Oil, cream, brush

Brass care kit

Trumpet, mellophone, trombone, baritone, and tuba share a cleaning logic and split on oil vs slide cream. Match the bottle to the instrument you were issued. Confirm brand with the section so you are not the only household using something that gums up valves.

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Confirm with your handbook/director

Confirm with your handbook/director. Programs differ on lyre style, folder size, reed strength, rain rules, and what is allowed on the field.

New here? Start with the first-year kit or read how we shop.

5 need-to-have · 5 nice-to-have. Examples are labeled confirm fit. Nothing here is a “#1” ranking.

10 of 10 items

Need-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Valve oil
Trumpet, mellophone, baritone, and tuba valves need oil. Confirm the brand the section already uses so bottles can be shared in a pinch.
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Need-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Trombone slide cream + spray bottle
Trombone is not a valve-oil instrument. Cream plus a small water sprayer is the usual pair — confirm the section’s preferred cream.
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Need-to-haveBrass
Tuning slide grease
Stuck slides become a repair bill. A tiny tub lasts a season.
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Need-to-haveBrass
Mouthpiece brush
Weekly clean. Cheap, and it belongs in the case, not the kitchen junk drawer.
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Need-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Flexible snake / bore cleaner
Buy a snake sized for the instrument. A trumpet snake is a poor tuba snake.
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Nice-to-haveBrass
Soft polishing cloth
Wipe fingerprints. Skip abrasive metal polish unless a tech told you to use it.
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Nice-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Mouthpiece pouch
Keeps the mouthpiece from denting in a backpack. Confirm they are allowed to store it off the horn.
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Nice-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Lead-pipe swab or snake
Useful at home. Not a field toy. Confirm cleaning steps so nobody shoves a brush where it sticks.
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Nice-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Practice mute (home only)
Apartment-friendly practice. Confirm the instrument (trumpet mute ≠ trombone mute) and do not bring it to rehearsal unless asked.
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Nice-to-haveBrassConfirm fit
Travel-size extra oil
The full-size bottle can live at home. A leak-resistant extra in the case saves a dry valve on Friday.
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