Practice Tracks, Tips & Reminders

This page contains helpful information for all of the instruments in our program.

Need something? Let me know and I'll add it!

Clean-up Tips

Always wash your hands before playing an instrument. It keeps the instrument pleasant to use!

Band students should always rinse their mouths with water (better yet, brush their teeth!) before playing the instrument. Food particles travel from the breath into the instrument and cause sticky valves, keys, and slides, which can be very expensive to fix.

Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone:
After playing, use your swab as shown in class. Sax and clarinet may also clean mouthpiece with a small brush, a drop of liquid soap, and rinse with water. This is usually done once a week or so, but if it makes you feel better, do it as often as you like. Reeds can be cleaned or replaced as needed. Most clarinet and saxophone players start with size 2 reeds (Juno size 2.5), but later on try half size up to see if it works better for you.

How to clean your flute
How to clean your clarinet
How to clean your saxophone
How to clean your mouthpiece and reed (up to 2:22) Please ask your parent for help.

Trumpet and Trombone:
During or after your lesson or practice session, empty your "water" key by hand (trombones may need a family member to help reach it--do not use your foot!) using your wash cloth or paper towel to absorb the moisture. If you have a mouthpiece brush, feel free to scrub your mouthpiece with a drop of liquid soap and rinse with water. This is usually done once a week or so, but if it makes you feel better do it as often as you like.

How to clean your brass mouthpiece Please ask your parent for help. This can be done once a month or more frequently, or after recovering from an illness.

Brass instruments can be bathed, but do not bathe a district-owned instrument unless the teacher gives you permission. If you own your trumpet or trombone, this video is very good, with the exception that I do not recommend using any kind of polish for the outside of the instrument unless advised by a private instructor or instrument technician. District-owned instruments are bathed at the end of the school year by the teacher. Music repair shops can also deep-clean brass instruments.

Violin and 'Cello:
Use a dry cloth to wipe excess rosin dust off your strings, fingerboard, on the body around the bridge area, and your bow stick (not the hair!). Don't forget to loosen your bow before putting it away!

How to wipe rosin off your violin and 'cello