Klarinet Archive - Posting 000141.txt from 2005/05

From: "Wes Kilpatrick" <whkilpatrick@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Storage and cleaning
Date: Fri, 06 May 2005 21:53:55 -0400

In addition to all the negative things listed below leaving your clarinet
assembled for excessive lengths of time compresses the cork making it loose
fitting and needing replacement very quickly. I once did a repad/tenon cork
replacement for a band director only to have him return the instrument in
about a month needing new tenon cork which I did under my warranty. About a
month later he called me with the same problem. After discussing the issue
with him I discovered that he was leaving the clarinet assembled on a stand
next to the podium so he could use it for quick demonstrations. I gladly
replaced the tenons but not under warranty.

Also a clarinet left out is in danger of being knocked over , stepped on,
tripped over, sat upon, etc......
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ormondtoby Montoya" <ormo2ndtoby@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 8:58 PM
Subject: [kl] Storage and cleaning

Warren Rosenberg wrote:

> I was wondering how damaging would it be if
> I just kept my clarinet out most of the time.

If you're thinking of not taking your clarinet apart and swabbing and
drying it after each session, you're headed for trouble. You can
develop problems even if you do these things but allow yourself to be a
bit sloppy about it, or if your weather remains warm & humid.

> I was thinking of even getting a plastic one so
> it would be less of a risk (I assume).

Moisture accumulates in sockets, regardless of whether they're plastic
or wood. If you don't disassemble and dry the sockets and the tenon
cork surfaces, the saliva will sit there without evaporating and it will
act as a culture medium. (After all, saliva contains lots of living
stuff.)

> How do you, if you do, clean your
> mouthpiece.

Rinse briefly in water, or in soap & water, after each session, then dry
it with a Kleenex. Many people also soak it occasionally for 10
minutes in a white-vinegar-and-water mixture --- some people use
straight white vinegar --- especially if you see a buildup of white
material (calcium) inside the mouthpiece.

And don't forget to rinse and dry the reed (with Kleenex or such) the
reed as well. There are plenty of horror stories about students
looking at their reed under a microscope after having left the reed
stuck on the mouthpiece for a few weeks.

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