Our advice is to never try repair an instrument yourself – take it to your instructor for inspection if you suspect it has been damaged or broken.
The Music Service will carry out any necessary repair. Where the instrument has been damaged through negligence you will be contacted and asked to cover the cost or repair or replacement.
For Guitar, Bagpipe and Percussion maintenance, please consult your instructor.
STRINGS
| What Changes are Required Regularly? |
| – Strings – Rosin – Bow hair |
| How Often are they Required? |
| Strings – at least once a year, and you should also always have spares. Your instructor will advise what brand is best and restring until you are taught how to do it yourself. Rosin – you should always have one and use it regularly to maintain your bow. Ask your instructor for advice on what kind to buy. Bow Hair – as and when necessary by a repairer (your instructor will advise on this). |
| Best Method to Clean your Instrument: |
| Use a dust cloth to remove all rosin from your instrument after each practice. Doing this each time you use the instrument will maintain it satisfactorily. If additional cleaning is required your instructor will show you how to do it. |
BRASS
| What Changes are Required Regularly? |
| N/A |
| How Often are they Required? |
| N/A |
| Best Method to Clean your Instrument: |
| Valved Brass – Oil valves and apply slide grease to slides as required (approximately once a month). Trombones – clean slide and apply slide cream to main slide, and slide grease to the tuning slide. Thereafter apply water to main slide as required (approximately weekly). All Brass – The main thing to clean is the mouthpiece and this is done by putting the mouthpiece into warm soapy water. Use a mouthpiece brush to clean the cup and shank of the mouthpiece. For the outside of the instrument use a cloth to clean dust and marks. For inside the instrument, take all tuning slides and valves out and fully submerge into warm soapy water and let sit for 10-15 minutes (ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR ABOUT THIS FIRST). Once finished remove all water by blowing through the instrument and occasionally turning round to get water out from places that have no water keys. Once the water is out re-assemble with all tuning slides and valves. |
WOODWIND
| What Changes are Required Regularly? |
| – Reeds – Cork Grease |
| How Often are they Required? |
| With proper care, reeds can last a few weeks to months, depending on the level of practise. Talk to your teacher for recommendations of which type and strength to buy. Your instructor will advise when you require a higher reed strength. One pot of cork grease should last a couple of years. |
| Best Method to Clean your Instrument: |
| Clean your instrument of moisture after playing with rods, cloths or any other relevant cleaning item specific to each instrument. Mouthpieces can be washed in warm water (reeds should be removed first), but no other part of any instrument should get wet |