Students should be sure to have clean hands and faces when playing/practicing their instruments.
Band students are strongly discouraged from permitting friends and family members to play their instruments due to the high rate of germ transmission on mouthpieces.
Instruments should be kept in their cases (and cases should be closed and latched) when not in use by the student, and kept out of the reach of younger siblings and/or pets.
Musical instruments should be stored in a climate controlled and dry environment and not in a garage, shed, porch, unfinished basement, or trunk of a car.
FLUTES: All flute players should have a cotton cloth (handkerchief or bandana) and cleaning rod in their flute case at all times. Please do not use silver polish or jewelry cleaner on flutes.
CLARINETS and SAXOPHONES: Need a tube of cork grease and a cleaning swab, as well as two GOOD reeds in their case. Reeds that are chipped, cracked, split, or moldy should be discarded. All students should be using #2 reeds. We recommend purchasing a box of reeds and keeping two in the instrument case and the rest in a safe place at home.
Please be sure to specify either “clarinet #2 reeds” or “alto sax #2 reeds” when purchasing reeds at a music store.
TRUMPETS: Should have a soft cotton cloth (or sock) for polishing their instrument and a bottle of valve oil.
ALERT: If a student’s mouthpiece becomes stuck in the instrument, PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE IT!!
Leave it in until lesson day (the instrument will still work for practicing). On lesson day, place the whole instrument in the case and fasten the case with a belt or rope. We can remove the mouthpiece during lessons. A mouthpiece can only be removed safely (and without damaging the rest of the trumpet) by using a special tool that we have at school.
TROMBONES: Should have a soft cotton cloth (or sock) for polishing their instrument and a bottle of slide oil.
ALERT: If a student’s mouthpiece becomes stuck in the instrument, PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE IT!!
Leave it in until lesson day (the instrument will still work for practicing). On lesson day, place the whole instrument in the case and fasten the case with a belt or rope. We can remove the mouthpiece during lessons. A mouthpiece can only be removed safely (and without damaging the rest of the trombone) by using a special tool that we have at school.
PERCUSSION: Drumsticks are only to be used at home and in the band room during lessons. Drumstick use is prohibited on the bus and in the regular classroom. Students who have their drumsticks taken away by a teacher/administrator/or bus driver may not be able to continue in lessons.