Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die. ~ Paul Simon, American singer-songwriter, guitarist (originally teamed up with Art Garfunkel)
Once again, I’m between bands.
Summer band has concluded its season, and symphonic band (the one that follows the university class schedule) has yet to begin.
While part of me misses the camaraderie of these two musical groups, another part relishes a much-needed break.
I actually look forward to time when I can practice what I want, when I want.
And lest you think I don’t practice, let me assure you I do.
Scales, arpeggios, long tones, double- and triple-tonguing. Old pieces my teacher had me play years ago that are still challenging. Previous selections from both bands (Sousa marches, I’m looking at you!)
The time of “between bands” also gives me a chance to get my flute into the repair shop for an overhaul. Called a “Clean, Oil, Adjust” (COA). this is a recommended annual servicing designed to address problems like leaks before they become major.
It’s also the best way to keep a flute in proper condition so it plays, sounds, and looks its best.
Back more years ago than I care to admit, I started in band by playing clarinet. I played from junior high school all the way through high school and four years at the university level.
Never once did I send my clarinet in for servicing!
I didn’t know I should. No one told me. Nor did anybody I know send in their instrument for repairs — unless, of course, something major was going on.
We all just lined up around our director’s desk and let him tweak things like bent keys, loose screws, sticky valves, and wonky pads.
How things have changed! While I’m sure band directors at the elementary and secondary level still have to perform basic maintenance on their students’ instruments, the farther a musician advances, the more often an instrument needs servicing.
Especially if they’re playing outdoors the way we do in the summertime, with heat and humidity raging.
Annual maintenance is one of those things musicians budget for. And with the cost of new musical instruments only on the increase, it just makes sense to care for your instrument so it can grow old with you!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Your post made me think of my grandfather, who played the trombone. His favorite musician was John Philip Sousa. When he was a young man he played the trombone in a marching band and he often spoke of those days as some of the happiest ones in his life. That’s interesting about the yearly “Clean, Oil, Adjust” (COA). It makes sense that an instrument getting so much use would need a regular check up. Debbie, did any of your parents or grandparents play a musical instrument? Has Monk gotten used to your practicing sessions yet?
Good questions! My dad’s mother took up guitar at an advanced age and loved it; my mom’s older brother played cornet in a military band, her younger brother was a singer, and she played clarinet. My sister played sax, and Domer did percussion, trumpet, piano, and guitar. Music seems to be in my blood!!
How fascinating about your grandpa! Brass sections, especially, seem to enjoy playing Sousa marches. We woodwinds joke that he must have hated us, though, for all the scales, trills, and high notes he wrote for us!
Debbie, I don’t know if you knew this about me but when I was in high school, I took clarinet lessons for a few years. And like you, I never took my clarinet in for servicing because that wasn’t “a thing” back then. However, I do recall maintaining it myself by cleaning it, caring for the reeds, cork grease, etc.
I think it’s wonderful that you’re involved with something you feel passionate about, such as playing in bands. Music is such a powerful means of self-expression and enjoyment to both the musician AND the listener.
Have a fabulous Sunday, my friend! X
P.S. We got some relief from the intense heat and humidity last week. However, this coming week it’s returning. Oh well, at least summer is more than halfway over. Yahooooo!
I do recall your mentioning that you played clarinet, Ron. I shudder at how poorly most of us treated our instruments though. It seems we always had Band practice sandwiched between other classes, so we’d yank our clarinets apart, toss them in their cases, and run. Can you imagine how nasty they must have been, with all that spit just sitting inside and breeding germs?!?
We’re looking forward to a break in this heat and humidity later in the week. Until then, we’re under all kinds of heat advisories. It’s so hot and still outside that you can hardly breathe — ugh! XX
Cheers to your love for music and your instrument. Heat & humidity is havoc on especially strings and woodwinds. Bottom line, yep, take care of the instrument with routine maintenance. Hope all is well with you!
Frank!!! I’ve missed you, my friend. It’s a delight to see you here now and then — don’t vanish forever, okay?
You know, flutes sound especially lovely when played outdoors, but this kind of heat and humidity just aren’t good for them. I’m looking forward to getting mine in the repair shop for an overhaul!
Thanks for the kind words, Debbie. My blog routine now simply occasionally bop around. When I saw your post pop-up yesterday, I noted that I need to visit today. 🙂 I’m sure your flute appreciates the TLC. 🙂
I hope so. This will be its first “tune-up” as I just got it in December. The previous flute went in annually, on the recommendation of my teacher. And it always looked and played so much better upon its return.
Maybe you grew up hearing the same thing I did: an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure. Whether it’s a car or a flute, keeping up with those necessary maintenance tasks can prevent real problems — or at least irritations – down the road. This sounds like the perfect time to take care of any issues.
I had to laugh. I hadn’t thought about having to replace dry and shrunken pads on my clarinet in decades!
I must confess I was as bad as my friends about failing to properly care for my clarinet. We all were in such a hurry to get to our next class (or to lunch!) that we didn’t run a swab through the barrel to clean them. For days on end. It’s a wonder we didn’t sicken ourselves with the germs!
Absolutely! Best to keep musical instruments in good repair. Enjoy that break.
Thanks, Laurie. It’s kind of like with cars. You can’t really see all the time that maintenance is due, but you don’t want to wait until you *can* see the problems! And I imagine it’s less costly to do an annual overhaul than to wait years and see what horrors will arise.
That’s something I never thought about, but it makes sense. Though I tried playing guitar and mandolin, it was piano I studied the longest, and of course that instrument HAS to be maintained (tuned). Speaking of… my tuner who travelled around my part of the state died a few years ago and I’ve not found a new one! I heard a piece at church this morning I use to play and now I want to see if I still can (I’ve let my meager abilities slip). I may be shocked at the sound of my piano!
Oh, Kelly, DO get back to playing! You’ll find yourself rusty, but it’s like riding a bicycle: it comes back! And I agree about the tuning. I asked a bandmate for a recommendation on a new tuning guy, and the one she gave me proved to be excellent. Tuning really is good preventative maintenance!
I’m going to have to do some calling around to try and locate a tuner. I don’t think there is anyone local. There are too many churches and other places with pianos, though, for there to be no one!
I think it’s such a specialized field that the ones who do it are prepared to travel. Good luck!
Makes perfect sense to me!
I’m glad, Eliza. Thanks for stopping by!
Like you I don’t remember taking my clarinet in for upkeep when I was a kid. And it’s sat for YEARS in it’s case in a closet here. I played on the same plastic clarinet I got in 4th grade all those years, even held down 1st chair my junior and senior year in high school with it. When I eventually got married my husband surprised me with a nice, wooden clarinet. What a surprise! So I had to find a band to play in, of course. I’ve had it in for repair a few times in the years past but never considered a regular maintenance plan. I went to see the Detroit Symphony in an outdoor concert last month with a couple of flute playing friends and they were talking about that COA you talked about. I had no idea what it was. I guess flute players are just more conscious of good maintenance!
It was my flute teacher who “ordered” me to start putting my flute in the repair shop annually, so you might be right. I can’t believe my clarinet looks and plays as well as it does, considering the “abuse” it’s taken! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who failed to realize musical instruments need TLC, too.
So true that looking after something regularly is better than waiting till a real problem occurs! Glad you’re enjoying your break from bands – your enthusiasm will be fully restored before it’s time to get back in harness!
Thanks, FF! A band break is a good thing, as you’ve pointed out. We never fully realize how mentally and physically exhausting it can be to play such an extensive schedule, so when we finally get a break, it’s like going on a much-needed vacation.