It’s a new world out there! At Accent, we are very much aware of the importance of personal hygiene and preventing disease and are offering the following guidelines for appropriate instrument care. This is not only good information to help curb the spread of COVID-19, but also all transmissible illnesses, such as the flu or even the common cold. 

According to the CDC, current testing and evidence suggests that the Coronavirus (the cause of COVID-19) has a limited lifespan on hard surfaces. This is good, it means the virus cannot live on indefinitely on inanimate objects such as door handles, silverware, or your musical instruments.  As of what we know now, the lifespan of the virus is 3-5 days on surfaces such as plastic (3 days), wood (4 days), and brass (5 days). These further tips can help keep you safe as you get back to making music:

• Clean your mouthpiece after each use with a musical instrument sanitizing spray (usually available at your local music dealer), and thoroughly clean your mouthpiece inside and out once a week with soap and water.
• Do not share mouthpieces or instruments.
• Eliminate as much moisture from your instrument as you can before storing; emptying water keys, using swabs, etc.
• Throw away any reeds you have used if you begin to feel ill. Keep separate any reeds you use while sick, and change them more regularly than usual. Dispose of those as well when you begin to recover.
• Use isopropyl-alcohol wipes on the exterior of instruments, especially shared instruments, taking care to especially go over any areas that are common hand holds (such as grips, finger buttons, thumb rests, etc.)
• Wash your hands after playing your instrument. If you don’t have time between classes to make a stop at the restroom, keep hand sanitizer in your case and, at the very least, use that.

Here is some further reading from some of our Accent Members:

• Helping You to Keep Making Music
• Should My Child Go Back to Band?
• COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning Guide
• Musical Instrument and Mouthpiece Care and Sanitation
• Keeping Your Instruments Clean