When, why, & how should your instrument be maintained?
In general, instruments should be maintained daily as long as the player is actively using them. This is particularly important for musicians who play wind instruments like the flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, French horn, and others.
So why do instruments need daily maintenance?
Spit… Saliva is the number one thing that daily maintenance treats. Every instrument where you force air into, over, & through it to make sound will collect condensation & saliva particles. The condensation mix slowly attracts dirt & debris to stick to the pads, the bore, and the mouthpiece/reed. So to postpone sticky key issues, we swab out the bores. This removes bacteria and other germs that can grow over time, as well as removes the dirt or debris before the condensation dries it to the inside of the instrument.
Assembly… Holding the instrument correctly during assembly & disassembly can prevent damage that can cause playability issues over time. Bent keys and bent flute foot joint tenons are among some of the repeatable issues I find in repairs from young students.
How do I, as a parent, learn how to help my child maintain their instrument?
If you are renting an instrument from a school or a store, ask the associate to show you some basic maintenance before you leave. Even if your child isn’t paying attention, they should see it in class again later, but a little one-on-one knowledge goes a long way. Also, be sure to ask about the coverage that comes with any rental plan: how it works, what it covers, and what it doesn’t cover.
If you have an instrument already, show it to your director/instructor if you can’t evaluate the functionality of the instrument yourself. Once you know it’s good and ready for your child to use with some success, then ask about how to maintain it specifically. This can be done with any director, instructor, musician with experience on that instrument, or a local shop. Ask several people if you are unsure of the different opinions.
When it comes to maintenance, I like to go over four things with players and parents.
Instrument maintenance tips:
1. Swabbing & wiping down
2. Assembly & Disassembly
3. Professional maintenance
4. Goals for the instrument & what to expect from it.
Instrument maintenance tips
Swabbing and wiping down
Swabbing out the instrument (or drying out) is the best solution for everyday cleaning. It helps the pads last longer and keeps the bore free from germs, calcium, and dirt buildup. Wiping down the outside of the instrument helps remove dust and dirt, oils and acids from our hands, and oxidation from the metals. Personally, I prefer to have a separate cloth for each, but not everyone does. However, it is something I strongly advise.
For brass instruments, drop swabs can get stuck easily. It is better to dump the condensation and oil the valves after playing as a daily practice. Once you learn how to assemble and disassemble the instrument, you can also run some soapy water through sections of the instrument between professional cleanings. (Ask your tech or director for advice before attempting this for the first time.)
Assembly & Disassembly
Assembly & disassembly, as well as knowing some small things to look out for, can save you a lot of heartache in the long run when it comes to repairs. Things like just putting the flute together and taking it apart improperly can cause huge issues down the line.
Checking the strap ring on a saxophone for wear before assembly can prevent the ring from becoming too thin to hold the weight needed. Holding the upper joint keys on a clarinet closed while assembling the upper and lower sections helps prevent an adjustment cork from being ripped off. These and more are little tips I like to give on an individual basis, but if I get the chance, I’ll make a post about each instrument in the future.
Professional maintenance
Professional maintenance is important as well, and not just so I can have work. Especially when it comes to woodwinds, the balance of the keys can change over time. The players close each key differently, and it affects the felts inside the pads and changes the shape of the pads. This causes leaks. Other things can cause leaks, like torn pads, little bugs called pad mites, key corks/felts breaking free or compressing, springs breaking or coming loose, and so on. All these and more are things that the professional technician is paid to fix. We enjoy the puzzle, the success of a well-balanced & tuned instrument, and we enjoy helping the musicians in our communities.
Goals for the instrument & what to expect from it
Goals for the instrument are not something everyone is prepared to hear about, but setting a family up with clear expectations is important. If you are wanting an instrument to take out onto the marching field, I may not recommend using mom’s really nice instrument she got in high school, even though it's older. On the other hand, if grandpa is trying to help the grandson out by providing a pawnshop horn, maybe we should consider having it professionally cleaned before handing it out, and we should check to see if it’s an instrument worth repairing. If the cost of the repairs exceeds the value of the instrument, then it may not be worth the time and money to fix up.
All of these are very individualized to the player and the situation. Some you might find an instructor or friend that can help with your questions, others you may want to contact your local tech. If you ever just want to run through some questions, feel free to contact my shop anytime.
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