Instrument Maintenance 
and Cleaning

BAND INSTRUMENTS:  Mr. Paustian will provide one day each month for students to clean, oil, and lubricate their band instrument at school during class.  He will provide assistance and instruction on the proper washing and cleaning of all instruments.  Students (and their parents) should NEVER attempt to fix their own instrument.  Please seek the advice of your band teacher as soon as there is a problem.  The following Cleaning Supplies should be purchased by each student:

             Flutes:  Metal tuning and cleaning rod and a small, soft cloth for swabbing the interior of the flute after each practice; Medium size soft, flannel cloth cleaning the exterior part of the instrument. The purchase of a flute  “Pad Saver” is strongly encouraged (it is a soft, fuzzy rod that fits inside of the instrument and absorbs the moisture when instrument is not in use).  Other items to purchase could include: Small screw driver, key oil, pad cleaner paper.

             Clarinets/Saxophones: String swab The purchase of a flute  “Pad Saver” is strongly encouraged (it is a soft, fuzzy rod that fits inside of the instrument and absorbs the moisture when instrument is not in use).  Other items to purchase could include: Soft polishing cloth, small screw driver, key oil, pad cleaner paper, mouthpiece brush, and reed guards for the reeds.

             All Brass Instruments: Soft polishing cloth, valve oil or slide oil, Vaseline (to be used instead of slide grease), mouthpiece brush, valve brush, and large cleaning “snake,” (cleaning brush).

 Wind and Percussion Repair Specialists:

            Marv Rose Musical Instrument Repair
           1603 Vine St.    Milton, WA  98354      253-922-7118

             Joe Schaller Instrument Repair
             823 E. Main Ave. #B   Puyallup, WA  98372    253-841-4846   or  253-841-0914

             Mills Music Repair  
              24202 104^th Ave. SE  Kent, WA  253-850-8000

            Keith Purvis Drum Shop
            224 SW 153^rd Burien, WA    206-244-0550

 STRING INSTRUMENTS: All students are responsible for keeping their instrument maintained and cared for.  Each case should contain the following items:

  1.    Extra strings

2.    A soft cloth to remove rosin and dust

3.    Rosin

4.    A shoulder rest for Violins and violas (students should purchase their own)

5.    An End Pin Stop for all cellos and basses (students should purchase their own)

 

STRING REPAIRS:  No student should ever try to repair a broken instrument.  Hammond Ashley Violin Shop is the best repair shop in the area: 1-800-STRING BASS.  Remember, no glue, tape, varnish, or paint should ever be used on a string instrument!  You should not play your instrument if the sound post has fallen (this is the small piece of wood that stands near the bridge inside a string instrument).  The instrument can collapse without the support of the sound post.   Do not wash the instrument with any substance unless it is specifically a cleaner for string instruments.  NEVER use soap on the instrument.

 

            Safety Tips:

          1.    Do not allow anyone else to play your instrument!

2.    Try not to tighten the bow too tightly. There should always be a slight bend in the stick.

3.    Hitting the bow against anything, especially the tip, can cause irreparable damage.

4.    Keep the instrument in a safe place at home, out of the reach of siblings.

5.    Keep the instrument away from heaters, windows, or drafty areas.

 

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