All instruments require a little TLC in order to stay in good playing condition. You can find all of your cleaning supplies and accessories for instrument care at Holloway's Music Store in Monroe and at Music and Arts at the Arboretum Shopping Center. You can now shop Music and Arts online at http://www.musicarts.com/ and have accessories delivered directly to your home!
It is your responsibility to maintain and care for your instrument, as well as to have the necessary instrument accessories at all times. Please refer to the information below for a complete list of recommended instrument accessories:
FLUTE: All flute players need a metal cleaning rod, a silk or cotton cleaning cloth, and a folding music stand
CLARINET/SAXOPHONE: All clarinet and saxophone players need a handkerchief style silk or cotton swab, a reed case, at LEAST 3 working Vandoren reeds size 2.5, 3, of 3.5, and a folding music stand.
TRUMPET/BARITONE/TUBA: All trumpet, baritone and tuba players need valve oil, tuning slide grease, a cleaning snake, a mouthpiece brush, a washcloth or dish towel, and a folding music stand.
TROMBONE: All trombone players need slide oil or cream, tuning slide grease, a cleaning snake, a mouthpiece brush, a washcloth or dish towel, and a folding music stand.
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!
INSTRUMENT CARE - 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
Click HERE to watch a video on OILING your TRUMPET VALVES.
Click HERE to watch a video on disassembling your TRUMPET for cleaning.
Click HERE to watch a video on cleaning your TRUMPET.
Click HERE to watch a video on polishing your TRUMPET.
Click HERE to watch a video on CLEANING and OILING your TROMBONE.
INSTRUMENT CARE - 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.
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
Click HERE and HERE to learn even more about instrument maintenance for YOUR specific instrument.
