WherZat Music

There is noting worse than an instrument that won't work properly while being played. It is frustrating when trying to built fluency in fingering exercises when valves keep sticking, heavy or are sluggish. Is it the instruments, NO it is you. Ask yourself. "When was the last time I serviced the valves?"  All instruments need regular TLC to ensure they work correctly.

So that is one reason to sevice an instrument but there is more:

1. Your health. It is a reality that bacteria, dust and liquid condensation gather Inside the tubes and mouthpiece of a brass instrument. It stands to reason that you need to maintain a clean instrument for your health.

2. Tone and intonation. A badly maintained instrument will suffer from these musical elements. You will find it harder to blow freely through the instrument because of the interference from the build up unwanted material on the inside of the tubing. there will be a tendency to overblow to compensate and then wonder why you require more effort to play well.

3. Tuning. The valve slides should be free to move. Most brass instruments especially trumpets have finger rings or triggers to be able to easily move the sildes while playing.  Instrument manufactureres can not make a perfectly in-tune instrument. Some notes are out of tune so we need to be able to move the slides to bring them into tune. If your slides are jammed then this is not possible without sacrificing endurence and tone quality.

So who does this sevice work?   YOU - You are responsible to take care of the instrument in your possession whether it is your personal property, school property, hired from a company or your local community band's instrument.

YOU play it YOU take care of it.

What equipment do you need to be able to service and  care for your instrument on a day to day basis.

These items should be in your case at all times.

ITEMWHYWHENHOW
Valve oil (slide cream for trombones)  To re-oil (lubricate) your valves
every 2 to 3 days
Mouthpiece brush  to clean your mouthpiece
after every time you play it 
Slide grease  re-grease every slide (tuning, 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve slides)
every week
lint-free cloth  to wipe clean each part that is to be re-oiled or re-greased.
use it when you perform each task above.