With the warm summer months in full swing, you’re not the only one who’s sweating! What happens to instruments in warm temperatures, and how can we prevent damage? When do we perform maintenance, and how often should it be done? Read on to learn about some tips for keeping your instrument in good shape!
Have you ever taken your instrument into a music shop for maintenance? How about had a piano tuned? Our instruments are incredible tools, complex and often hand built by skilled artisans. They are made up of many moving parts including wood, strings, metal, cloth, and wire. Just like anything else that is used regularly, your instrument is likely to need a tune up every once in a while. Now, not all instruments are alike! Your clarinet might require a bit more maintenance than your brother’s trumpet. Or vice versa. These suggestions are to be taken only under the advisement of you and your student/teacher. Always ask before spending large amounts of money of course! Anyway, here goes.
Woodwind Instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone): These instruments are for the most part made of wood—hence the name. Saxophones are usually brass, but have numerous pads used to cover the keyholes (same as flutes). Some clarinets are made of plastic, but these tend to be a bit less common. Regarding keeping these instruments safe in warm temperatures: never leave them outside or in a hot car! Wood can warp, and the glue holding the pads on can melt which will result in costly repairs and potentially unfixable damage. If you are in marching band, keep an eye on your instrument at all times and do not leave it outside unattended. Rain is to be avoided—wooden instruments can sustain damage from this. Especially if you perform with a marching or outdoor group, I’d recommend taking your instrument in to a repair shop just for a check up at least once if not twice a year. This will allow a technician to examine all the small, complex parts that enable your instrument to sound its best. Of course, it’s also helpful to make sure you are taking care of your instrument on your own: swab it out after each time playing, wipe out the mouthpiece, avoid getting your instrument wet, and make sure you remove clarinet, saxophone, or oboe reeds before putting things back in their cases.
Brass Instruments (trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba): Though brass instruments are a little more durable than woodwinds, they still require care. Brass instruments are often times more capable of being outside: they won’t warp in the rain or experience melting glue. However, extreme temperatures and rainstorms still aren’t ideal. Just like woodwind instruments, one should not leave one’s trumpet, trombone etc. in a hot car or outside unattended. There are parts inside these horns that can bend, shift, and warp in heat. Perform routine care on your instrument—though some recommend giving your brass instrument a “bath” every once in a while, do not attempt this unless your teacher recommends it and/or shows you how. Empty spit valves, make sure the tubes are adequately greased, and so on. I’d still suggest taking your instrument into a technician once or twice a year for routine care.
String Instruments (violin, cello, viola, bass, guitar, harp): String instruments should not go outside, first and foremost. The wooden bodies of these instruments are essential for resonance, and can easily become damaged when encountering high temperatures. Even more so than woodwinds, strings should be kept at a moderate, consistent temperature as much as possible. Though some temperature variation is ok, your instrument will likely stay in tune much longer and more reliably if it isn’t transferred between large temperature dips. Oftentimes, instrument cases can help keep your instrument at a stable temperature when not being used—this means, don’t leave your violin sitting around outside of its case, or in a hot car! There’s almost nothing worse than realizing your instrument has cracked due to a temperature issue. Routine maintenance on these instruments tends to be a bit more complex than woodwinds or brass as the strings themselves are usually what needs adjustment. I would not recommend attempting to change strings unless you are doing it with an instructor for your first few times. Metal strings can rust, so it’s important to pay attention to the quality of your strings. Keep your instrument rosined, and dusted!
Percussion (piano, drums, marimba etc): Percussion instruments are potentially the most complicated in terms of repair and maintenance. Repairs and tuning should for the most part be left to the professionals as years of training are required to become certified or registered. For acoustic pianos, a tuning every 6 months to a year will help keep the action in good shape. Additionally, keeping the room where your piano is housed the same temperature (ideally a bit on the cooler side) will help your instrument stay in tune for longer. Avoid resting drinks, food, or sticky substances on your instrument—the strings are made of metal and can rust if they get wet. If a string breaks, call a technician. Digital pianos and drum kits will not have these issues, which should be kept in mind when considering the budgetary restrictions of getting an instrument.
Take care of your instrument and it will take care of you! If ever a question or concern arises, ask your instructor. Chances are, they are already familiar with the issue and can fix it for you, or they can recommend a reliable instrument technician to help put things back in order. Enjoy the sunshine, keep your instrument cool, and thank you for reading!
—Charissa Garrigus, Instructor at Vibe Music Academy
