General Care & Maintenance Tips
- Keep your instrument in its case when you're not using it.
- Check on the case's hinges, locks, and zippers occasionally to make sure they are working properly and doing their job of keeping the instrument safe. Also, refrain from storing miscellaneous items on top of your instrument inside its case like books. Storing items on top of the instrument in the case could cause things to bend or become misaligned.
- Be mindful of the temperature.
- Don't expose your instrument to extreme temperatures as doing this can warp or damage it. Leaving your instrument in the car is generally not a good idea for this very reason. Also, if your instrument is being brought inside from cold weather, let it warm to room temperature before you play it.
- Keep your instrument clean.
- Wipe your instrument of fingerprints, dust, and residue with a clean, soft, untreated cloth before you put it in its case. It is also recommended that you polish your instrument occasionally as this will help the longevity of the instrument. However, make sure to use a specialized polish that is made for your instrument.
- Don't try to repair your instrument yourself.
- Refrain from trying to remove stuck joints or mouthpieces. Never attempt to glue a damaged string instrument or bow. Refrain from trying to hammer dents out of a brass instrument. As any of these things can lead to more harm than good. Ask someone with more experience for help like your teacher or bring the instrument into our store.
- Never touch your instrument with wet hands.
- This can cause damage to your lacquer, varnish, or metal of your instrument.
Brass Instruments
Includes: Trumpets, Trombones, Horns, Euphoniums, Tubas, & Baritones
- Don't eat before or while you play your instrument.
- This is because food particles, sugar, or other foreign materials can cause gunk to build up in your instrument or get lodged inside the instrument. Both of these scenarios can affect the playability on your instrument over time. Soft drinks can also lead to a buildup of gunk in your instrument. If you do eat just before playing, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
- Be careful when you put your instrument in its case.
- While the safest place for your instrument to be stored make sure you fit all the pieces into the correct indentations. If the instrument is placed back in the case correctly the case should close easily. If you have to force it, then your instrument is probably not positioned correctly. Also be sure to latch or zip the case shut, this will ensure that it will not accidentally fall out if picked up or knocked over.
- Be careful if you place your instrument down outside of its case.
- Make sure that it cannot easily be knocked off elevated surfaces and/or in a spot where someone could easily sit on, step on, or trip over it.
- Keep your instrument dry.
- Always ensure that your instrument is completely dry before placing it in its case. Failure to do so will result in a mildew-infested mess. Drain any water after playing and wipe your instrument dry with a soft cloth. It's also a good idea to have your instrument professionally cleaned annually to prevent corrosion and other types of damage.
- Take care of your mouthpiece.
- Always remove your mouthpiece before storing your instrument. If your mouthpiece is dry, apply a small amount of valve oil to your bore to keep it from getting stuck. If your mouthpiece does get stuck, then it is advised that you ask your teacher for help or bring it into our store.. Finally, clean your mouthpiece regularly with warm soapy water.
- Move it or lose it.
- Brass parts tend to stick together if left stationary for an extended time. Ensure that you move all the parts of your instrument regularly if you haven't been playing it.
- Keep your instrument well oiled.
- Apply a drop or two of valve oil to your bearings and rotors a couple times a week then work the valve to ensure that the oil is spread evenly. Unscrew trumpet valves, wipe them clean, then put a drop of oil on the valve, valve cap, and bottom cap. You should also apply slide oil to your trombone at least once a week by placing its hand slide into third position and adding oil to each slide.
Woodwind Instruments
Includes: Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes, Bassoons, Saxophones, & Piccolos
- Don't eat before or while you play your instrument.
- This is because food particles, sugar, or other foreign materials can cause gunk to build up in your instrument or get lodged inside the instrument. Both of these scenarios can affect the playability on your instrument over time. Soft drinks can also lead to a buildup of gunk in your instrument. If you do eat just before playing, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
- Be careful when you put your instrument in its case.
- Place it on its back and be sure you fit each piece into the correct indentations and in the correct direction. If the instrument is placed back in the case correctly the case should close easily. If you have to force it, then your instrument is probably not positioned correctly. Also be sure to latch or zip the case shut, this will ensure that it will not accidentally fall out if picked up or knocked over.
- Be careful if you place your instrument down outside of its case.
- Make sure that it cannot be easily knocked off elevated surfaces and/or in a spot where someone could easily sit on, step on, or trip over it.
- Pick up your instrument the right way.
- It's best to lift your instrument by the body. You never want to lift the instrument by its keys as they are quite fragile.
- Keep your instrument free of moisture.
- Internal condensation can create a moldy mess over time and even cause cracks in your instrument. To prevent this issue, pull a clean, dry swab through your instrument before you put it in its case each time you play it. It is also recommended that you wipe the wetness off your instrument's keypads, reeds, & mouthpieces as doing so can help prevent unwanted odor as well as prolong the life of your pads & reeds.
- Store your instrument correctly.
- Refrain from storing the reed in your instrument's mouthpiece; instead use a reed guard. It is recommended that you wash your mouthpiece with room temperature water and a mild detergent and let it dry completely before storing your instrument. Saxophonists should also use an end plug when storing their instrument.
- Don't forget the grease and/or oil.
- Regularly apply a small amount of cork grease to your cork joints to keep everything airtight and to help prevent them from crumbling. The joints on flutes & piccolos should only be lubricated when joints are too tight. It is recommended that you oil your keys every few months with key oil to keep them operating smoothly. To oil the keys, dip a toothpick in the oil and place a tiny drop of oil at each key joint, flat spring seats, and roller joints. Make sure to keep any and all oil/polish off of keypads.
String Instruments
Includes: Violin, Viola, Cello, and String Bass
- Wash your hands before playing your instrument.
- This will help prevent the oils from your skin from damaging the varnish on the instrument which can affect its appearance and tone.
- Take care of your bow.
- You should also avoid touching the hairs on your bow as doing this can prevent rosin from sticking to it. Loosen the tension on the bow every time you put it away. That being said, make sure you tighten your bow to the proper tension before playing.
- Store your shoulder rest properly.
- Remove the shoulder rest from your violin or viola before putting the instrument in its case. You should store the shoulder rest in either a discrete compartment in the case or a separate bag.
- Wipe down your instrument after each use.
- Get into the habit of cleaning your instrument regularly to safeguard against sticky rosin dust buildup and to remove any fingerprints from the instrument.
- Be careful when you put your instrument in its case.
- Place it on its back (string side up) and be sure you fit it correctly into its indentation. If the instrument is placed in the case correctly the case should close easily. If you have to force it, then your instrument is probably not positioned correctly. Also be sure to latch and/or zip the case shut as this will ensure that it does not accidentally fall out if picked up or knocked over.
- Be careful if you place your instrument down outside of its case.
- Make sure that it cannot be easily knocked off elevated surfaces and/or in a spot where someone could easily sit on, step on, or trip over it.
- Tune your instrument the right way.
- When tuning your instrument, start with the tuning pegs at the top to get close to the note you need. Then make minor adjustments with the fine tuners at the bottom. If peg slippage is an issue, then try applying peg compound.