Michael Lange Music Co. Michael Lange Music Co. Brass Instrument Clean-up. Brass instrument maintenance is overlooked more often than in woodwinds, however, it is just as important for extending longevity and maintaining performance. Woodwind instruments require general periodic maintenance due to the many working parts and limited pad life.
Brass instruments have few working parts by comparison and require a different form of maintenance.
Here are some maintenance aspects to consider. The most important aspect for maintaing the overall longevity of brass instruments is cleaning. Brass is constructed by combining copper and zinc. The zinc in the metal reacts with saliva to cause lime deposits along the bore of your horn. As this accumulates, the bore of your horn will get smaller and smaller if it is not cleaned regularly.