School Band Care Checklist

Getting your child's instrument ready for band

Start with the teacher's supply list and a look inside the instrument case. Rental instruments often arrive with a few accessories, and returning students may already have most of what they need.

If you're unsure what something is, take a photo and ask the teacher. It's easier to sort that out before the first rehearsal.

Before you order

Write down the instrument and model. For saxophones, include whether it's alto, tenor or baritone. For clarinets, check whether it's a standard B-flat clarinet or a larger instrument such as bass clarinet. For brass, identify whether the valves are pistons or rotors.

Then check these four things:

The school list. Look for any specified oil, swab, reed strength or cleaning method.
The rental package. Check which accessories are already included and which maintenance jobs the rental shop handles.
The supplies in the case. Check bottles, brushes, swabs and cloths for anything empty, missing or worn.
The delivery date. Leave time to open the order and ask about anything unfamiliar before rehearsal.

What to look for by instrument

Instrument	Supplies to check	Ask the teacher about
Piston-valve trumpet	Valve oil, slide lubricant, brushes and cloth	Oiling the valves and using oil or grease on the different slides
French horn or another rotary instrument	Rotor oil, tuning-slide grease and cleaning supplies	Bearing/linkage oil and the instrument's lubrication points
Trombone	Hand-slide lubricant, tuning-slide grease and cleaning tools	Slide care and any oil needed for a valve attachment
Saxophone	Correctly sized body and neck swabs, cork grease, cloth, pad paper and reeds	Swab fit, reed strength and using pad paper
Clarinet	Correctly sized swab, cork grease, cloth, pad paper and reeds	Swabbing, assembly and reed strength
Flute	Cleaning handkerchief or cloth and the correct cleaning rod	How to wrap the rod and clean the instrument

Our cleaning-kit chart gives the full contents of all six Monster kits. Use it alongside the school list so you can see which items are covered.

A new kit or a few refills

A kit is a convenient starting point for a new player. It keeps the supplies together and includes cleaning instructions and a fingering or slide-position chart.

Returning students can often keep using their existing brushes and cloths. Check the condition of each item and replace what they need.

When the supplies arrive

Open the package with your child. Read the bottle labels together and match each item to the teacher's list. Keep the supplies in their original containers and label the carrying bag with the student's name.

Ask the teacher for a short demonstration of the after-playing routine. Your child should know how to clean the instrument, where the lubricant goes, and which parts they can remove and refit themselves.

If something sticks or takes force, pause and ask for help. The teacher or rental shop can decide whether the instrument needs a repairer.

For band directors

A specific supply list saves families a lot of guessing. Include the instrument sizes your swabs fit, the lubricant you want students to use, and anything already supplied with the rental. Give families one contact for maintenance questions.

A simple note home can help: "Bring your instrument and the supplies already in its case. We'll check what you need before you buy anything else."

Our Usage and Tips page covers brass lubricants and routine oiling. The sticky-valve section is useful when a trumpet starts giving a student trouble.