General Hints for Brass Instruments

Elevation Music Store

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Your instrument is an expensive item with many delicate mechanical features. A small amount of time and care will keep your instrument in good working order, maintain its appearance (and value), reduce servicing costs and prolong your playing enjoyment. Brass instruments have a considerable advantage over woodwind instruments in that they are largely able to be maintained by the player. If they are kept clean and properly lubricated they will present very few problems.

1. It is worth spending a little extra on oils and lubricants to ensure that the quality is good. Poor quality materials can affect the performance of your instrument and result in you needing to clean your instrument more frequently!

2.After playing your instrument remember to loosen the valve caps by half a turn to avoid the possibility of trapped moisture causing corrosion in the screw threads.

3. Always clean the mouthpiece thoroughly with warm water and a mouthpiece brush. An accumulation of deposits in either mouthpiece or mouthpipe can have a very adverse effect on the performance of the instrument.

4. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaning materials on silver plated instruments. Use only recommended cloths.

5. Try to avoid dramatic changes of temperature and humidity and never leave it in direct sunlight or near a radiator even inside the case