Oh my goodness gracious! Being nice to your instruments includes cleaning them every month or two! I saw something in a trumpet today that could probably be considered a biohazard - YUCK!
Brass players - You can take out your slides and valves and put your instruments in a tub of lukewarm water. (Hot water will strip the lacquer off of your isntrument. I like to give my trombone a bath in dishwashing liquid because it will take out the grease and oil. After bathing the instrument, you should lubricate the tuning slides with petroleum jelly (vaseline) and then oil your valves or trombone slides.
Woodwinds - DO NOT BOIL YOUR INSTRUMENTS! This is good advice for any instrument but you should not put your instrument in water. You can clean off mouthpieces with a cloth or toothbrush and some mouthwash. Do use your cleaning cloths to remove moisture after practicing. The only way to really disinfect is to take it to a repair shop and get it chemically cleaned.
Percussion - There is really nothing that you need to do but you should dust off your instruments and practice!
Showing posts with label instrument care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label instrument care. Show all posts
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Be nice to the instruments!
Students, please, please, please, take care of your instruments! I've seen a lot of instruments lately in need of repair. When I look around the band room, I'm appalled by the way some students treat their instruments: banging them on the floor, dropping them, using them to scratch their backs, etc. These are expensive pieces of equipment! Please treat them with care. I can do minor repairs (tighten screws, push a spring back in place, etc.) but replacing parts or taking out dents is beyond my capabilities.
Also, just because it's in a case, does not mean that it's indestructible! A case helps protect your instrument, but it can get damaged if dropped, kicked (yes, I've seen cases kicked down the hall) or used as "seat" while waiting for the bus.
Repairs done by a professional can be expensive and leave you without an instrument for a couple of weeks. If you do have to take your instrument to the shop, make sure your parents write me a note stating that the instrument is being repaired. If there is no note, I mark you as "unprepared".
Also, just because it's in a case, does not mean that it's indestructible! A case helps protect your instrument, but it can get damaged if dropped, kicked (yes, I've seen cases kicked down the hall) or used as "seat" while waiting for the bus.
Repairs done by a professional can be expensive and leave you without an instrument for a couple of weeks. If you do have to take your instrument to the shop, make sure your parents write me a note stating that the instrument is being repaired. If there is no note, I mark you as "unprepared".
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