So

you’ve been sick…

It’s that time of year again, where the sniffles and coughs turn into fevers
and colds. By nature, musicians have a high probability of reinfection due to how
we play the instruments. Brass and woodwind players constantly breathe into
their horns, while all band students operate with their hands and fingers. This is a
great opportunity for a virus to return, so please consider the following
recommendations if your student has missed school with something contagious.

Woodwinds

Flute
• Swab the head joint, inside and out, with rubbing alcohol.
• Swab out the body and foot with the fuzzy cleaning tool. Afterwards, spray
the cleaning tool with a disinfectant and allow it to air dry.
• Carefully wipe down the keys with rubbing alcohol or a sanitized wipe; be
especially cautious to not allow the pads to get wet.

Clarinet/Saxophone
• Throw away any used reeds!
• Sanitize the mouthpiece and ligature, inside and out, with rubbing alcohol.
Cotton swabs are especially helpful getting inside the mouthpiece. Swab
out the various parts with the fuzzy cleaning tool. Afterwards, spray the
cleaning tool with a disinfectant and allow it to air dry.
• Wipe down the thumb rest with rubbing alcohol or a sanitized wipe.
• Carefully wipe down the keys with rubbing alcohol or a sanitized wipe; be
especially cautious to not allow the pads to get wet.

Oboe/Bassoon
• Throw away any used reeds!
• Carefully wipe down the keys with rubbing alcohol or a sanitized wipe; be
especially cautious to not allow the pads to get wet.



Brass

• Carefully take apart the instrument (valves, tuning slides, etc.), so that you
can recall the order for reassembly.
• Put the instrument in a bath tub with very warm water and liquid dish
detergent.
• Use a cleaning snake to clear the insides of tuning slides and the trombone
slides, especially the inside of the inner trombone slide.
• Use mouthwash and cotton swabs to clean the mouthpiece. Take special
care to swab out the inside of the shank (long part that goes into the
instrument), from the top and bottom.



Percussion

• Wipe down sticks and mallets with rubbing alcohol or a sanitized wipe.
• It is not necessary to wipe down the drum head, which would actually be
detrimental to the condition of the head.


Other thoughts:

• It would be a great idea to also wipe down parts of the instrument cases,
such as handles, latches, and anything else regularly touched by hands.