Swab, reeds, grease

Woodwind care kit

Flute, clarinet, sax, oboe, and bassoon each want a slightly different swab and reed story. This is the first-year case kit, not a repair bench. Reed strength comes from the director, not from a product title.

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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.

7 need-to-have · 3 nice-to-have. Examples are labeled confirm fit. Nothing here is a “#1” ranking.

10 of 10 items

Need-to-haveWoodwindConfirm fit
Pull-through swab for their instrument
A flute swab, clarinet swab, and sax swab are different lengths. Buy the one that matches the horn they actually play.
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Need-to-haveWoodwindConfirm fit
Box of reeds (strength from the director)
Year-one players go through reeds. Strength and brand are section decisions. Do not guess 2.5 vs 3 from a product title.
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Need-to-haveWoodwindConfirm fit
Reed case
A plastic reed sleeve in a backpack crushes. A hard case keeps a spare playable.
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Need-to-haveWoodwind
Cork grease
Dry corks stick and crack. A small tube in the case is first-year insurance.
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Need-to-haveWoodwindConfirm fit
Mouthpiece brush
Weekly rinse and brush. Confirm they are allowed to remove the mouthpiece the way the director taught.
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Sax / bass clarinet neck strap
If they play sax or a larger clarinet, the strap is not optional. Padding is a comfort upgrade after the fit is confirmed.
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Nice-to-haveWoodwindConfirm fit
Clarinet thumb rest cushion
Helps sore thumbs in week one. Confirm it does not change hand position in a way the director dislikes.
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Nice-to-haveWoodwind
Pad cleaning paper
Sticky pads happen in humidity. Paper is safer than household items. Still: confirm before anyone pokes a pad.
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Flute cleaning rod + cloth
Flutes are often swabbed with a rod and cloth, not a saxophone-style pull-through. Confirm the method they were taught.
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Nice-to-haveWoodwindConfirm fit
Key oil (only if the director says so)
Many programs want a repair tech to oil keys. Skip this unless the handbook names it.
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