Instrument Cleaning, Hygiene, and Supplies
SUPPLIES • scroll down or click here for recommendations
You can purchase supplies through Quinlan and Fabish Music Company or online through Amazon. 
If you have ANY questions regarding WHAT to buy, PLEASE CONTACT US.
https://www.qandf.com/store/supplies/supplies-by-type/cleaning-supplies/

INSTRUMENT CLEANING & HYGIENE
Here are some recommendations for you and your child to help keep their instrument clean. Although this is a good reminder now, it is something that we encourage students to do on a regular basis. 

Brass Players
  1. Wash your mouthpiece with some mild dish soap and warm water a couple times a week. This will get some of the grime off the exterior. Use a mouthpiece brush to clean the inside of the mouthpiece. Everyone should have received one with their instrument. I have some at school too. 
  2. The exterior can be wiped down with a warm cloth to get some of the grime from fingers and hands. Cleaning/polishing clothes are a good option too. They can wipe down the brass to take fingerprints, grease and grime off of the brass. They can be purchased from Quinlan and Fabish in Burr Ridge. You can also get them online. 
  3. Brass players should use their cleaning snake to clean out the tubing of their instrument about once a month. The cleaning snake can be pushed through most or all of the tubing on their instrument. Larger tubes can be pulled and rinsed with warm water and scrubbed with their cleaning snake. 

Woodwind Players
  1. Clarinet and Saxophone players should be wiping out their mouthpiece daily after they play to remove any moisture from their mouth. They can use their swab to do this. This will help prevent any residue from drying on the mouthpiece. About once a week they should be wiping down their mouthpiece with a warm damp cloth. Microfiber cloths work best for musical instruments. 
  2. Flute players should be wiping their headjoint off after playing each day. 
  3. All woodwind players should swab out their instruments daily after playing. This will prevent moisture from drying inside the instrument possibly causing an odor. Swabbing out will also extend the life of the pads on the instrument. 
  4. A warm cloth can be used to wipe down the keys and exterior of the instrument. Cleaning and Polishing clothes are also available to do a quick clean a couple times a week or everyday. 
  5. Woodwind players should never leave their reed on their mouthpiece. It is a piece of “wood” and when it dries it will warp and collect other non desirable things. 

Percussion
  1. Although percussionists do not blow into their instruments, it is wise for them to wipe down their sticks, mallets, bells, and drum pad at home. A microfiber cloth with a little warm water will do the trick. A sanitizer wipe will also work. ​
SUPPLY RECOMMENDATIONS
This is a basic list of the supplies we recommend, in order of preference.

Clarinet and Alto Sax Reeds • (Brand name is followed by the strength. The bigger the number, the harder the reed.)
Beginners: Juno 2 1/2, Rico Royal 2 1/2
Cadets (5th): LaVoz Medium Hard, Juno 2 1/2, Rico Royal 2 1/2
Concert (6th): Vandoren 2 1/2, Vandoren 3
Symphonic/Wind Ensemble (7-8th): Vandoren 3, possibly Vandoren 3 1/2

Tenor & Bari Sax Reeds • (Brand name is followed by the strength. The bigger the number, the harder the reed.)
Vandoren 3, possibly Vandoren 2 1/2, Rico Royal 3

Trumpet, Baritone, Tuba Valve Oil
Blue Juice
Al Cass Don't spend more the $6-8-ish on it.
​There's also a Venture brand on Amazon. I don't know why it's listed as an "accordion" accessory, though...

Trombone Slide Oil/Creams
Venture Basic Slide 
If they're ready for an upgrade, try the Yamaha Slide Lube

Slide Grease for ALL Brass Instruments
Basic • Bach Slide Grease (my favorite)

Percussion
Drum Sticks • Vic Firth 5BN