There are many who don’t know that Albert Einstein played the violin and did so reasonably well. Although his knowledge of the instrument never approached his knowledge of theoretical physics, he did have a good grasp on its relationship to happiness.
“A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?”
A key part to becoming a good Part-Time Musician (PTM) is finding the inspiration you need, when you need it, to keep advancing. This comes easily on some evenings, as we look forward to spending time with our instrument as a way to cleanse ourselves of the day’s frustrations. At other times, we could use a little help.
For many of us, the best cure for the “blahs” is to watch a live performance. Failing that, many great performances can be watched from the comfort of your favorite desk chair. We can discuss the psychology of why watching someone else play motivates us to pick up our own instrument (watch out, pianists!) at some future time…but for now, let’s get to the good stuff!
Wells Cunningham is a cello teacher with an impressive background and performance record. His amazing Impossible Duet video has provided our family and others a great deal of inspiration that deserves to be shared.
Inspired yet? I thought so.
While I may never play like Mr. Cunningham, I can’t watch his “duet” performance of the Handel/Halvorsen Passacaglia without resolving to practice more and play better. How about you?
Remember: As long as you keep practicing, today is the worst you’ll ever be!
Our recent article about flying with a musical instrument drew a lot of responses and some great added advice from our ever-resourceful readers. While the initial list was limited to seven tips in order to focus solely upon the key points, here are a few more things that are good to know when preparing for a flight.
Thing 1: Oils, greases, and sprays belong in a bag
If your instrument requires liquids or semi-liquids to operate, those items must be in a clear plastic bag…just like your shampoo and toothpaste. Having your valve oil, slide or cork grease, and slide lubricants in a clear plastic bag makes life easier for those screening baggage and helps make the process go more smoothly for everyone.
Thing 2: Be ready to perform
Airport security personnel are trained to be suspicious, and that is a good thing. They may ask you to demonstrate that your instrument really is an instrument and that you really are a musician. To avoid uncomfortable moments, have something in mind that you can play “on command” to demonstrate that all really is as it seems.
Whatever you play doesn’t have to be fancy, and you shouldn’t get nervous about it. Look at it as a chance to show off that fun little piece you secretly delight in playing at the end of your practice sessions. No one expects you to be a Perlman, Marsalis, or Van Halen; just have fun with it! And once the applause dies down, put it quietly back into the case. No encores.
Thing 3: Sending it ahead might be a good idea
Another option for flying with your instrument is to avoid it entirely. In some cases, it makes sense to send your gear ahead via private carrier. If you absolutely must have your valuable cello or guitar with you at your destination, this provides a way to skip all worries of your baby being “bumped” to the cargo hold. Compared to the cost of buying a ticket for your larger instrument, it can also be a cost-effective alternative. (NOTE: Pack properly and purchase insurance if you choose this option…just in case.)
Thing 4: Ask the attendant to stow your instrument behind the cockpit
Most planes have a small storage closet, specifically for bulkier items, located just behind the cockpit. A kind attendant often will offer to stow your instrument there if room is still available, but don’t be afraid to ask if no one thinks to volunteer it. This is the best of both worlds: your instrument is in the cabin, but it’s safely stored out of your way for the duration of the flight.
Thing 5: In case of emergency, appeal to the Captain
The word is that the pilot has final say on what stays in the cabin and what goes. If a flight attendant insists that the instrument for which you bought a seat must now be moved to the cargo hold – and just won’t have it any other way – politely ask to speak with the Captain. No one wants to delay a flight, and pilots often are more accommodating than well-meaning, but often passenger-stressed, attendants. Give the attendant a break and plead your case with the final (flight) authority prior to taking any further steps.
Thing 6: The case must go
If the pilot says your instrument must move to cargo, there may yet be hope. More than one reader reported that they were allowed to remove their instrument from its bulky case and send the case to the cargo hold sans instrument. Wrapping their instrument in a T-shirt, jacket, or cloth bag and placing it under their seat resolved the situation to everyone’s satisfaction. (NOTE: This only works for smaller instruments, and only then if pilot/attendants agree that the carry-on/instrument doesn’t have to fit completely under the seat.)
Thing 7: Plan for the worst…but it probably won’t happen
All of the initial Top 7 Tips and these “other things” assume the worst because it pays to be prepared. In all likelihood, however, you will have a smooth and pleasant, incident-free flight…especially if you are prepared. Do your homework, and be ready with polite responses and maybe even a short selection – but don’t stress over it. The earlier advice still holds: plan well, pack well, and play well.
Have a comment? Please leave one below, or email us! We’d love to hear from you.
Keep playing (and flying!),
Mark
Acknowledgements
A tip of the hat goes to the following PTM readers who provided many of the above points: Jeff Helgesen, Ellis Workman, Dr. James Klages, Denny Schreffler, Ann Frederking, and Virginia “Ginger” Lawrence. Thanks to all!
Glenn Donnellan, professional violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra, recently made his own electric violin…from a baseball bat. Yes, you read that correctly! Here is the video of Glenn playing the Star-Spangled Banner on his batolin:
This is one of those cases where the interests of Full-Time Musicians (FTMs) and Part-Time Musicians (PTMs) overlap. Many PTMs enjoy tinkering with their instruments nearly as much as they do playing them. It’s another creative outlet, one that some find stressful and others find relaxing. Go figure.
While I do enjoy tinkering a bit myself, for major tasks and/or adjustments, we take our instruments to the professionals at our local instrument shop. Or the sporting goods store, depending upon who is working that day.
A question that comes up quite often is, “How do I fly with my instrument?” Between the government and the various commercial airlines, rules seem to change almost daily. Run afoul of any of them and you could face a very frustrating, time-consuming, and potentially expensive outcome. There are, however, ways to boost your chances of a hassle-free flight.
Before we dive into this, let me first offer the following disclaimers:
As mentioned above, rules change ridiculously often. For the latest information, please check your government’s up-to-the-minute rules and restrictions for flying with musical instruments.
For the same reason, please check your carrier’s current rules prior to buying your ticket(s).
If the ticket agent or gate guard is in a bad mood and you remind them of their ex (uh oh!), you just might encounter difficulties no one else has ever seen – and hopefully never will again. We’ll discuss that, too, but if that happens, all bets are off.
No one knows everything. We’ll share our advice, but ultimately, there is only so much we, or you, or anyone, can control. Read all you can, prepare the best you can, and be flexible. Prayer helps, too.
Ready? Pull up a chair and let’s get down to business.
Tip #1: Compare airlines
Airlines vary significantly in how they handle musical instruments as carry-on items. According to this document from the Transportation Safety Administration, the TSA allows an instrument in addition to your carry-ons for US flights. That only gets you to the gate, though. I’m not aware of any airlines that allow an extra carry-on, even if it is a musical instrument – so unless you find one that does, figure on counting yours as one of the two you’re usually allowed.
Check which airlines operate from your airport, then visit their websites to compare their rules for musical instruments/carry-on baggage. We had to fly with a violin recently, and we discovered that while Southwest Airlines allows a larger carry-on than most other airlines, the dimensions are fixed (currently 10″x16″x24″). American Airlines’ overall measure was smaller, but dimensions could vary (45 total linear inches, i.e. length+height+width). Due to the length of the violin case – which was made long enough to accommodate a bow, of course – we flew American.
Tip #2: If you’re close on measurements, buy a smaller case
We purchased the smallest case we could find for a violin…and just barely met the maximum dimensions. The standard, larger/heavier case would have exceeded the airline’s maximums. You can take your chances, of course, but luck favors the prepared.
Tip #3: If you have a large instrument, drive
I’m only half joking about this. If you have an instrument larger than a viola, your options are:
Drive, take the bus, or take the train.
Pay for a seat for your instrument. Please note that this doesn’t guarantee that a ticket agent or flight attendant won’t ask – or insist – that you check your instrument.
Buy the best travel case you can find and check your instrument.
Depending upon circumstances, the last option may be the only viable one. Before you start pricing expensive travel cases, though, you should watch the video below; it’s enough to make a musician sob uncontrollably…and rethink their travel plans.
Tip #4: Wear your instrument to minimize its profile
If your instrument is straining the high end of the allowed measurements for your airline, you’re far more likely to go unchallenged if you’ve strapped your instrument onto your back and thus minimized its profile. Many instrument cases have shoulder/backpack straps; use them! An instrument that is securely strapped to your body just looks smaller than something you’re lugging in one hand while trying to pull your other carry-on behind.
On the whole, airline personnel are generally pretty friendly folks, and they don’t like to challenge anyone if they don’t foresee a problem. Don’t make it look like your instrument will be a problem, and you’ll be far more likely to board without a hitch.
Tip #5: Don’t worry, be happy
In today’s travel environment, airline personnel are trained to watch for suspicious actions. This is a good thing, but if you cast frequent, nervous glances at the ticket desk and/or gate guards, there’s a very good chance they’ll wonder what you’re up to. Wouldn’t you? This can only increase the scrutiny you and your baggage receive, and if you’re pressing the limits for carry-ons, you’re not necessarily looking for extra attention.
Tip #6: Bring documentation
Print the airline’s rules for musical instruments/carry-ons and bring them with you. In the event you are challenged about your instrument, producing that airline’s rules/policies/guidance demonstrates that you have done your homework and want to discuss the published guidelines, rather than one person’s potentially more-restrictive interpretation of them.
Tip #7: Be polite and respectful
Remain calm. Even if a gate guard tells you that your expensive instrument must be tossed into the cargo hold and they’ve just issued the last boarding call, be polite and respectful…but firm. If the person with whom you’re dealing won’t yield, ask to speak with their supervisor. The airline doesn’t want you to miss your flight any more than you do, and they definitely don’t want to delay it, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to resolve the issue properly. Explain your situation calmly and factually, reference the airline’s own documentation, and measure your instrument case to demonstrate that you’re in compliance with the rules. This approach offers the best possibility of a successful resolution if things get to this point…but if you’ve followed tips 1-6, chances are good it will never come to this.
Bottom Line
In most cases, it is possible to fly with your instrument with little or no added difficulty or expense. Following the seven tips listed above can dramatically increase your chances of having a hassle-free flight and a fully intact instrument when you arrive. Plan well, pack well, and play well.
Do you have a tip you’d like to share? Other governments/airlines to add to the list below? Please leave us a comment or send us an email. We’ll happily update the article so everyone can benefit from the information.
Quote of the Day, Strings | Mark August 6, 2009 | 
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