Trumpet, Euphonium, and Tuba Care

  1. Prepare warm water in the bath tub. (Enough water to submerge the instrument) (Not hot water. Hot water will remove the finish)
  2. Put a towel or rubber matt in the bottom of the bathtub.
  3. Mix some dishwashing detergent (not dishwasher detergent) and 1 cup of baking soda in the warm water.
  4. Remove the first finger valve to see if the valve has a number on it. If it does, then remove all the valves. If not, then label three sandwich bags. One bag with a 1, one with a 2, one with a 3. Put the 1st finger valve in the bag with the one, the 2nd finger valve in the bag with the two, and the 3rd finger valve in the bag with a three. Clean one valve at a time in the warm water. Rinse the valve and place it back in the bag.
  5. Take the instrument completely apart.
  6. Submerge all parts of the instrument in the warm water.
  7. Use the snake to scrub the insides of the instrument.
  8. Use the valve casing brush to clean the valve casing.
  9. Rinse with warm water.
  10. Set out on a dry towel.
  11. Towel-dry all parts of the outside of the instrument.
  12. Leave the instrument out overnight or about six hours.
  13. Apply slide grease to the tuning slides and put the instrument back together.
  14. Apply slide grease to the D ring slide. Then apply valve oil to the D ring slide.
  15. Apply slide oil to valve 1 and put the valve back in the 1stvalve chamber. Do the same with valve 2, and 3.

Do this approximately once per month.

Note: If a part of the instrument will not come apart, then please bring the instrument to Mr. Shepard. Please do not use pliers, hammers, etc. to disassemble an instrument. I have special tools to remove parts that are jammed, etc.

After playing your instrument, use a soft polishing cloth, to wipe fingerprints, and oils left by our hands, from the outside of the instrument.

Mouthpiece Care – Weekly clean your mouthpiece with warm water and dish detergent, not dishwasher detergent. Use a mouthpiece brush to clean your mouthpiece.

Items needed to clean your instrument.

Mouthpiece brush - $2.00

Instrument Snake

Trumpet - $5.00

Euphonium - $5.00

Tuba - $5.00

Valve Casing Brush - $1.00

Valve Oil – Blue Juice – 2 Oz. $5.00

Tuning slide grease - $3.00

Soft Polishing Cloth - $3.00

You can purchase these from Mr. Shepard. Please make checks payable to YMS. You can purchase these items online or at a local music store like Music Time 2214 Dunn Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida32218 (904) 696-9882.