Instrument Care – Top Tips from Accent Techs

Whether you own or rent your instrument, continued care and maintenance is a super important part of creating a successful musical experience! Some like to say the instrument makes the player, and while there can be some debate about that statement, we can all agree playing on a busted, smelly, or otherwise non-functioning instrument is the pits. Every instrument type is different and comes with its own specific maintenance requirements, but there are a few general tips to follow. Learn from some of our Accent techs as they outline some of the best general care tips for your instrument.

Crushed Trombone Bell… don’t sit on your instrument, kids!

Tip No. 1: Always know where your instrument is.

Seems pretty basic, right? Surprisingly enough, instruments get sat on, run over, left on busses and in cars, and otherwise lost track of.

The Infamous “Flat Saxophone” from West Music

When it comes to instruments and cars, there are two main tips:

• ALWAYS make sure your instrument is with you in the car/bus before you leave, and
• NEVER leave the instrument in the car for extended periods of time or even overnight.

Melted Clarinet courtesy of Senseney Music

In extreme cases, instruments can crack or even melt! Not to mention bacteria love warm, dark, moist places (yuck). Sometimes, recovery from an incident like this is possible with a good cleaning and playing condition adjustment, but they can’t always be saved. Check with your local store and/or manufacturer’s warranty to see what is covered!

Tip No. 2: Always store your instrument properly

Even if you’re only setting it down for a few minutes, putting the instrument in its case or on a stand specifically designed for it will prevent unwanted bumps and falls. As William of RM Sides music explains, “Your case is your instrument’s best friend. Let’s start with a scenario that happens across every household that has a beginning trumpeter,” William said. “The young student is practicing their trumpet and they hear the call for dinner, so they put the trumpet down, but not down on its side. They stand the trumpet upright on its bell. It is never a good idea to stand a trumpet on its bell.”

• Be sure the instrument is properly positioned in the case to avoid pressure, and don’t store books and music inside the case. The case should easily close without resistance.
• Always securely latch or zip up the case before moving the instrument.
• If you are just leaving for a few minutes, or have a designated practice area in your home, use an instrument stand – your local music store will have a selection of relatively inexpensive stands, many of which can be folded up and stored in the case.

Tip No. 3: Never use household tools on your instrument.

One of the other most common incidents with beginning brass musicians is that the mouthpiece can get stuck! “The common thought is to grab a pair of pliers and pull the mouthpiece out. What happens next,” William says, “[is the parent] is twisting and pulling on the mouthpiece and then something goes pop. That sound was the bracing that holds the lead pipe and the bell together!” In addition, even if you are particularly handy, home soldering can blister lacquer, tools can leave additional marks, and, most importantly, home repairs will nullify any manufacturer’s warranty!

• Always take your instrument to a professional whenever possible. If you don’t have a store in your area, check first with your local band director.

Tip No. 4: Never leave the reed on the mouthpiece of your woodwind instrument.

Remember earlier, when we mentioned bacteria love dark, warm, moist places? Leaving your reed on your instrument is an especially good way to turn your mouthpiece into a Petri dish! Always take the extra few seconds to take the reed off the mouthpiece, wipe off the excess moisture, and store it appropriately in the case. A moldy reed (and/or mouthpiece) is absolutely not something you want to put in your mouth and breathe in.

• If you can, make a very small investment into an appropriate reed storage case – this will not only help cut down on bacteria and mold, but also help your reeds last longer.

Tip No. 5: Remove as much moisture as you can.

Use the water key (spit valve) to remove excess moisture from your brass instrument, and clean moisture from woodwind instruments using a recommended swab before putting it away. Never store the damp swabs inside the instrument!

Moisture can cause adverse affects such as discoloration and corrosion over time.

In addition to the mouthpiece woes discussed above, saliva sitting in instruments can also cause bacteria growth and, over time, build-up and even pitting in the metal or resin. It is recommended to have your instrument professionally cleaned at least once a year, twice if at all possible.

• Always empty spit from brass instruments.
• Always run your swab through woodwind instruments (and don’t store the damp swab inside the instrument)!

Tip No. 6: You can give your (piston) brass  instrument a bath at home, but make sure you are only using gentle, non-abrasive soap and have been instructed on how to properly do so!

You can use lukewarm water and gentle, non-abrasive liquid soap to give your brass instruments a bath at home. Completely disassemble in the instrument, submerge in water and use the brushes in your recommended care kit to clean all the inside tubes you can reach. These care kits are widely available from your local music store. Gently rinse all the pieces, and leave overnight to air-dry before reassembling.

Woodwind instruments (and rotary brass), however, should NOT be bathed at home! Woodwind instruments have pads and corks that should not be soaked in water, and rotors are not easy to disassemble. Woodwinds and rotary instruments should always be cleaned by a professional!

Gregg of Buddy Roger’s Music shared a message he received detailing one horror story when a well-meaning student attempted to clean her clarinet in a non-standard way:

“Please help. I woke up this morning and my daughter had her Clarinet dismantled and submerged in water with hand soap. She said she didn’t have a swab and wanted to clean it.  At this time it is air-drying on paper towels!” 

It was fortunate for the customer they had rental insurance on the instrument. In this case, the music shop exchanged the damaged instrument for a replacement, and her “clean” clarinet underwent a complete (and costly) tear-down and pad replacement in the shop.

• Piston brass instruments can be bathed at home in lukewarm water with non-abrasive liquid soap. Be sure to air-dry overnight before reassembly.
• Woodwind Instruments and Rotary Brass should always be cleaned by professionals!

Additional instrument Care Tips

• Don’t eat, or drink anything but water, before or while you play the instrument. If you’ve recently eaten, brush your teeth before beginning your playing session to avoid depositing nasty food residue inside the instrument. If this isn’t always possible because of your school band schedule, make sure your instrument gets regular cleanings!
• Take your instrument for regular maintenance at your local music shop. Certified Accent dealers have the expertise needed to keep your instrument in great shape. Not only can they perform any needed repairs and more complex maintenance, they can guide you on how to best maintain your specific instrument to ensure it provides great sound for years and years.

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