential risks.
Get an extra bump protection
Whether you choose to travel via car or rail, there are chances that roads get bumpy. In this case, extra bump protection is necessary for your cello.
Call your airline
Contact your airline ahead of time if you have plans of traveling via air. Ask about the things you are allowed to bring and the weight, or you could just ask directly if a cello is an exemption. Likewise, ask if you can get a cello seat for your instrument.
Attach an ID tag on your cello case
No matter what instrument you have, it is always prone to get lost, especially if you are not that sensitive and mindful of your environment. To save you from this unfortunate situation, it would be best to attach an ID tag to your cello case with your contact number and name on it so people can easily reach you when it gets lost.
Purchase a humidity control device
Humidity and weather changes are some of the strongest challenges that every instrument needs to face. There are devices that monitor humidity and weather fluctuations, and it’s time to invest with kits like these, especially before you travel.
Key Takeaway
Mastering the perfect ways and limiting the bad practices when traveling with your cello is a full learning curve. There isn’t a single shortcut to completely protect your cello during travel, because it’s not a one-off task in the first place. Just like how you dress and condition yourself before getting on a trip, your cello also needs the same meticulous and thorough preparation. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you want to extend the life of your cello, make sure to don’t miss any single tip on our list!