Clarinet Care

1. When removing your clarinet from its case never pick it up by the keys. Remove it by the ends where there are no keys. Since the keys are made of soft metal, they can be easily bent if improperly handled when assembling.

2. When putting your clarinet together, first apply a small amount of cork grease to the tenon corks.

3.Put the clarinet together with a slow back-and-forth twisting motion, never push or pull the clarinet when assembling or disassembling as this can damage the tenon or tear the cork. When assembling the two middle joints, wrap your left fingers on the upper joint around the Larger Ring Key (the one furthest from you on the upper joint). If you depress the large ring key on the Upper Joint, the bridge key will lift, thus avoiding damage when assembling the two middle joints.   

4. When tightening the screws on the ligature, the device that holds the reed on the mouthpiece, take care not to over tighten them this can cause the screw to break.

5. After you are finished playing, pull a cleaning swab through all parts of the clarinet to remove moisture. Carefully wipe off the outside of the instrument and keys to remove oils or perspiration caused by your hands. Always take care in removing the reed, making sure to store it in a reed guard/case.

6. Always store your clarinet in its case when not in use. This helps prevent damage and aids in keeping the instrument clean. Do not place anything in the case that can press on the clarinet as this can bend keys. Never set your instrument on a stand or upright on the floor as it may collapse!

Check all screws and pivots to see if they are coming loose. If they are, take your clarinet to a repair shop to have them adjusted. It is not suggested that you try and adjust them yourself because they can be over tightened or damaged.

It is recommended that you have your instrument checked and adjusted, if needed, by a repair shop. The shop may find adjustments or worn pads that are effecting the optimal performance of your instrument.