For some reason, now I`ve started to get these hangnail-type things (I`m not sure what they are) on my fingernails, especially the right fingers. My nails get cut in the corners on the sides...if that makes sense. And my cuticles are being cut. Also, there`s a bump on my right thumb across the whole nail.

I`ve only been playing two years but this has never happened before. Has this happened to anyone else? I also started playing in my school`s pit orchestra/band about a week ago; does this have anything to do with it?

The cuticle problems are a fact of life - eceryone gets them. Try using some Vaseline thumb and nail cream or something. The bump (or depression) in your right thumb is most probably due to a bad thumbrest on your instrument. As you play for longer periods of time it is influencing the growth of your nail. It happened to me a few years ago. It's umpleasant, but you get used to it. I'd recommend you get a new instrument with a comfortable thumbrest, or get a new thumbrest fitted.