Lesson 39: Recorder Care and Maintenance

Clear and store your recorder so it sounds the same tomorrow as today.
Play one piece on a freshly serviced instrument and listen for the difference.

Any recorder.

Cleaning and oiling.
Storage and humidity.
Diagnosing common issues.

The instrument that sounds bad today is sometimes the instrument you did not swab yesterday.

Plastic needs almost nothing — swab, dry, store cool. Wood needs more — break-in, oil, cork grease, patience with humidity. Service the instrument, then play one piece on it and listen for the difference.

After every session

Swab the bore with the cleaning rod and a cloth or pull-through. Push it from the foot up into the head, then back down. Moisture in the windway is the most common cause of stuffy tone.
Wipe the mouthpiece with a soft cloth.
Disassemble fully (head, body, foot) and lay the pieces out to dry. Do not put a wet recorder back into its case.

Wood-specific routine

Break-in: new wooden recorders need short sessions (15-20 minutes) for the first month, lengthening gradually as the wood adjusts to your moisture.
Oil once or twice a year with bore oil — sweet almond oil works. Apply sparingly to the inside of the body; never the head.
Cork grease on the joints when they become stiff — a thin smear, not a glob.

Plastic-specific routine

Wash periodically with warm soapy water; rinse and dry thoroughly.
That is the entire routine.

For specific symptoms — stuffy tone, sudden squeaks, notes that won't speak — see troubleshooting.

Now play one piece, freshly serviced

Swab the recorder. Warm it. Play one piece you know well. Listen for the difference — even a well-maintained instrument sounds clearer just after servicing.

Silent Night: Slow, sustained — reveals tone clarity.
Vivaldi: Concerto RV 443 (Largo): Lyrical phrasing across the full register.

When the daily routine is automatic and your instrument is reliable session to session, move on to Lesson 40.