Name label for an instrument for the cultural school
The safest way to label instruments for music school is to put the name label on the case, not on the instrument itself. A large self-adhesive label with a name and telephone number on the plastic part of the case or the handle attachment is visible in a pile of black bags, and the instrument's varnish is spared from adhesive.
Here we go through where to place the label on cases, music folders and accessories, what applies to a rented instrument, and when a name label is not the right solution.
That's why things get mixed up at the music school
The instrument itself is rarely lost. It is everything around it that changes hands:
- Identical cases. Ten black violin cases in the same ensemble room, or several gig bags from the same manufacturer at the guitar lesson.
- The music folder and music stand. After a concert, everything is gathered up in a hurry and ends up in the wrong car.
- Small accessories. The tuner, rosin, shoulder rest, mouthpiece, tube case and pick are left behind in the lesson.
- School and after-school activities. The child goes directly from school to the lesson, and the case sits for an afternoon in a cloakroom with many other bags.
If the case has a name and telephone number on it, the teacher or the person who finds it can call you directly instead of it ending up on a lost-and-found shelf.
Labeling instruments: the case first
The case is what is visible, what gets mixed up, and it tolerates a label better than the instrument. Large name labels are suitable for cases, 30 for SEK 139. They have space for a name and number in large text and can be seen from a few metres away.
| Item | Put the label here | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Hard case (violin, flute, clarinet, trumpet) | On a smooth plastic part near the handle, or on the lid on the outside, and a label on the inside of the lid | Velvet and soft fabric upholstery |
| Fabric gig bag (guitar, cello) | On the care label or the label inside, and a large label on a plastic or leather part on the outside | Directly on the nylon |
| Music folder | On the front and on the spine | The plastic pockets, which are replaced |
| Folding music stand | On the metal tube, a long label placed lengthwise | The joint and the screw |
| Tuner, metronome | On the back of the plastic casing | The display and the clip |
| Rosin box, tube case, mouthpiece case | On the top of the lid, with small name labels | The mouthpiece itself and the tubes |
| Shoulder rest | On the plastic part, not where it rests against the shoulder | The rubber feet and the foam rubber |
| Pick box, capo | Small name labels on the box and on the plastic part of the capo | The rubber that rests against the strings |
The mouthpiece of a wind instrument goes in your mouth and is cleaned often, so a label won't stay on it. Label the case it is kept in instead.
Rental instrument: label the case, not the instrument
Many municipal music schools rent out wind and string instruments. The instrument belongs to the municipality and is returned when the student leaves. The terms and conditions at, for example, Lerum municipal music school state that the student may be liable for damage, that home insurance may sometimes apply, and that you must take good care of the instrument. Pianos, guitars, electric basses or percussion instruments cannot be rented there, so students usually own those instruments themselves.
This means three things for you:
- Do not put a label on the instrument itself. It does not belong to you, and adhesive on varnished wood can leave marks or pull off the varnish when the label is removed.
- Ask the teacher before putting anything on a rented case. A label on the inside of the lid is often fine, but some schools have their own labels that should not be covered.
- Label your own belongings. You often buy the music folder, music stand, tuner and rosin yourself, and those are the items that get mixed up.
What not to label
- Varnished wood: violin, cello, guitar and piano. According to the specifications, the labels adhere to plastic, metal, glass, leather and fabric via the care label. Wood and varnish are not included, and no one has tested how the varnish reacts to the adhesive.
- Strings, keys and pads on woodwind instruments. Nothing should be attached there that could affect how the instrument sounds.
- Drumsticks. They are made of wood, and they hit the drumheads and rims throughout the lesson. Write the initials with a waterproof pen on the thick end.
- Rubber and silicone, such as grip protectors. Labels do not stick well there.
What to write on the label
The child's name and your phone number. The number fits on a second line. All labels in a set have the same text, so choose something that works on everything the child brings along. If siblings play in the same orchestra, the surname is enough on the music stand and folder, but on the case the teacher will want to know immediately whose it is.
If the teenager would rather have a discreet label, choose a simple design without a motif, or initials and a number.
How to attach the label
- Wipe the surface clean. Dust and grease from your hands prevent the adhesive from sticking. Let the surface dry completely.
- Choose a smooth area. A flat plastic surface or metal tube will hold better than a curved or textured surface.
- Press firmly for about ten seconds. Pay extra attention to the corners.
- Wait a day. The adhesive needs approximately 24 hours to cure, so apply the label the evening before the start of term, not in the car on the way to the lesson.
For a fabric case, the label goes on the care label or tag, not on the fabric. Read more about this at where to put the name label on the care label.
Personal instrument: serial number and photo
A name label helps whoever finds a case call you. It does not protect against theft, since it can be peeled off. If the child has their own instrument, such as a guitar:
- Photograph the instrument and its serial number, if it has one, and save the photos on your phone.
- Save the receipt. It is needed if you are going to report a theft or contact the insurance company.
- Put a paper with your name and phone number in the case compartment, as a backup in case the label on the outside comes off.
The markings on the fingerboard are something else
If you search for how to label instruments, you may also mean the small markings that beginners on violin, viola, and cello have on the fingerboard to see where their fingers should go. They are thin strips of tape that the teacher usually puts on and removes when the student no longer needs them. Lappu does not sell any of these, and a name label is not suitable there. Ask the teacher which tape they use.
Rule of thumb: label the case and your own accessories, never varnished wood and never a rented instrument. A name label is meant to help things find their way home. If you want to protect an expensive instrument against theft, you need the serial number, a photo, and a receipt.
Calculation example: two children at the community music school
A calculation example for one student who plays violin and one who plays guitar:
- Violin: case outside and inside the lid, music folder, music stand, shoulder rest, rosin, and tuner, 7 labels
- Guitar: gig bag on the label and outside, music folder, music stand, capo, pick box, and tuner, 7 labels
There will be 14 labels. Four of them are best suited as large labels for the cases; the rest can be taken from a set of regular name labels, 124 labels from SEK 139, approximately SEK 1.12 per label. Ten labels from that set therefore cost around SEK 11, and the rest are enough for a lunch box, water bottle, and clothes. If the siblings have different names, they need one set each, since all the labels in a set have the same text.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a name label on an instrument rented from the community music school?
Do not put a label on the instrument itself; it belongs to the municipality and must be returned. Label the inside of the case lid after asking the teacher, and label your own accessories.
Does a name label damage the varnish on a violin or guitar?
There is no test of how the varnish withstands the adhesive, and wood is not among the surfaces the labels are designed for. Therefore, the label should be placed on the case, not on the instrument.
Where on the case is the name label most visible?
On a smooth plastic part near the handle or on the outside of the case. It will be visible when the cases are lined up. You can also put a second label on the inside of the lid.
How do you label drumsticks?
Write the initials with a waterproof pen on the thick end. Drumsticks are made of wood and constantly hit edges, so a self-adhesive label is the wrong tool there.
Does a name label help if the instrument is stolen?
No, it can be peeled off. Save a photo, serial number, and receipt for an instrument you own, and contact the insurance company if anything happens.