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Re: New clarinet. Breaking in, care procedures

Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-10-20 16:55

Ideally you should really have bought it back when the weather was getting better instead of getting worse as the higher humidity levels are more favourable for wooden instruments. Playing it in from late spring to mid summer would have it ready for when winter sets in and humidity levels drop, so while you can still have it played in before winter really hits, do take extra care if taking it from place to place later in the year or early next year. Added to the fact the heating will be coming on (if it's not already on) so that will further lower humidity levels.

As for playing it in, play for around 15-30 minutes at a time, dry it out and put it back in its case. Increase playing time by 5 minutes a day and always mop out after each playing session. Dry the sockets with a piece of paper towel as that will keep your pullthrough/swab clean and you won't end up getting grease in the bore and into toneholes.

Anti-tarnish strips only work well when the instrument is cased up and the keys have been wiped clean beforehand - you can use an old T-shirt to wipe the keys and joints down to remove perspiration after playing.

Never leave it assembled and on a stand while you're not playing it - always put it back in its case and lightly grease the tenon corks to keep the corks supple. If you do find the tenons binding, then take it straight to your repairer to have them shaved down to make them fit easily (but not machined, filed or sanded down too much so they end up wobbly).

Clean the tonehole chimneys out with a cotton bud/Q-tip regularly to prevent dead skin cells, dirt and grease building up in them - your repairer will thank you for that as some clarinets turn up with enough dirt in them to grow potatoes.

And have it serviced regularly after that - you should take it in for a check-up after 6 months to be sure everything is working well.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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