Caring for your instrument

SPECIAL NOTE: Repairing a musical instrument requires special tools. Even something as simple as removing a stuck mouthpiece can cause expensive damage if done in a home workshop. Do not attempt to fix instruments at home. Bring all the parts to school and allow your teacher to handle it.

ALL INSTRUMENTS

  1. Make sure your case is lying flat on the floor when you open it.
  2. Make sure your case is fastened all the way before you pick it up.
  3. Never open your instrument case on the bus or in the hall.
  4. Please do not allow younger siblings or friends to play with the instrument.

STRING INSTRUMENTS:

  1. Please keep a soft cloth in the case to gently wipe off excess rosin (be careful of the bridge)- but never use polish, water or anything else on the instrument.
  2. Please do not tighten the pegs. If your instrument goes out of tune (and it will), bring it in the next day and it will be tuned. This will prevent any unnecessary string breakage.
  3. If a string breaks, please replace it. The director will fix it but you must purchase a new string. Don’t send it out to be fixed – stores will charge too much. Just buy the string you need and send it in. (It is highly suggested that violin players purchase an extra E and A string and viola and cello players an extra A and D string. These are the strings most likely to break.)
  4. Please do not store music or books in the case. The case is designed to snugly fit the instrument and anything extra could damage the instrument.
  5. Never put the instrument face down or leaning against a chair. The bridge is delicate and will break and is very expensive to fix.

BRASS INSTRUMENTS:
(Trumpet, French horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba)

  1. Oil all valves and slides every week.
  2. Wash out mouthpiece each week.
  3. Instrument should be handled with care to avoid dents and scratches.
  4. Mouthpiece should be placed gently into the instrument and not tapped once it is in the instrument.

WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS:
(Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone)

  1. All instruments, except flute, should wash out the mouthpiece each week. Flutes should clean lip plate only by wiping with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Clarinet and bass clarinet players should take care not to get the mouthpiece cork wet.
  2. Instrument should be handled with care to avoid dents and scratches.
  3. All clarinet, bass clarinet, and saxophone instruments should have a good, clean reed on their mouthpiece and have an extra reed in their case. It is suggested that a box of reeds be purchased. Ask your music teacher about the correct type and size reed to purchase.

PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS:Sticks'n'snare

  1. Percussionists need a good pair of sticks and their music at all rehearsals and lessons.
  2. Care should be taken to maintain the bell set that is borrowed.
  3. Percussionists should take care of all of the percussion instruments on the stage. They should be moved and set up with care. The percussion area on stage should be kept clean and organized.