The trombone slide is the most delicate part of the instrument. A few millimeters of dirt buildup can seriously affect playing and sound quality. Oddly enough, the very materials that many trombonists use to lubricate the slide can build up inside the instrument, slowing the slide down. With correct regular maintenance and cleaning, a trombonist can keep the trombone slide in top playing condition.
When To Clean?
It’s best to clean the slide and regularly every few months so that buildup doesn’t occur. However, especially with younger students, regular maintenance is ignored until the dirty instrument affects playing and sound quality.
There are three very good hints that can help a player to understand when the instrument should be cleaned:
- A slide that makes sound
- Sticky slide
- The instrument smells bad
A slide that makes sound is a very easy reminder that the slide should be cleaned. The sound it makes is a “sshhhhh” sound. This sound is created by the dirt and lubricant cream buildup inside the slide mechanism.
If the slide sticks despite being well-lubricated, that means that there is too much buildup of dirt and lubricant cream for the slide to move freely.
While playing any woodwind or brass instrument, microscopic particles of food and bacteria enter the instrument from the mouth. When the instrument is kept clean and maintained every few months, this buildup doesn’t cause problems and isn’t noticeable. When the instrument isn’t kept clean, the bacteria and food particles can create a bad odor. At that time, the instrument needs to be cleaned not only to get rid of the smell, but to rid the instrument of some dangerous bacteria.
How to Clean the Slide
Take the outer slide off of the inner slide and put them on a towel-covered surface. Wrap a trombone cleaning slide (flexible or metal) with a long, narrow (6-8 inches wide) piece of cheesecloth. Begin by threading the cheesecloth through the hole in the top of the rod like a giant sewing needle and wrap around diagonally until the rod is covered.
Hold only the slide of the outer slide that is to be cleaned. Do not hold the slide by the brace. Then, while slowly rotating the slide, insert the cleaning rod and pull it back out a few times. Make sure that the cleaning rod does not hit the end of the slide where it curves. If the rod doesn’t go in reasonably easily, rewrap the cleaning rod so that the cloth is a bit tighter and try again.
Repeat the same process with the inner slide and a new strip of cheesecloth.
To clean the rest of the instrument the rod and cheesecloth method works for all straight tubing in the trombone. For curved parts, a brass cleaning snake, available at a music store, works. It uses the same way as a plumbing snake.
By keeping the trombone in top playing condition, a trombonist will avoid playing problems and make a much better sound on the trombone.
Source:
Bachelder, Daniel F., and Norman J. Hunt. Guide to Teaching Brass. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Amy Schumaker - Amy is a young musician based out of Philadelphia. A native of northeast Ohio, she went to Capital University Conservatory of Music, where ...
