Lesson 15: General Maintenance
In Lesson 15 we will learn some general maintenance techniques like using our rotary oil, greasing our slides and cleaning the horn and mouthpiece.
Supplies Used in this Lesson
Pure Lanolin
Superslick Rotor Oil
Yamaha Polishing Cloth
Cleaning Snake
Mouthpiece Brush
Greasing the Slides
Grease your slides weekly so they don't get stuck. You should move all of your slides a little bit each time your practice to keep them from getting stuck. Anytime a slide starts getting harder to pull out, put a little slide grease or pure lanolin on it. A little bit goes a long way!
Using Rotor Oil
Get into the habit of oiling your valves as often as you need. Put rotor oil wherever there is metal on metal and wherever there are moving parts. You can also put a drop of oil in the lead pipe once in a while to break up the saliva. Use lighter synthetic oil on the inside of the valves.
Cleaning the Inside
Using a plastic cleaning snake or Yamaha cleaning cloth, carefully push the snake through the lead pipe and each of your slides to get out any gunk that is in your horn. It is best to do this under running water. Give your French Horn a deep cleaning bath once every 6-12 months to keep it really clean. Watch the video below for an in depth explanation on how to clean out your horn.
Cleaning the Mouthpiece
Under warm, running water, use your mouthpiece brush to clean out the inside of your mouthpiece. Clean your mouthpiece at least once a week. You can use a few drops of rubbing alcohol to keep it sanitized. Make sure you are using a cleaning brush that is specifically designed for the small horn mouthpiece so it doesn't get stuck inside.
Cleaning the Outside
Keep a clean, dry, lint-free cloth inside your case to keep the outside of your horn clean. You can use a Yamaha polishing cloth to rub off any excess dirt and finger prints to keep your horn nice and shiny!
Before
After
Before
After
