Trumpet Care

Trumpet Care and Maintenance

DISINFECTING BRASS MOUTHPIECES

Keeping your mouthpiece clean is important at all times, but now seems like a very good time to go over HOW you should do it.

Your mouthpiece is easy to keep clean. Because it is metal, it can be wiped down with everyday rubbing alcohol. Music stores sell special "Brass Mouthpiece Brushes" to clean the inside of the shank (The thin part of the mouthpiece).

You can wash the mouthpiece first with warm water and dish soap. If you don't have one of the special brushes, you can use a pipe cleaner or Q-Tip to scrub out the shank. NEVER use anything scratchy like scrubber sponges!! Once your mouthpiece is washed and rinsed, let it dry. You can then rub it down with rubbing alcohol and let it air-dry.

Don't use the mouthpiece for a few minutes after you clean it because the smell of the alcohol won't be pleasant, but it will go away fairly quickly.

All of the information here will be taught to the students in lessons, but I wanted to make it available to you on my webpage, also. Taking care of your instrument is a very important part of studying and playing it. Instruments that are not cared for will not work correctly and the student will be unable to play it.

First, for any instrument, nothing should ever go in the case, on top of the instrument. This is EXTREMELY important.

Also, instruments should be put back in the case after practicing. They should not be left put-together on a counter, table, or bed to practice the next day. I have had to repair instruments that have been knocked off tables or sat on because they were left on a chair or bed. If you're not playing the instrument, it belongs in the case.

NEVER put your lesson book on top of the trumpet in the case. It is extremely easy to bend the second valve slide (The short little tube that's sticking up in the center when the trumpet is in the case). Nothing should go in the trumpet case unless it fits in the small storage compartment. Some trumpets have storage for books under the trumpet. If your case has this, then the book can go there, under the trumpet, but NEVER on top.

The only assembling to be done with a trumpet is putting the mouthpiece in. Put the mouthpiece in the receiver, give it a gentle twist, and that's all. Never push it hard and never tap it. It can become stuck in the trumpet. If it does, bring it to Mr. Hunter or a repair shop. Do not try to remove it yourself!!

Oil the valves every time you play your trumpet. Mr. Hunter will show the students how to do this. NEVER remove more than one valve from the trumpet at a time. It is very easy to get them mixed up and put them back in the wrong place.

Make sure to keep all 4 slides greased. Once a month is fine. (Slide grease is available at any music store.) If a slide is left too long without grease it can become frozen and will require a qualified repair person to free it.

NEVER TRY TO FIX A FROZEN SLIDE OR STUCK MOUTHPIECE AT HOME!!!

If your mouthpiece gets stuck in the trumpet, it will not fit in the case, but do not ever try to remove it at home. I cannot tell you how many parents have thought, "Oh, I have pliers. I can take care of that!" The trumpet will wind up in the repair shop needing expensive repair work to reattach the pipe that WILL snap off of the instrument. There are special tools for safely removing a stuck mouthpiece. I have them in school. Pliers are never the answer. The same goes for the slides. If a slide ever gets stuck, do not try to use force to free it. Repair shops have special tools and techniques to safely free a frozen slide.

Always empty the water key (spit-valve) before putting the trumpet away in the case.