Woodwinds
When the instrument is not being played, keep it stored properly in its case, with necks, headjoints, and mouthpieces disassembled or removed as applicable and stored in the appropriate compartment.
It is recommended to consult your trusted woodwind technician for annual deep cleanings and regular mechanical maintenance.
To remove excess dirt, debris and moisture, please use the following methods.
Flutes
After playing:
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Thread a cleaning cloth through the eye of the cleaning rod and wrap it around the rod’s shaft, ensuring no metal of the rod is exposed. Insert the covered rod through the body of the flute to remove excess dirt and moisture. Be mindful not to apply excess pressure to the keys on the body during this process. Use this method to carefully clean the headjoint as well.
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Use a polishing cloth to remove dirt and oil from the exterior of the body and headjoint.
Clarinets
Before playing:
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Apply a small amount of cork grease to the corked tenons on the body joints and mouthpiece to ensure proper assembly and fit.
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Keep the mouthpiece and reed covered with a mouthpiece cap when not being played.
After playing:
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Disassemble the clarinet completely. Remove the reed, clean off excess moisture with a cloth, and store in a reed case. Clean the inside of the mouthpiece with a cleaning swab, being careful not to damage the tip of the mouthpiece.
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Use a cleaning swab to clean the interior of the joints of the body. Excess moisture left behind can cause cracking; it is important to remove excess moisture between every play session.
Routinely:
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You may use pad cleaning paper (not included) to remove excess dirt and moisture from the pads. Place the cleaning paper between the pad and the tonehole, and press lightly down on the key while pulling the cleaning paper through. It is recommended to consult your trusted woodwind technician for annual deep cleanings and regular mechanical maintenance.
Saxophones
Before playing:
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Apply a small amount of cork grease to the neck cork to allow proper assembly and fit. Assemble the mouthpiece onto the neck prior to assembling the neck onto the body. Tighten the neck screw after assembling the neck on the body. Keep the mouthpiece and reed covered with a mouthpiece cap when not being played.
After playing:
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Disassemble the neck from the saxophone, then remove the mouthpiece. Remove the reed, clean off excess moisture with a cloth, and store in a reed case. Clean the inside of the mouthpiece with a cleaning swab, being careful not to damage the tip of the mouthpiece.
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Use a cleaning swab to also clean the interior of the neck and body of the saxophone. On a baritone saxophone, empty the water key. Excess moisture can cause corrosion, it is important to remove excess moisture between every play session.
Routinely:
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You may use pad cleaning paper (not included) to remove excess dirt and moisture from the pads. Place the cleaning paper between the pad and the tonehole and press lightly down on the key while pulling the cleaning paper through.
Brasswinds
When the instrument is not being played, keep it stored properly in its case, with leadpipe assemblies and mouthpieces disassembled or removed as applicable and stored in the appropriate compartment.
It is recommended to consult your trusted brass technician for annual deep cleanings and regular mechanical maintenance.
To remove excess dirt, debris and moisture, please use the following methods.
Trumpets, Cornets, Flugelhorns
Before playing:
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Apply oil to the pistons. Unscrew top valve caps and pull pistons partially out of the casings. Apply 5-10 drops of piston oil to each piston and replace in the casing, being sure to align the valve guide with the valve guide channel. Move pistons a few times to distribute oil evenly.
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Apply a little grease to tuning slides as needed and preferred. Apply a light grease or tuning slide oil to the valve slides as preferred. Be sure to tighten the 3rd valve stop screw to ensure the 3rd valve slide does not fall out while playing or in motion.
After playing:
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Empty water keys. Depress pistons to remove valve slides to empty any trapped moisture. Excess moisture can cause corrosion; it is important to remove excess moisture between every play session. Failure to depress pistons to remove valve slides may cause an air pressure change inside the instrument and cause damage or improper piston function.
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Wipe down instrument with a polishing cloth
Routinely:
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If tarnish is apparent, you may clean lacquer instrument with a cloth and lacquer polish, and silver instruments with silver cloth and silver polish.
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Remove pistons completely and clean piston casings with cleaning rod (not included) and muslin or cheesecloth (not included). Thread the cloth through the eye of the cleaning rod and wrap it around the rod’s shaft ensuring no metal is exposed. Insert the cleaning rod through each casing to remove excess dirt and moisture. Reapply oil to the pistons to reassemble.
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Use muslin or cheesecloth to clean the inner slides of tuning and valve slides of excess dirt and moisture. Use a cleaning rod and cloth to clean the outer receiving tubes. Apply a small amount of grease to the clean inner slides to reassemble.
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For flugelhorns, it is recommended to consult your trusted brass technician to assist in maintenance and cleaning of the 3rd valve slide trigger mechanism.
Horns
Before playing:
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Apply oil to the rotors. Depress rotors to remove valve slides and add a few drops of rotor oil through the slide tubes down toward the rotor assemblies. Reassemble the valve slides with rotors depressed and move the rotors several times to distribute oil evenly. Failure to depress rotors to remove valve slides may cause an air pressure change inside the instrument and cause damage or improper rotor function.
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Apply a small amount of slide grease to tuning and valve slides as needed and preferred.
After playing:
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Empty water keys. Depress rotors to remove valve slides to empty any trapped moisture. Excess moisture can cause corrosion; it is important to remove excess moisture between every play session.
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Wipe down instrument with a polishing cloth.
Routinely:
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If tarnish is apparent, you may clean lacquer instrument with a cloth and lacquer polish, and silver instruments with silver cloth and silver polish.
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Use muslin or cheesecloth to clean the inner slides of tuning and valve slides of excess dirt and moisture. Thread a cleaning cloth through the eye of a cleaning rod and wrap it around the rod’s shaft ensuring no metal is exposed. Insert the covered rod into the receiving outer tubes to remove excess dirt and moisture. Apply a small amount of grease to the inner slides to reassemble.
Trombones
Before playing:
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If playing on a trombone with a rotor assembly, apply rotor oil to the rotor(s). Apply a small amount of oil to the spindle of the rotor underneath the valve cap. Apply oil to the spindle under the rotor stop arm. Apply a few drops of oil to the rotor through the slide receiver opening. Move the rotor lever a few times to distribute the oil evenly.
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Apply a small amount of slide grease to tuning slides as needed and preferred.
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Apply handslide lubricant to the trombone inner slide tube stockings (the bottom-most section of the trombone inner slides). Using a water spray bottle, mist the inner slides sufficiently and assemble the handslide. Slide the handslide section back and forth several times to distribute the lubricant evenly.
After playing:
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Empty the water key.
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Use a cloth to wipe the excess handslide cream off the inner slide tubes.
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Wrap a trombone slide cleaning rod (not included) with muslin or cheesecloth (not included). Thread the cleaning cloth through the eye of the cleaning rod and wrap it around the rod’s shaft, ensuring no metal of the rod is exposed. Be careful to hold the cloth in place as you insert the cleaning rod into the outer slide tubes and remove excess dirt and moisture. It should engage with the interior wall well enough to remove debris, but not become stuck.
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Wipe down the instrument with a polishing cloth.
Routinely:
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If tarnish is apparent, you may clean lacquer instrument with a cloth and lacquer polish, and silver instruments with silver cloth and silver polish.
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Regularly remove tuning slides and remove dirt from inner slides with a cleaning cloth. Use a cleaning rod with a cloth to clean the receiving outer slides. Apply a little grease to the clean inner slides and reassemble.
Alto Horn, Baritone Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Sousaphone
Before playing:
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Apply oil to the rotors and/or pistons.
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Rotors: depress rotors to remove valve slides and add a few drops of rotor oil through the slide tubes down toward the rotor assemblies. Apply a small amount of oil to the spindle of the rotor underneath the valve cap. Apply oil to the spindle under the rotor stop arm. Reassemble the valve slides with rotors depressed and move the rotors several times to distribute oil evenly. Failure to depress rotors and/or pistons to remove valve slides may cause an air pressure change inside the instrument and cause damage or improper rotor function.
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Pistons: unscrew top valve caps and pull pistons partially out. Apply 5-10 drops of piston oil to each piston and replace in the casing, being sure to align the valve guide with the valve guide channel. Move pistons a few times to distribute oil evenly.
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Apply a small amount of slide grease to tuning and valve slides as needed and preferred.
After playing:
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Empty all water keys. Depress rotors and/or pistons to remove valve slides to empty any trapped moisture. Excess moisture can cause corrosion; it is important to remove excess moisture between every play session.
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Wipe down instrument with a polishing cloth.
Routinely:
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If tarnish is apparent, you may clean lacquer instrument with a cloth and lacquer polish, and silver instruments with silver cloth and silver polish.
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Remove pistons and clean piston casings with cleaning rod (not included) and muslin or cheesecloth (not included). Thread the cloth through the eye of the cleaning rod and wrap it around the shaft ensuring no metal of the rod is exposed. Insert the covered rod through the casings to remove excess dirt and debris. Reapply oil to rotors and/or pistons.
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Use muslin or cheesecloth to clean the inner slides of tuning and valve slides of excess dirt and moisture. Use a cleaning rod and cloth to clean the outer receiving tubes. Apply a small amount of grease to the clean inner slides to reassemble.