Clarinet Repair and Maintenance

The focus of this treatise is to provide information and opinions regarding clarinet repair and maintenance. There are few resources available on general maintenance and repair designed specifically for the clarinet teacher and performer. Since so many of the common maintenance issues clarinetists face do not have a simple answer, my hope is that by presenting varying opinions, the clarinet instructor can come to her own conclusions. Included in my research are interviews from expert repairmen Tim Clark, Morrie Backun, and Bruce Marking. All are exceedingly skilled in the field of woodwind repair, particularly with clarinets, and each provided unique and inspiring knowledge about clarinet repair. The majority of literature on the subject is written for an audience that already possesses some knowledge about repair, or at the very least a working awareness of certain mechanical proficiencies. Ultimately, I found three sources to be of great help for those new to repair: Stephen Howard’s Clarinet Manual: How to Buy, Set Up, and Maintain a Boehm System Clarinet, Heather Karlsson’s Care and Feeding of Your Clarinet: A User’s Guide to Basic Maintenance, and Robert Schmidt’s A Clarinetist’s Notebook, Volume 1: Care and Repair. This treatise provides information regarding general maintenance topics and details short-term repair solutions. While clarinets will inevitably require some repair over time, many common problems are largely avoidable. Preventative care is the key to avoiding sudden repair needs. Yearly maintenance on a clarinet will reduce the wear of the mechanisms and keys, keep the tone holes free of debris, maintain the health of the wood, and address several other aspects discussed in this document. This document is designed to assist educators of students with basic repair and maintenance instructions.