Instrument Maintenance

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 in the Sun Valley Band Store and at Music and Arts at the Arboretum Shopping Center. To have accessories delivered directly to your home shop Music and Arts online at http://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