Rotary Brass

Necessary Tools for all Rotary Brass Musicians
Recommended Mouthpieces
  • French Horn: The Schilke 27 is perfect for beginners, while the Schilke 30C2 and 31B are great all-around choices for intermediate to advanced players.
  • Tuba: The Bach 24AW is a great general mouthpiece for all tuba players.

The clickable links above are recommended based on quality and value. These links are provided for a starting point--these models may be found for cheaper prices by shopping around.  Some music stores will allow you try out mouthpieces before you buy them.  Instrumentalists with allergies or sensitivities often opt to buy gold plating on mouthpieces, so if you are experiencing rashes, or itching around your embouchure (and your mouthpiece has been kept clean), you may want to look into gold mouthpieces. While used mouthpieces are available, it is recommended to buy new, or to closely inspect used mouthpieces for nicks and/or dents, and to make sure that the finish is not worn off.  Ultimately, these mouthpieces could be a health hazard; of course, old mouthpieces that are worn can always be re-plated at music stores. If you have questions about any mouthpieces or accessories, contact Ms. Mattison or your section coach.
Important to Remember
  • Never use tools on your instrument.  If something is stuck, your band director or local repair shop can get it unstuck for you.  Most costly repairs happen when students use tools on instruments.
  • Don't try to get dents out of an instrument on your own.  Special tools and ball bearings are used to fix dents--take your instrument to a repair shop to remove dents.
  • Never rest an instrument on its bell.  The bell is not structurally sound enough to support the weight of the rest of the instrument, and this can cause warping of the bell, or in the worst case, the instrument will fall and further damage will occur.
  • Dropping the mouthpiece will result in nicks and cuts to the soft metal rim.  These thin crevices are prime locations for bacteria to thrive. Make sure that the mouthpiece is securely in your leadpipe, and refrain from erratic gestures while playing your instrument.
  • NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take the rotors out of the instrument.
Recommended Instruments
  • French Horns: Yamaha, Conn (Elkhart), Holton, Hans Hoyer, Alexander, Paxman
  • Tuba: Yamaha, King, Conn, Meinl-Weston, Miraphone, Cerveny, St. Petersburg

Before purchasing an instrument, make sure that you are able to try out the instrument (either used or new).  Most music stores will allow you to do this, and many online suppliers have a reasonable return policy for this reason.  There are many great used instruments out there, but just like purchasing a used vehicle, when purchasing a used instrument directly from another person, it is best to buy locally, as this will allow you to see the instrument in person and allow you to play the instrument as well. 
Communities and Performers
The International Horn Society
International Tuba/Euphonium Association

Sarah Willis (Horn) and the Berlin Phil Horns
Patrick Sheridan (Tuba)
General Thoughts/Tips
  • A clean instrument will sound better and will help you achieve your musical goals.
  • Never leave your instrument in extreme temperatures for an extended period of time--including in a warm car.
  • Weather affects your instrument--in lower temperatures, your pitch is flat; in high temperatures, your pitch will rise.
  • Don't let other play your instrument--people who are not trained can easily damage instruments.
  • Brass instruments are made of thin metals, and they can be easily dented or bent.  Any nick in the valve or valve casing can be disastrous for your instrument.  Handle your instrument with care, and never rest the instrument on its bell, or leave the instrument sitting on chairs or locations off the ground.
  • Do not chew gum, eat food, or drink anything (other than water) right before or while playing your instrument.
  • Your case is designed to protect your instrument; a case that is weakened by being used as a seat or footrest is less likely to protect your instrument over time.
  • Keep the inside of your case free from unnecessary or bulky objects; instruments are easily dented and damaged by these objects.
Daily Maintenance
  • Rinse your mouth with water before playing to prevent particles from building up inside your instrument.
  • If your rotors are sticky and need oil, a lighter oil (standard valve oil) should be used to oil the inside surfaces of the rotors. This fills the air space around the rotor and will make the instrument play more efficiently. To do this, oil each rotor through the tuning slides.
    • When using this method, it is important to take the tuning slide completely out and then put valve oil into the detached slide instead of the tubes leading into the rotor.  This way, you will not be mixing valve oil with slide grease, which frequently creates build-up in the rotor.  Place the slide back into the instrument, and depress your valves to allow the oil to be worked into the rotor.
  • Make sure that all the water has been drained from your instrument before putting it back into a case.
  • To protect the finish from the dirt and oils on your hands, wipe your instrument with a polishing cloth before putting it back into its case.

Weekly Maintenance
  • To prevent acne and facial infections, wash your mouthpiece in a mix of warm water and antiseptic mouthrinse or rubbing alcohol (mix four parts warm water to one part of the antiseptic agent).  Since most dental mouthrinses contain sugar, it is important that you rinse and dry the mouthpiece immediately.  Use a mouthpiece brush to clean any particles or buildup out of the bore of your mouth piece.  To completely dry the mouthpiece, use your polishing cloth to wipe the inside of the cup.
  • Rotor surfaces, bearings, and linkages need to be oiled with a heaver weight oil (rotor oil) at least once a week. 
    • To oil the rotor, open the rotor cap and wipe off any buildup with an old rag.  Place a few drops of rotor oil on the spinning rotor surface.  (See left) Be sure to press the valve to work the oil into the spinning rotor. Replace the rotor cap.
    • There are also bearings on the linkage side of each rotor as well as on the rotor post.  Use a couple of drops of rotor oil on each rotor post. (See left)
    • If your instrument has mechanical ball linkages (instead of string linkages), you may need to lubricate the ball bearings at each end of the rotor arm.  You can do this with rotor oil, but if the linkages are especially noisy, a lanolin based cream--like slide grease--can be used.
  • Remove all tuning slides and clean the slides and the receivers with your snake.  Use an old rag to clean off any imperfections from the tuning slide.  Apply grease to each end of the slide and work it back and forth in the receivers of your instrument.  Use the rag to remove any excess grease from the slides.
 Long Term Care/Deep Cleaning
Once every few months, it's good practice to carefully disassemble rotary brass instruments (except for the rotors) and give them a good bath. Many college and professional level players take their horns into music stores or repair shops for a chemical flush and cleaning on an annual basis.  If it's bath time for your instrument, follow the steps below to safely disassemble, clean, and reassemble your instrument. Before staring the process, make sure that nothing on your instrument is stuck--see your director or a music shop for assistance in removing a stuck part.
  1. Use a container large enough to soak your whole instrument-- a bathtub works well; you may place a rubber mat or towel in your bathtub to protect both it and your instrument from scratches.
  2. Carefully remove all slides and valve caps from your instrument.  Arrange these parts in order so that you can easily remember where they need to be placed in the instrument after cleaning. 
  3. Submerge your instrument in warm soapy water (mild dish detergent works best) and allow to soak. 
  4. With the instrument submerged in the water, you may use a brush or snake to clean out your slides and valve caps. Don't forget to pay attention to the debris that collects in the valve caps. Do not soak your instrument for more than 20 minutes.
  5. After soaking, rinse all the parts with clean warm water and let the instrument dry. You can speed up the process with a hair dryer, but be careful not to use too hot a setting around the soldered parts of your instrument.  Before reassembling the instrument, you must make sure that all of the parts are dry and free from dirt or build-up.
  6. Once everything has dried, reapply slide grease to each tuning slide, and don't forget to oil each rotor. Wipe off any excess grease, and polish your instrument before returning it to its case.
  7. For instruments with string linkages, the cords will stretch easily when wet.  It's important to let the strings dry completely before playing.

Restringing a Rotor Valve
In an emergency, you may have to restring a rotor valve.  If you can stand to wait, do so until you can get your director to restring the valve for you.  If you can't wait, you are welcome to try restringing it on your own.  It is extremely important that you follow the restringing guide carefully, or else you will end up with valves that don't work. Most valves will match either the A or B valves below.