A Case for the Case

To keep your instrument safe
Always store it in its proper place
The case truly is a perfect fit
This is where you should always store it

Put all the pieces in their place
Then close the lid and latch the case
This way, when you reach for your instrument every day
Everything will be ready to play!

Trumpet and Baritone Horn Care Tips

The Valves
In order to protect the valves of the trumpet and the valve casing (tubing) they fit into, it is very important to apply valve oil often to these areas. We recommend you apply valve oil before and after you play your trumpet or baritone horn.

Here’s how to apply the valve oil.   Please follow these steps completely, one valve at time!

1. Take the top valve cap off of only one valve casing by unscrewing the valve cap. Do not take each valve out at once. Twist the valve cap in a counter clockwise motion to remove it. The valve cap is located just below the finger button of each valve at the bottom of the valve stem.
2. Now slowly and gently raise the entire valve out of its valve case by using a straight upward motion. No twisting.
3. With the valve out, apply some valve oil over the entire valve. It should coat the entire valve, but do not apply valve oil to the stem and finger button.
4. The valve may now be placed straight back down in the valve casing.  Be careful to align the valve guide with the valve slot located inside the valve casing towards the top. Twist the valve cap in a clockwise motion over the top threading to re-tighten it.
5. Press up and down on the valve button to get the oil to coat the entire inside of the valve casing.
6. Repeat the above steps for the remaining two valves.

Caring for the Slides
The tuning slides on these brass instruments also require some special attention. If you notice that they are not moving freely or not moving at all, please notify your teacher and have a Rayburn Music Representative notified so we can fix it!  Please do not attempt to pull stuck slides out by yourself.  Even your parents should not attempt to remove frozen slides. 

String Instrument Assembly & Care
Your string instrument from Rayburn Music requires no assembly to begin playing it. However, there are some important things to be aware of before you start to play.

Tuning -Your instrument should be properly tuned by a person with a lot of string instrument tuning experience: your music teacher, an older player or a qualified music store representative are the only people that should attempt tuning your instrument.

OPEN NOTES ON THE STRING INSTRUMENTS

• Violin – high (the thinnest string) to low (the thickest string) are:
  E, A, D and G
• Viola – high (the thinnest string) to low (the thickest string) are:
  A, D, G and C
• Cello – high (the thinnest string) to low (the thickest string) are:
  A, D, G and C
• String Bass - high (the thinnest string) to low (the thickest string) are:
  G, D, A and E

Bow Adjustment – The bow hair on your bow when you receive it from Rayburn Music is loose, so that the hairs will not break when in storage. The bow hair will need to be tightened before playing. 
To tighten the hairs, turn the tension screw with your right hand while you gently hold the corner of the frog with your left hand between your thumb and first finger.  When you are finished playing, release the tension on the bow hair and put it back in its case or bag.

Rosin - To produce a bowing sound on the violin, the bow hair does require some rosin on it. The rosin helps to make sure there is sufficient contact between the bow and string to cause a sound to start.

To put rosin on your bow, you take the rosin out of it’s outer sleeve and cradle the rosin box firmly in your left hand without covering the open rosin, with the rosin facing up. Holding the bow in your right hand with the hair tightened and facing down, draw the bow from the frog area down until you get to the tip area and continue back in the other direction. Repeat this motion until enough rosin is applied to the bow.  New bows require 15 -20 coatings of rosin and bows that have already had rosin on them require about 5 coats.

Endpins - The Cello and the String Bass each have an ENDPIN at the bottom of the instrument. It is below the tailpiece and in the middle of the bottom rib section. It can appear and disappear into the instrument. Its function is to raise the instrument to a comfortable playing position and to prevent the instrument from sliding out while you play.
To pull the endpin out; you un-tighten the endpin thumbscrew and pull the endpin out to the length that is right for you. Ask your teacher for help in learning what is best for you. Then tighten the endpin thumbscrew. When you are done playing return the endpin to its closed position.

Should your instrument give you any maintenance problems at all, please call us at Rayburn Music.
We will have it right in a very short time!