Trombone Assembly, Care and Maintenance

Assembly

Gently twist the mouthpiece into the lead pipe. Do not hit or pop the mouthpiece into place. This can lead to a stuck mouthpiece. When attaching the slide to the bell section, make sure you don’t move the bell section too close to the slide- you need room to move the slide and this will avoid dents if the bell were to hit the slide. ALWAYS leave the slide locked when you put your trombone down or in the case.

Use a small amount of slide cream and melt it between your fingers. Apply it mostly to the bottom ends of the slide, Put the outer slide back on and work it in. Remove any excess. Spray the slide with water from a small spray bottle. Spray the slide often during practice or rehearsal.

While/After Playing

The moisture that accumulates inside the trumpet is not’spit’. It is condensation from the player’s breath- just like the moisture from a steaming shower that condenses on windows. When the moisture accumulates inside the trumpet, it makes it gurgle and has to be released through the water key or ‘spit’ valve. Open the water key and blow air (don’t buzz) into the instrument. Be sure to use your hand and NOT your foot to open the water key- shoes often damage/bend the key. Watch out for your chair, your leg and your shoe!

If your mouthpiece gets stuck while you are playing, carry your trumpet to your teacher (it will not fit into the case) and he or she will remove it with a tool made specially for pulling mouthpieces- do NOT try to yank it out, this can damage the brackets on your instrument. To prevent stuck mouthpieces, always insert the mouthpiece gently, don’t pop it during rehearsal, and don’t use too much pressure when you play. Keep the outside of your mouthpiece clean, too, to help avoid stuck mouthpieces!

After playing, wipe the trombone clean with a clean soft cloth. This will remove perspiration, which can damage the lacquer and metal. Do not use polish on lacquered instruments because it can scratch the finish.

Regular Maintenance

Clean the mouthpiece once a week with lukewarm water and a mouthpiece brush. Help keep the mouthpiece and instrument clean- by avoiding candy, gum and pop before or while playing! Rinse your mouth if you’ve been eating anything sweet.

Once every month or two, give your trombone a bath. Take the trombone completely apart. Soak all the parts in warm, mild, soapy water. Run snake brushes through all the tubes. Rinse them off in clean lukewarm water. Wipe the water off of the outside of the horn. Don’t leave the instrument in the water too long or the lacquer finish may peel off.

Put the trombone back together. Grease the tuning slide. For slide grease, you can use commercial slide grease, as well as petroleum jelly. Wipe off excess grease.

Always keep your trombone in the case when you are not playing it. Never put anything in your case that it was not designed to hold. The pressure from music or papers in your case can damage the tubing. Be sure the mouthpiece and accessories are put away properly so they don’t jar loose and cause damage. Vacuum your case when necessary.

Supplies Needed to Care for the Trombone

1. Slide cream

2. Slide grease

3. Soft cloth

4. Snake brushes/mouthpiece brush

5. Small spray bottle

Handling the Trombone

Don’t let anyone but your teacher handle or play your instrument. If you need to set it down during rehearsal or practice, put it on a stable, flat surface. Never leave your trombone on a music stand on the floor. The trombone will dent easily. Misusing the slide to poke people, or leaning on the slide is asking for dents. Remember to lock your slide when you are not using it. Always put your trombone away correctly. Never set it in the case with the bell hanging over the edge (accidentally closing the case on the bell with crinkle the bell and/or slide). Be careful with your trombone- accidental dents look ugly, affect the tone of the instrument and are expensive to remove.

Identification

Be sure your instrument has a tag identifying that it belongs to you. Also, have a record of the serial number of your instrument for insurance purposes.