Tim Brennan

Why You Should Clean Your Instrument

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Mycobacterium is a germ which can survive inside your instrument if you do not clean it out regularly. By regularly, I mean once every 6 months or so. This type of bacteria thrives in the atmosphere that is inside your instrument, most commonly in brass instruments.  

Mycobacterium can live in your instrument and take a quick trip into your lungs each time you play causing serious lung inflammation called hypersensitivity pneumonitis.  

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Hypersensitivity pneumonitis can can cause a "deep barking cough" says Scott Bean in a National Public Radio interview. Bean suffered from the severe inflammation for 15 years. In the National Public Radio interview he talked of his illness and how he and doctors discovered the cause. "I had a sore throat and the doctors thought I had asthma." He went on to say that the treatments he was given did not help his condition.

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It wasn't until he took a vacation without his instrument that his condition began to improve. He began wondering whether the trombone could be the cause of his sickness. Being an instructor at the University of Connecticut, he asked the doctors at the university hospital to get involved. The university doctors swabbed the inside of his trombone, much like a doctor would swab a human throat checking for Strep. The lab results revealed mycobacterium. Treatment of the disease consists of high doses of antibiotics for many months.

Bean understands that many players do not clean their horn as often as they should, and now he has made it his mission to spread the word about cleaning your instrument.

Here at A&G, we can help with cleaning. Our shop has all the supplies you will need to clean your instrument, woodwind or brass. 

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The technicians in our shop can perform an ultrasonic cleaning on your brass or woodwind instrument. In this process, the instrument is taken completely apart, immersed in a tub of environmentally friendly cleaning solution and vibrated gently to remove any caked on residue which can build up over a period of months. 

We encourage all of our brass rental customers to bring their instruments in twice a year for this cleaning.

Staying healthy is one of the best ways for you to become a star on your instrument. 

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Sources:
Orson, Diane. “Think Music Heals? Trombone Player Begs To Differ.” Web blog post. All Things Considered. NPR, 8 Sept. 2010. Web. 10 Jan. 2019.

Valve Oil: Petroleum VS Synthetic

Valve Oil Al Cass and Hetman

Petroleum VS Synthetic Valve Oil

By Tim Brennan

When it comes to valve oil for brass instruments, there is a wide variety to choose from on the market. Personal preference is what it boils down to in the end.

BUT. Let's explore the two main kinds of valve oil. Petroleum, and synthetic.

The basic difference between the two is that Petroleum oil is made up of molecules of varying sizes. When using a petroleum based oil, the smaller molecules tend to evaporate quicker, leaving only the larger molecules. Some say that the larger molecules which remain, give the valves a more sluggish feel. This also may lead to using the traditional petroleum oil more frequently. 

Synthetic oil is made of molecules of similar size. A lot a lot of players say synthetic oil provides a more slippery feel when playing. They also find that they are lubricating less frequently with the synthetic oil.

Valve Oils Petroleum and Synthetic

So...."which one is better?" you may ask.

Truly, it is an individual preference.  A lot of players of valved brass instruments will choose a petroleum oil, simply because that is what they have always used, it gives them the best results, and they are loyal to their brand which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  

Al Cass is a popular brand, which I have personally used and seems a little lighter in viscosity. This makes it good for quick notes, but will have to be applied more frequently. Another petroleum based oil is Blue Juice. I have also used this brand, and have found it works well, but like the others, has to be applied more regularly and it has an "oily" smell.  From my research, I have found that petroleum based oils also tend to leave a residue when they evaporate.

Many pro players use the synthetic oils for the simple reasons that they don't need to lubricate their valves as often, and they don't leave a residue after they evaporate.  

There are several brands of Synthetic oils on the market today --- Ultra Pure, Alisyn, Hetman, and Yamaha are all popular with brass players. I have used Alisyn, and Ultra Pure, with excellent results. Hetman and Yamaha both have different grades of viscosity. Hetman choices are #1, #2, and #3. Yamaha has Light, Regular, and Vintage. From my understanding, the Vintage Yamaha oil is a good choice for the older instruments whose valves have NOT been rebuilt. A final bit of information on synthetic oils --- If you decide to switch to synthetic, it is recommended that you get the instrument ultrasonically cleaned prior to switching.  

Whatever direction you decide to go, take care of your instrument and it will take care of you!

Our New Year Challenges!

Are you looking for a challenge in the new year? I mean, a real challenge to your musical skills, not just a resolution? Great! Here are a few things we here at A&G think might help you along in your musical career.

Learn Your Scales
Learn the pure form of all the minor scales. If that's too much, then first do all the flat minor keys, and then once you conquer them, try all the sharp minor keys. If you are really motivated, try learning the harmonic, and or melodic forms as well!

Learn The 26 Rudiments
If you're a percussionist, make a plan to learn all 26 rudiments for snare drum--- perhaps one rudiment every two weeks. If you have not tried to master melodic percussion, then give that a go. Start by learning your major scales.

Copy Music By Hand
Try your hand a being a copyist. What's a copyist? A music copyist's job is to create neat copies of a composer's music/arrangements. There's no a huge call for it, but writing music by hand can help you learn to read music better. Making sure you get the correct number of beats per measure and the right key signatures can solidify your existing music skills.

Record Yourself
If you have never tried to record yourself while practicing, this needs to be added to the to-do list. There a lot of things you can do with just a cell phone digital recorder. Record one part of a duet, and play the second part with yourself. There are apps that allow you to create multiple parts of compositions. This is a great challenge!

Improve different aspects of your playing by listening to what's coming out of your horn. Find out common mistakes you're making over and over. Get comfortable with a recording device and listen for imperfections to work on.

Commit To Cleanliness
Something else, which will not necessarily tax your musical skills, is to make a commitment to cleanliness. Keeping your instrument clean, especially if it is a wind instrument, will pay dividends in a number of ways. Your instrument will function a lot better, and if it is functioning better, it will ultimately sound better. You will also help maintain your personal health. 

Give Back
For long time players, if you are winding up your musical career, or have instruments or music you are no longer using, consider donating it. Choose a younger musician to be the recipient. I recently handed off a stack of my old music to a young college student studying horn. Recycle it, don't just throw it away. There's a player who'd love to receive your collection!

The Central Music Team hopes you have a prosperous, musical New Year! Now go challenge yourself!

5 Things Successful Musicians Do

By Tim Brennan

The following is a comprehensive, but not exhaustive list of things that successful musicians do. There are undoubtedly more to be added to the list, and there may be some that are more important than those listed below, but these are some of the ones that helped me in my career as a musician. If you even do a portion of these things, you will be well on your way to being a well trained, well rounded musician.

1. Practice!

The number one thing that successful musicians do is practice. Daily is the most preferable, but life gets in the way sometimes so try to keep your practice habits as regular as possible. Also practice in the same place and same time of day. Don't try to jam all your weekly practice time into one or two days. Spread your practice out over the week, an hour at a time. Regular muscle conditioning will serve you better in the long run than trying to get it all done at once.

2. Listen

You can never listen enough. If you are an instrumentalist, listen to a pro who plays your instrument. If you are preparing a solo, find a copy of your favorite player performing that solo.  Try to model your performance after his or her performance. Who better to copy than a person who has attained all the skills you are trying to learn. If you are an instrumentalist, listen to a vocalist. Expand your horizons. Vocalists can produce great emotion in their singing and that is not a bad characteristic to emulate in your playing. Listen to ensembles - duets, trios, and large ensembles as well. You can never listen enough.

3. Have a Private Instructor

Find a teacher who can help you on your way. Not just your band or orchestra director, although they most likely would be an excellent choice, but a private teacher who can sit with you, play with you, and build your confidence. You must be willing to accept criticism from this person because they have reached a level you are trying to attain. Your teacher has been there and done that.

4. Never Stop Reading

Never stop reading. Not just music, but books, newspapers, articles about music. Reading, like playing music, makes you smart. It can expand your horizons and help you develop new interests.

5. Make Music With Others

Last but not least, play or sing with a friend or another person or group of people. That is why bands and orchestras and choirs are so important. Being in an ensemble gives you a group of friends who automatically share your passion and interest in music. Performing in ensembles gives you one of the most important tools you can have as a musician. A critical ear. Not just to critique others, but yourself as well. When you are in an ensemble, it's like you are part of a team. Each person has a different job on the team and it is your job to be able to listen and adjust to the other team members so your sound blends well with them and doesn't overpower any one voice or instrument in particular.