The Perfect Match
Some musicians find it difficult to nail down that “perfect” bag. Straps may be well-padded and handles well-placed, but the lining may not be as thick as you’d like. Or size may even be an issue, as it was for Annyta Klein Vizard.

“We recently bought a cello and found it difficult—impossible—to find a bag case that fit,” Vizard laments. “The cello is larger than most and we had to go with a larger, heavier, hard case instead of a lighter padded case. We wish that all cases had a place for music and rosin while protecting the instrument.”

The key to finding the best fit for your needs is to shop around and do as much research as you can—be prepared to spend some time looking. Safety and transportation are paramount concerns, but if you’re willing to compromise on aesthetics and other less-important attributes, you may be surprised at what you find.

Natalie Haas, a professional cellist and former Juilliard School student, finally settled on a case cover. “I use something called the ‘Blobby’—we nicknamed it ‘Dobby the Blobby’—to fly with over my Alan Stevenson cello case,” she shares. “It’s a big black denim bag that insulates the case with solid foam on all sides. Dobby and I have a love/hate relationship . . . never once has my cello been harmed when I check it, but it is the most ridiculous thing to carry. It only weighs 35 pounds total with cello, case, and Blobby, but it is huge . . . and it doesn’t have wheels! Still, it’s worth all the awkwardness to know that my cello is safe.” Haas purchased her Blobby from case maker Alan Stevenson.

James Lyon, a professor of violin at Penn State University, found success with a case cover as well.

“I love my Cushy!” he asserts. “Its padding keeps my Vuillaume safe from extreme weather and cushions any small impacts incurred in transit. The strap is also totally reliable, unlike the one that came with my case. . . . The Cushy case cover easily slips over any standard full-size oblong violin case and I definitely recommend it!”