Music Library of Things
If your library includes musical instruments, not just ukulele, but flute, trumpet, and more as part of your Library of Things could you share some information? We will be receiving a donation of assorted instruments from a family in memory of a long term board trustee. We have concerns and questions about safely checking out these instruments especially woodwind/brass. 1. How do you keep the instruments clean/sanitized? Is it even possible? 2. If the instruments require a 'reed' to be played, do you provide it or have the patron get that on their own? 3. Do you even think it's possible to have a "library of things" that includes instruments? At this time, we're thinking of just accepting percussion/string instruments. Any advice and guidance is appreciated. BillieJo Bluemer Director Rauchholz Memorial Library 1140 N Hemlock Rd Hemlock MI 48626 989-642-8621
Hi, I won't be much help with advice on how a library shares these instruments but, I can give some advice based on the fact that I was in a band ensemble for 8 years as a clarinet player. 1.) You can sanitize instruments but depending on the instrument, it can be a lengthy process. I would recommend buying additional mouthpieces for the wind instruments so you can always have a clean one available. When you play a wind instrument your spit can travel through the whole body of the instrument. Because of this cleaning a trumpet, for example, would be less time consuming to clean than a clarinet or flute because of the amount of keys that you would want to clean around. They have different cleaning products & brushes for each type of instrument based on the material the instrument is made of and you can find all of those usually online or at a music supply store. 2.) Reeds come in different levels of softness regarding the wood. So the reed you choose would depend on the experience of the musician. If you are a more experienced musician you would have a firmer wood for your reed versus a musician new to the instrument would want a softer wood, as it is easier to move air past the softer wood. You also cannot play a reed instrument with a dry reed. We were taught to hold the reed in our mouth to soften it with your saliva. Reeds can last for a good amount of time based on how you treat it and how often you play. You do not need a new reed everytime you play. Based on the knowledge I have on wind instruments you could go about it in a couple different ways: -You could have patrons purchase their own reeds or you could keep a variety of reeds that they can use but they would then keep their reed for a while and bring it in with them when they want to play an instrument. -You can purchase separate pieces for instruments. If you are worried about patrons sharing a mouthpiece despite being sanitized you could have patrons bring in their own mouth pieces and then you only have to worry about sanitizing the body of the instrument between patron use. I think it is do-able to share instruments between patrons but it also depends on how much time or money you would want to dedicate to the care and keeping of the instruments. I hope any of this is of help to you and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions and I'll do my best to answer based on my knowledge. Good luck! On Mon, Jul 17, 2023 at 1:37 PM BillieJo Bluemer via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
If your library includes musical instruments, not just ukulele, but flute, trumpet, and more as part of your Library of Things could you share some information? We will be receiving a donation of assorted instruments from a family in memory of a long term board trustee.
We have concerns and questions about safely checking out these instruments especially woodwind/brass.
1. How do you keep the instruments clean/sanitized? Is it even possible? 2. If the instruments require a ‘reed’ to be played, do you provide it or have the patron get that on their own? 3. Do you even think it’s possible to have a “library of things” that includes instruments?
At this time, we’re thinking of just accepting percussion/string instruments. Any advice and guidance is appreciated.
*BillieJo Bluemer*
Director
*Rauchholz Memorial Library*
*1140 N Hemlock Rd*
*Hemlock MI 48626*
*989-642-8621*
[image: smalllogo]
_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
As a brass musician, I too am trying to think from a non-musician's perspective. Brass instruments also need mouthpieces; these can be cleaned, with plain soap and warm water, and there is a brush that also works well. With a collection of several mouthpieces, a mouthpiece brush is a great idea. While trombone, baritone/euphonium (very similar), and tuba mouthpieces look the same, they are not one-size-fits all. The same applies to trumpet and French horn mouthpieces. Some styles look similar, but the differences matter. Valved instruments need the valves oiled at least once a week, usually more often, especially if they are used a lot. The valves should move easily. (And please no taking valves or instruments apart- except for school or library staff who know what they are doing. Putting them back together wrong could stop someone's air when they try to blow, and while that may sound funny, the player will be seriously hurt.) Valve oil should come with the instrument, and while I have never borrowed an instrument from a library, if I did, I would expect to return the valve oil with the instrument. Lastly, something I did not know until my sister started playing the trombone: the slides need to be lubricated, and they need to be kept dent-free. There is slide cream specific to the trombone which is the most useful option. This is a much longer message than I expected, and yes, I realize you are not likely to be lending out tubas... Stephanie Herm Taylor Community Library On Tue, Jul 18, 2023 at 4:58 PM Abigail Vervaras via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
Hi,
I won't be much help with advice on how a library shares these instruments but, I can give some advice based on the fact that I was in a band ensemble for 8 years as a clarinet player.
1.) You can sanitize instruments but depending on the instrument, it can be a lengthy process. I would recommend buying additional mouthpieces for the wind instruments so you can always have a clean one available. When you play a wind instrument your spit can travel through the whole body of the instrument. Because of this cleaning a trumpet, for example, would be less time consuming to clean than a clarinet or flute because of the amount of keys that you would want to clean around. They have different cleaning products & brushes for each type of instrument based on the material the instrument is made of and you can find all of those usually online or at a music supply store.
2.) Reeds come in different levels of softness regarding the wood. So the reed you choose would depend on the experience of the musician. If you are a more experienced musician you would have a firmer wood for your reed versus a musician new to the instrument would want a softer wood, as it is easier to move air past the softer wood. You also cannot play a reed instrument with a dry reed. We were taught to hold the reed in our mouth to soften it with your saliva. Reeds can last for a good amount of time based on how you treat it and how often you play. You do not need a new reed everytime you play.
Based on the knowledge I have on wind instruments you could go about it in a couple different ways:
-You could have patrons purchase their own reeds or you could keep a variety of reeds that they can use but they would then keep their reed for a while and bring it in with them when they want to play an instrument. -You can purchase separate pieces for instruments. If you are worried about patrons sharing a mouthpiece despite being sanitized you could have patrons bring in their own mouth pieces and then you only have to worry about sanitizing the body of the instrument between patron use.
I think it is do-able to share instruments between patrons but it also depends on how much time or money you would want to dedicate to the care and keeping of the instruments. I hope any of this is of help to you and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions and I'll do my best to answer based on my knowledge. Good luck!
On Mon, Jul 17, 2023 at 1:37 PM BillieJo Bluemer via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
If your library includes musical instruments, not just ukulele, but flute, trumpet, and more as part of your Library of Things could you share some information? We will be receiving a donation of assorted instruments from a family in memory of a long term board trustee.
We have concerns and questions about safely checking out these instruments especially woodwind/brass.
1. How do you keep the instruments clean/sanitized? Is it even possible? 2. If the instruments require a ‘reed’ to be played, do you provide it or have the patron get that on their own? 3. Do you even think it’s possible to have a “library of things” that includes instruments?
At this time, we’re thinking of just accepting percussion/string instruments. Any advice and guidance is appreciated.
*BillieJo Bluemer*
Director
*Rauchholz Memorial Library*
*1140 N Hemlock Rd*
*Hemlock MI 48626*
*989-642-8621*
[image: smalllogo]
_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
-- *Stephanie B. Herm* *Paraprofessional, * *Taylor Community Library* *& Braille and Talking Books* [Image: The library's logo composed of the braille letters "TCL" and "Taylor Community Library" printed below all in gradient shades of blue.] Confidential: This message and all contents contain information from the City of Taylor which may be privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure under applicable law. The information is intended to be for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee, or if you have received this message in error, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by reply email or telephone 734-287-4840 and destroy the original message and all attachments without retaining any copies.
I love Abigail’s response and would like to add (without hopefully seeming too serious and hopefully not grossing too many people out) … especially if you don’t have an experience or knowledge of instruments… that wind instruments have pads on the keys that break down after a lot of use: (sax, clarinet, bassoon, flute, oboe, and any bass version of these). I used to play the flute and everything on the flute is metal except for the pads on the keys. They eventually have to be replaced from wear and tear. Just something to consider. Flutes are the only wind instruments that don’t require a reed, to my knowledge. And there are different kinds of flutes as there are wind instruments: you can get a student/standard flute in the key of C that is shorter than the professional ones used in symphonies, and with closed keys; The professional B flat flute has a longer foot with an extra key and then there are flutes with open keys that come with plugs. Some Clarinet bodies have wood in them and depending on where and how they are used could affect the integrity of the instrument. But I think they make student clarinets with plastic or some kind of composite. Oboes and bassoons take a different reed from clarinets and saxophones: the double reed. Some instruments may need a mute to go home with them: brass Also, many instrument cases are made of cloth, and if patrons do not clean the instruments directly after using and stick the instruments back into a cloth case, it’s likely they could collect/spread any spit and anything else the cases and instruments are exposed to at the locale of use. And if the library is keeping cleaning materials in the case, those materials will need to be cleaned after every use as well. Speaking as a student musician…. And this is very gross, but I rarely cleaned my instrument cleaning materials. In hindsight, I would “now.” Those fiber cleaning rods can get really gross. So can the keys on my flute. Other things to be aware of: some of classmates broke the intricate rods that hold and manipulate the keys. AND if someone is too rough assembling or disassembling the instruments, the connectors can get warped and become hard to twist together. Cheaper student metal instruments can degrade the finish over time: my student flute that I marched with had several areas where my palms and hands touched the metal and rubbed it raw. If you’re serious about lending instruments, you may also want to consider including in the kit: a tuner, a metronome, and a collapsible, folding stand. Just some things to consider. On Tue, Jul 18, 2023 at 5:00 PM Abigail Vervaras via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
Hi,
I won't be much help with advice on how a library shares these instruments but, I can give some advice based on the fact that I was in a band ensemble for 8 years as a clarinet player.
1.) You can sanitize instruments but depending on the instrument, it can be a lengthy process. I would recommend buying additional mouthpieces for the wind instruments so you can always have a clean one available. When you play a wind instrument your spit can travel through the whole body of the instrument. Because of this cleaning a trumpet, for example, would be less time consuming to clean than a clarinet or flute because of the amount of keys that you would want to clean around. They have different cleaning products & brushes for each type of instrument based on the material the instrument is made of and you can find all of those usually online or at a music supply store.
2.) Reeds come in different levels of softness regarding the wood. So the reed you choose would depend on the experience of the musician. If you are a more experienced musician you would have a firmer wood for your reed versus a musician new to the instrument would want a softer wood, as it is easier to move air past the softer wood. You also cannot play a reed instrument with a dry reed. We were taught to hold the reed in our mouth to soften it with your saliva. Reeds can last for a good amount of time based on how you treat it and how often you play. You do not need a new reed everytime you play.
Based on the knowledge I have on wind instruments you could go about it in a couple different ways:
-You could have patrons purchase their own reeds or you could keep a variety of reeds that they can use but they would then keep their reed for a while and bring it in with them when they want to play an instrument. -You can purchase separate pieces for instruments. If you are worried about patrons sharing a mouthpiece despite being sanitized you could have patrons bring in their own mouth pieces and then you only have to worry about sanitizing the body of the instrument between patron use.
I think it is do-able to share instruments between patrons but it also depends on how much time or money you would want to dedicate to the care and keeping of the instruments. I hope any of this is of help to you and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions and I'll do my best to answer based on my knowledge. Good luck!
On Mon, Jul 17, 2023 at 1:37 PM BillieJo Bluemer via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
If your library includes musical instruments, not just ukulele, but flute, trumpet, and more as part of your Library of Things could you share some information? We will be receiving a donation of assorted instruments from a family in memory of a long term board trustee.
We have concerns and questions about safely checking out these instruments especially woodwind/brass.
1. How do you keep the instruments clean/sanitized? Is it even possible? 2. If the instruments require a ‘reed’ to be played, do you provide it or have the patron get that on their own? 3. Do you even think it’s possible to have a “library of things” that includes instruments?
At this time, we’re thinking of just accepting percussion/string instruments. Any advice and guidance is appreciated.
*BillieJo Bluemer*
Director
*Rauchholz Memorial Library*
*1140 N Hemlock Rd <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1140+N+Hemlock+Rd+Hemlock+MI+48626?entry=gmail&source=g>*
*Hemlock MI 48626 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1140+N+Hemlock+Rd+Hemlock+MI+48626?entry=gmail&source=g>*
*989-642-8621*
[image: smalllogo]
_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
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-- Katie Rothley, MLIS Marketing & Public Relations Librarian Northville District Library 212 West Cady Street Northville, MI 48167 (248) 349-3020 <callto:(248)+349-3020> ext. 221 https://northvillelibrary.org My working day may not be your working day. Please do not feel obligated to reply to this email outside of your normal working hours.
participants (4)
-
Abigail Vervaras -
BillieJo Bluemer -
Katie Rothley -
Stephanie Herm