Do It Your Self - DIY

The importance of DIY maintenance for your instrument is two fold –
a/ to have the player become more “in tune “ with their tool of trade and b/ to keep your musical investment in top playing condition.

Just like checking the oil or the tyres of your car, all instruments should have simple daily checks and maintenance. Here are some things that you can do yourself:

1. Clean your case - if your case is full of rubbish, pet hair or dirt, this will get inside your instrument. If it has pads, the rubbish will stick to them and create air leaks. If it has valves and slides that are oiled it will stick to them too. As far as hard rubbish in your case goes, this runs the risk of dents and or more.
2. The other thing that should be done with your case, is every six months or so, please dry out your case. This is done by sitting it in the window on a bright sunny day (aprox. 20 – 28 deg C) for a few hours without your instrument in it. This will dry out all the moisture that has built up in it over the past six or so months which can lead to mould growing in your case or on your instrument.
3. Mouthpiece cleaning - just like you wont drink water from the same cup for six months you should not use your mouthpiece for that long with out giving it a wash. To wash your mouthpiece use warm water and normal dish washing liquid and a small bottle brush. DO NOT USE HOT WATER in the case of hard rubber or plastic sax & clarinet mouth pieces as this will de-stabilize the composite material and send them green and make them smell L.
4. Brass players please remove slides and grease them every week, the number of stuck slides I see every week is crazy. It is a shame to see instruments not being looked after.
5. Use an appropriate stand, not a chair or on the floor. Stands protect your instrument. They are also very handy for drying your instrument and making it easier to do that horrible stuff (practice).
6. Pads sticking???? Sax and clarinet players! Try products like pad life - they will help. Talk to your technician about the right product for you and your instrument. They work very well and do increase the length of time you will get from your pads.