Lesson 39: Recorder Care and Maintenance

• Clean, dry and store your recorder after playing.
• Check the sound with a familiar piece after cleaning.

A dry recorder is ready for the next session.

Start with your recorder maker’s care guide; plastic and wooden instruments need different care.

After every session

• Dry the inside with the maker’s recommended swab; keep rods and cloths out of the narrow air channel (windway).
• Wipe the mouthpiece with a soft cloth.
• Let the parts dry before closing the case.

Wood-specific routine

• New wood: follow the maker’s schedule for short first sessions.
• Oil: use only the type, places and schedule the maker recommends.
• Joints: use a thin layer of the maker’s recommended grease where needed.

Plastic-specific routine

• If the maker allows washing, use mild soapy water, then rinse and dry well.

For stuffy tone, squeaks, or notes that won't speak, see troubleshooting.

Now play these

After cleaning and drying, play a familiar piece and listen for clear starts and even tone.

Silent Night — 1859 melody

Practise its short ornament before the complete melody.

Vivaldi: RV 443 — complete Largo (advanced)

Long notes expose the tone.

When a piece on the freshly swabbed instrument sounds clear — no stuffiness on any note — move on to Lesson 40.

Cleaning kit, swabs and a fingering chart: see resources.