Daily Care
1. When removing your clarinet from its case, never pick it up by the keys. Remove it by the ends where there are no keys.
2. When putting your clarinet together, first apply a small amount of cork grease to the tenon corks as needed. Newer instruments or instruments with recently repaired corks will become sticky and need cork grease more often.
3. Put the clarinet together with a slow back-and-forth twisting motion. Never push or pull the clarinet when assembling or disassembling since this can damage the tenon or tear the cork.
4. When tightening the screws on the ligature (the device that holds the reed on the mouthpiece), take care not to over-tighten them. Only tighten until they are snug.
5. After you are finished playing, pull a cleaning swab through all parts of the clarinet to remove moisture. Start the swab at the BIGGEST end (the bell) and pull towards the smallest end (the mouthpiece). Carefully wipe off the outside of the instrument and keys to remove oils or perspiration caused by your hands.
6. Always store your clarinet in its case when not in use. Do not place anything in the case that can press on the clarinet, this can bend keys.
7. NEVER leave your clarinet standing upright. If you must walk away from it, leave it lying horizontally with the keys pointed upward.
Weekly Care
Once a week, use a mouthpiece brush, lukewarm water and dish soap to clean your mouthpiece. Brush out the inside and the outside to remove all buildup.
Monthly Care
1. Check all screws and springs to see if any are coming loose. If they are, take your clarinet to your teacher to have them adjusted. It is not suggested that you try and adjust them yourself because they can be over-tightened or damaged.
2. A small brush or pipe cleaner can be used to clean the dust and dirt from between the keys
where a cloth won’t reach.
Yearly Care
It is recommended that you have your instrument checked and adjusted by a repair professional. The shop may find adjustments or worn pads that are affecting the optimal performance of your instrument.
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