A woodwind instrument (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone) is a complex device. As most of you know, it is expensive to purchase, and can be expensive to maintain. The simplest thing you can do to extend the life of the leather pads on your child's instrument (one of the more expensive common repairs) is to be sure your child owns and uses a swab on the instrument each time it is played. This removes the moisture from playing, and is especially important for our high school students who have period 5 or no lunch and eat just before or during band.
I strongly encourage you to also purchase one of these furry things that go by various names... PadGard, StuffIt, etc. These continue to wick moisture away from the pads while the instrument sits in the case. They have them for mouthpieces and sax necks as well.
Reeds: Reed players should have a minimum of three good reeds at all times. Clarinet, alto and tenor sax players should start the school year with a box of ten; larger instrument and double reed players (whose reeds are much more expensive and slightly more durable) should have a box of five. These reeds should be numbered with a Sharpie or pen (on the bottom near the maker's stamp) and should be rotated every time the instrument is played. This will extend the life of the reeds and ensure that the reeds are in similar condition.Reed Selection: Students in grades 7-12 should use a reed that is at least strength 3/medium. Many of the common reed brands are actually owned by the same company, with the brand name telling you the quality of the reed. Common brands that students should use are VanDoren, LaVoz, Mitchell Lurie (clarinet only), and Rico Royal. Please avoid the standard Rico reeds (in the bright orange box) and the store brand.
If you have any more questions on this, please let me know!
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