The Importance of Proper Maintenance of Brass Instruments

Regardless of the brand of your brass instrument, one of the most significant aspects of keeping it in top condition visually and sonically is the proper maintenance. Poorly maintained instruments will reward you with poor sound. The care you’re ready to give to your trumpet, cornet or flugelhorn affects its playing characteristics. In this article, we will explore the top five reasons why proper maintenance of brass instruments is important and why it’s crucial to treat the caring process as part of your artistic goals.

1. Sound of your Instrument

Properly cared-for instrument sounds better as regular maintenance ensures precise tuning and optimal airflow through it. When the tubing of the instrument is clean from particles and dirt, the air moves through it effortlessly and smoothly, producing necessary vibrations. If the instrument is dirty, it loses the ability to vibrate smoothly and thus impacts the sound quality, which means that as the brass player, you can’t expect the audience to respond to your piece with desired emotions. 

The dirty instrument can be compared to the dirty windows of the house. You can see through them; however the picture is not so clear. When ignoring the first signs of degraded rasping or scraping sound musicians can get used to them over time and bad sound quality becomes their personal signature. And that is not what you would like to be associated with.

Solution: To clean the inside of your instrument, you can use Aqua Nozzle, designed by KGUmusic for both indoor and outdoor use. You can attach it to a garden or shower hose and remove particles quickly and effectively. It’s easy to install and absolutely safe for your brass instrument.

2. Functionality

All instruments work as the perfect system when each part of them is clean and well-maintained. Regularly lubricated valves and slides provide musicians with quicker, and more accurate movements. This means they don’t experience any delays or missed notes during performances, which helps them to convey the message through their music and create the desired impact on audience. Clean valve and slides are especially significant for playing fast passages.

If your brass instrument is dirty, the buildup of dirt may cause valves to stick, slides to jam, and air to flow unevenly. This may result in missed notes and poor intonation. Accumulated dirt can also lead to corrosion over time, affecting the lifespan of the instruments and their parts. This is especially dangerous for the mouthpiece and inner tubing. As these parts are significant for producing sounds, this can weaken the structure of the parts and cause malfunction.

Solution: Regularly inspect the valves and tuning slides for smooth operation. If valves feel sticky, lubricate each of them with a small amount of valve oil. If slides feel difficult to adjust, apply a small amount of tuning slide grease to them. Do it once a week as part of regular cleaning.

3. Durability

When neglecting regular cleaning, your brass instrument is more exposed to long-term damage and wear. When you clean your trumpets and flugelhorns regularly, you remove corrosive elements and reduce the risk of moisture, oils, and debris accumulation. All these factors can lead to rust and deterioration of the metal. When valves and slides are lubricated, they are more protected from wear as lubrication reduces friction.

In addition to caring for moving parts and inner tubing, musicians should also regularly polish the exterior to protect finish from tarnishing.  Regular polishing maintains the metal’s integrity and reduces corrosion, which can make the sound dull.

Solution: To remove fingerprints from the brass instrument’s surface, use a soft cloth or specially designed care towel that gently comes in contact with the finish without leaving scratches and effectively maintains a shiny look. To protect brass surface in the most vulnerable areas where it’s exposed to contact with the human’s skin, you can use leather hand guards or valve guards.

4. Saving Cost Needed for Repair

A properly maintained brass instrument reduces the need for costly repairs and replacements as it prevents corrosion, accumulation of dirt and moisture, damaged slides and stuck valves. When you clean and lubricate your instrument regularly, its parts function smoothly, minimizing wear and tear. You don’t have dirt and residue buildup, so you reduce risk of blockages or mechanical failures. If you never overlook cleaning routine you prevent corrosion and rust, and maintain structural integrity, so you don’t need asking for professional help.

Solution: Divide your cleaning routine into two steps: weekly care and monthly care. Regularly check the function of valves and slides, wipe the surface, clean your brass instrument in the bath following instructions. You can learn more about how to care for your trumpet in our article.

5. More Pleasure from Playing

A clean instrument sounds better and is easier to play. You won’t experience blockage or sound defects. You can enjoy practices and rehearsals. Naturally, this motivates you to play more, helping you make notable progress toward your musical goals.

A poorly cared instrument feels harder to play, spoiling the impression of how you sound and feel the music. This results in shorter practice sessions or postponed lessons.  

When you keep your instrument in top condition, it responds precisely to your touch, making practice and performance rewarding. The clear sound boosts creativity and confidence, providing you with the opportunity to explore new techniques. The only feature that a properly maintained instrument lacks is customization.

Solution: When your instrument sounds clear and is easy to play, you can further enhance its playability and appearance with a range of accessories for brass instruments such as trim kits, finger buttons, and mutes.

Conclusion

A properly cared-for brass instrument results in a more positive and inspiring experience, as it feels easy to play because all its parts function smoothly and correctly. It reduces the risk for costly repairs and helps perfectly deliver your message through music. To maintain the brass instrument in top condition you should provide it with daily, weekly and monthly care, by cleaning its tubing and parts, wiping the surface and protecting the vulnerable areas with specially designed guards.

We hope our tips will help you enjoy your practices and boost your creativity.