Post 4: Maintain on a Yearly Basis, Part 2

In my previous post, Maintain on a Yearly Basis, I described many reasons you should have your instrument cleaned and maintained once a year.  In the photo’s below you will see a prime example of how dirty tone holes can get.  Notice the brown color inside the tone holes, this is the moisture/dust build up (click on each photo to enlarge.)  This comes from moisture getting into the tone holes, then dust particles settling into the moisture.  Also comes from reed shavings, dry skin, dog hair, cat hair, etc.  Granted this oboe is an extreme case, probably not cleaned for several years, but the build up does happen and you should be aware.  To have your oboe or clarinet cleaned over the coming summer months, contact your favorite oboe repair person!