Instrument Care:

One of the best methods of saving money and enjoying years of playing is to follow some simple care instructions along with occasional adjustments from your music store.

Applies to ALL instruments:

1. Do not attempt to repair your instrument! Special tools and skills are needed. Any attempt can actually make the repair job harder and more expensive.
2. Never eat just before playing your instrument.
3. Your instruments should only be in one of the three places at any giving time: a) in your hands, b) in your case, c) or a specially designed stand made specifically for that instrument
4. Store the instrument in a temperature controlled environment and out of direct sunlight.
5. Make sure your case provides adequate support for your instrument. Some cases do not provide good support and if dropped, the instrument can be bent.
6. Do not keep music and other items in the case UNLESS the case has a separate area specific for storage. No items should be pressing on or wedged in the instrument when closing the case.
7. Do not use cleaners and/or polishers on your instrument. Some can do more damage than actual good.

Woodwind specific:

1. When removing the instrument from the case, be sure to grab where there are no or few keys. Saxophonist use the barrel to left the horn out.
2. When joining parts together, take special care and make sure that “key links” and mechanisms are joined together properly. Keys and joints are easily bent.
3. Any cork joints should not be too tight or too lose. If too lose the instrument may fall apart and be damaged.
4. On cork joints, use cork grease, NOT vaseline or any other form of grease. A new joint will require more frequent greasing.
5. Avoid getting grease on metal joints flutes and saxophones
6. After playing, swab your instrument with a pull-through swab specific for your instrument.