Caring for Your Clarinet
Study the picture above to acquaint yourself with the parts of your clarinet. This is how your clarinet should look when it’s assembled.
Clarinets play best when the reed is moistened. Soak the thin end of the reed in your mouth while you are putting your clarinet together.
Handle your clarinet gently. If you bend any of the keys, the instrument will not play properly. Apply a small amount of cork grease on each of the corked joints. With the upper joint in your left palm, use your left-hand fingers to press down the tone hole rings. Grasp the lower joint near the cork so that the tone holes are facing your right. Line up the tone holes on both joints and gently twist If the instrument is difficult to assemble, don’t force it! Take it to your band director for assistance.
The soft white pads you see in each key cup are important but delicate parts of your clarinet. By stopping air from coming through the holes they cover, the pads allow you to change the notes. If the pads become hard or develop air leaks, your clarinet will be hard to play or won’t play some notes at all. The enemy of the pads is moisture, especially the kind that builds up inside your clarinet when you play. If that moisture runs out onto the pads, your pads will become stiff and the thin, clear cover on the pads will eventually crack. In order to protect your pads, each time you finish playing your clarinet pull your swab through each joint to remove the moisture. If you do that, your clarinet will continue to be easy for you to play. For the same reasons, you’ll want to avoid eating, drinking, and chewing gum while you play.
Your fingerprints contain acids that can eventually eat into the shiny finish of your clarinets keys and make them look dull. You can wipe the fingerprints off with a nickel or silver polish cloth. I don’t recommend liquid polish because it sometimes gets on the pads and destroys them.
When you aren’t playing your clarinet, take it apart and put it in its case or use a clarinet stand. Most of the damage we fix on clarinets happens when the instrument is left out of its case.
Since your case fits your clarinet pretty tightly, don’t put other things in the case with it. They will press on the keys, bending them out of adjustment and making the clarinet hard to play.
It’s a good idea to bring your clarinet to the repair shop at least once a year for inspection and routine maintenance. Sometimes we can spot minor problems early and head off expensive repairs. We’re always happy to inspect and test your instrument free of charge, and usually can do it while you wait. And if you have Amro’s Maintenance & Replacement coverage, any adjustments and repair it needs are free of charge. A properly working clarinet can actually make you a better player.
Best of luck with your clarinet. Take good care of it, and don’t forget to practice! © 2004 Amro Music Stores, Inc
