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Beginning Band Without Barriers
It is very important to learn how to properly clean and care for your instrument! It is the responsibility of each musician to learn how to clean and maintain it.
General Instrument Care
General Instrument Care
Complete regular instrument cleaning after each use before returning it back to its case. See instrument specific care below for more details.
Avoid eating, drinking (aside from water), and chewing gum immediately before playing your instrument.
Always keep your instrument in its case when not in use. Make sure the case is fully closed before picking it up (check hinges, locks, zippers).
When placing your instrument back into its case, make sure it fits all the correct indentations. Do not force your case closed, as it most likely means the instrument isn’t properly placed.
Do not place anything on top of your instrument or store anything on top of it inside the case.
Never store the reed on the mouthpiece, store in a reed holder. Replace chipped, cracked or softened reeds.
Do not leave your instrument unattended, inside or outside the case.
Do not leave your instrument in a car or other area where it can endure extreme temperature fluctuations.
If your instrument is being brought inside from cold temperature, wait for it to warm up to room temperature before playing.
Do not attempt to repair an instrument at home. If it needs repair, show it to your teacher to determine if it can be fixed at school or taken to an instrument repair technician.
Daily Care
When removing your flute from its case, make sure not to pick it up by its keys. Remove it by the end where there are no keys.
Put the flute together with a slow back-and-forth twisting motion while avoiding the keys. Do not push or pull the flute when assembling or disassembling as this can cause the instrument to bend at the joints.
After you are finished playing, use a cleaning rod with an absorbent cloth to swab out the inside of all parts of your flute to remove any moisture. Wipe the joints with a soft cloth to remove any debris. Carefully wipe off the outside of the flute with a polishing cloth as needed.
Always store your flute in its case when you are not using it. Do not place anything in the case that can press on the flute as it could bend the keys.
Monthly Care
Check all screws and springs to see if there are any coming loose. If you notice any, bring your intrument to your teacher to have them adjusted. Do not try to adjust them yourself as they can be over-tightened or damaged.
Yearly Care
Have your instrument checked and adjusted by an instrument repair technician as needed. There may be small adjustments that can be made to ensure top quality performance on your instrument.
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