Caring for Your Instrument: Summer Edition

Happy Summer to all you music lovers out there!

It's going to be a warm weekend in Western Washington, so I'm here to give you a few instrument care tips.

1.) Alway CLEAN your instrument before you put it away!
 If it's string instrument, wipe the rosin off the strings, then wipe down the wood under the strings.
If it's a wind instrument, swab it down well, and get all of the moisture out using brushes made for your instrument. If left, bacteria will grow in your instrument, which is gross and can make you sick.

2.) DON'T leave you instrument in the car for over an hour if the temperature is over 60 degrees. For wooden instruments, the heat will cause glue to dry out and the plates to come apart, as well as melting the varnish. For wind instruments, it will melt you accessories and possibly the glue in your reeds.

Close to 40 is good for Western Washington

Below 30 and you might want to add moisture to your instrument.

3.) DO check the humidity of your instrument.
If you have a hygrometer in your case or handy, that's great! But if not, just check the general humidity of the area.





 In Western Washington it will usually be around 40-30, if not higher. If it's below 30, your instrument is dry and may need a damp sponge in the case to add some moisture. Changes in the humidity can cause cracks, loose plates, stuck keys and pitch change. Check you your local instrument dealer or repair shop if you need more info on how to care for your specific instrument.







4.) DON'T Over hydrate or water your instrument. This is just as bad as under hydrating it. :)







5.) Bring your instrument into your local instrument repair shop for it's annual checkup. A good rule of thumb is: Go to the dentist twice a year, and the repair shop once!





6.) Check with a repair shop before using a polish on your instrument! ALL STRING PLAYERS please do NOT use any polish or any knid on your instrument. Polishes, even those "meant" for fine stringed instruments, slowly add to or stripp away the original varnish. This can cause great damage. Use a bit of water and a microfiber cleaning cloth (or an eye glasses cloth) to clean your instrument, and if it's not shiney enough, rub the instrument with your hand, and the oils from your hand with give it a nice luster.


Take good care of your instrument, and it will take good care of you!