Woodwind musical instrument care and cleaning

Woodwind Care:
Your instrument is a precisely made item. If looked carefully after it will give years of trouble free playing. Follow these simple guidelines for looking after your instrument.
When not in use, keep the instrument in its case, as that is the safest place for it. Most accidents happen when the instrument is left unattended out of its case. A hard case is much better than a 'Gig Bag'. If an instrument is dropped in a gig bag the effect can be catastrophic because the bag is not rigid, and offers only nominal protection. Try to allow your instrument to acclimatise if you are coming in out of the cold. Blowing warm air into a cold instrument may damage it.
When assembling your instrument try to hold it where there are no or few keys. This will stop the delicate mechanisms being damaged. Special care should be taken with Clarinets and Oboes as they have correspondence keys which link the middle joints and are easily bent. the Saxophone octave mechanism is effected in the same way. If joints feel too loose or too tight see a repairer. If too tight the joint might seize completely. If too loose the instrument may fall apart and be damaged whilst you are playing.
Cork joints, including the mouthpiece joint on a saxophone, need regular greasing. Use a good cork grease, Vaseline WILL NOT do the same job, and may result in serious damage! A new joint will probably require greasing on every use for the first few times. After this period it is recommended to apply grease at least twice a month. Try not to apply too much. If you do, wipe off the excess with a clean cloth and try not to get grease anywhere else on the instrument, especially the pads.
NEVER GREASE METAL JOINTS ON FLUTES AND SAXOPHONES
Never eat just before playing. Food will be blown into your instrument and it will begin to smell after a while. It is not only unhygienic but can corrode the inside of your instrument. Also sweets and fizzy drinks will make the pads sticky. If you do have sticky pads, then they do need cleaning. DO NOT attempt this yourself, seek the assistance of a repairer.
After playing, the inside of your instrument should be dried. A pull-through ( cloth on a weighted string) is a good method for most instruments, as it cannot damage the inside of your instrument. Leaving the instrument damp inside will cause the pads to rot, they will start leaking and will need to be replaced. If your instrument is wooden, moisture may also cause the wood to crack and the instrument become unplayable. If possible, do not keep damp cloths in the case with the instrument, as it will transfer moisture back to the instrument. If a pull through gets stuck or parts lock together, take the instrument to a repairer, who has tools and techniques to safely rectify matters. For flute heads, carefully wrap a piece of cotton cloth around around a cleaning rod, insert into the head and carefully wipe the inside without pushing on the head cork. If your saxophone came with a plug in the end, use it! Remember the octave and linkage mechanisms are very vulnerable and bend easily.
DO NOT KEEP MUSIC AND OTHER ITEMS IN THE CASE with your instrument, unless the case has a separate compartment for them. If you use a rubber thumb rest on your Clarinet or Oboe remove it before putting the instrument back into the case. Most cases are not designed for the extra bulk and you risk bending keywork when you close the lid.
Fingerprints may be removed from the instrument with a clean soft cloth. If desired, lacquered instruments may be brought to a shine using a non silicon based furniture polish, but great care must be taken not to get any polish on the pads. Silver plated instruments and keys can be polished with a silver cloth, which we stock.
Do not use liquid silver/brass cleaner (such as Brasso or Silvo) Brasso is too abrasive, both will enter the mechanism, to cause wear or sticking keys, and get under the key and pads, where it is not easily removed. Avoid rubbing the front edges of the pads, when cleaning the instrument, this is one of the prime causes of pad wear.
Take care not to leave your instrument, even in its case, exposed to direct sunlight or heat, such as a radiator or in the boot of a car on a hot day. The pads are held in with substances that will melt in high temperatures, and the pads may fall out.
The mechanisms require maintenance and lubrication. It is recommended that the instrument be referred to a trained repairer once a year for servicing to keep the instrument in good playing condition. Do not refer repair work to any unqualified person, particularly if the instrument is still under guarantee.
For any questions call me at 978-745-5255
just ask for Dominic