Instrument Care

Below are a few links that talk about daily maintenance and care that students can do on their own. Proper daily routines in regards to care and maintenance will go a long way in making sure the instrument stays in good working order. If the instrument is damaged please contact a band director or refer to the tab on Instrument Repair. Families that have rentals through Music & Arts can drop instruments off at the store for repair (included in rental agreement). If you drop an instrument off at Music & Arts or another repair shop, please request a loaner, and keep the mouthpiece so the students can continue playing in class. You can find all of your cleaning supplies and accessories for instrument care @ Music & Arts at the Arboretum Shopping Center or have them delivered directly to your home by shopping www.musicarts.com

INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE

Performing routine maintenance on your instrument is your responsibility as a musician and it can be done rather easily if you follow the steps below. Please remember to treat your instrument with respect at all times! 

WOODWIND PLAYERS:
1. All woodwind players should wipe off fingerprints using a dry, clean cloth
2. Use a small cleaning brush or Q-tip to remove dust and dirt between keys, rods, and tone holes
3. Apply cork grease to all cork tenons (clarinets, bass clarinets, saxophones only)
4. Clean your mouthpiece with a mouthpiece brush or old toothbrush and COLD soapy water (clarinets, bass clarinets, and saxophones only)
5. Remove damaged reeds from your case and re-stock for the next grading period

Click HERE to watch a video on cleaning your FLUTE.

Click HERE to watch a video on cleaning your CLARINET.

Click HERE to watch a video on cleaning your SAXOPHONE.

BRASS PLAYERS:
1. Completely disassemble your instrument (valves, tubing, slides, etc.) making sure to place all parts in a safe place and such that you will remember how to reassemble your instrument later
2. Rinse the body of your instrument and all slides with COLD water in the bathtub
3. Use a snake to gently scrub the inside of the body and all slides and tubing
4. Rinse again with COLD water
5. Dry the outside of your instrument with a clean, dry cloth to avoid water spots
6. Oil and lubricate the slides and valves
7. Reassemble your instrument
8. RINSE OUT YOUR BATHTUB!!!
9. Clean your mouthpiece with a mouthpiece brush or old toothbrush and COLD soapy water

Trumpets

Click HERE to watch a video on OILING your valves.

Click HERE to watch a video on DISASSEMBLING for CLEANING.

Click HERE to watch a video on how to CLEAN your TRUMPET.

Click HERE to watch a video on polishing your TRUMPET.

Trombones

Click HERE to watch a video on CLEANING your TROMBONE.

French Horns

Click HERE to watch a video on OILING your ROTARY VALVES

PERCUSSION PLAYERS:
1. Dust your bell set and snare drum with a dry, clean cloth
2. Check mallets and snare sticks for damaged wood or mallet heads and replace if necessary



For general band instrument care and maintenance:

http://banddirectorstalkshop.com/2016/08/06/proper-instrument-care/

For instructional videos for each instrument click HERE