Hosting a hands-on instrument maintenance workshop is the best way to help local uniform group bands protect their equipment assets and build excellent discipline.

We Kane Music had the absolute privilege of hosting an instrument maintenance workshop for the incredibly talented and disciplined members of the 1st Petaling Jaya Boys’ Brigade Brass Band. With around 30 energetic students in attendance and a representative from every section bringing along their instrument the morning was filled with excitement and an eagerness to learn. 

We kicked off the morning with a casual introduction and ice-breaking session to get everyone warmed up. To show the students what happens if you don’t take care of your instrument, we shared some “before and after” photos of instruments we’ve repaired. It was fantastic to see their excited reactions as they browsed the transformation features on our website!

Next, we took things to social media with an interactive Instagram Poll. The students pulled out their phones to test their knowledge with a few simple questions on our Instagram page. They were incredibly engaging, and it gave us the perfect transition into explaining “why proper cleaning and servicing are vital to an instrument’s lifespan”.

After the explanation. We move to hands-on experience. We split the band into two specialized groups so we could get up close and personal with the instruments.

While the brass section took a well-deserved break, the woodwind players carefully opened their cases for demonstrations and inspections. Kane walked them through daily maintenance routines after practice and taught them how to assemble their instruments properly. It turned out to be a massive eye-opener for a few students who suddenly realized they had been using the completely wrong kind of swab all along!

During the transition, students got to browse our small display of broken instrument parts (a great reminder of what happens when you don’t maintain your instrument!) alongside vital maintenance accessories like specialized brushes, polishes, and oils by brands like Hetman, Yamaha, Vandoren and more.

Next up, it was the brass section’s turn. We dove into the nitty-gritty of brass care: how to properly apply valve oil and slide grease, the importance of cleaning mouthpieces after use, and how to lubricate a trombone slide. The students didn’t just want to watch,they were incredibly eager to try it themselves, and many of them did an absolutely stellar job mastering the techniques on the spot!

After that, we brought everyone back together for a lively Q&A session, where we cleared up lingering questions about stubborn slides, sticky pads, and everything in between.

Overall, the energy of the workshop was amazing. We want to extend a massive thank you to the 1st PJ Boys’ Brigade for inviting us. It is incredibly heartening to see young people thriving in an environment that teaches both beautiful music and excellent discipline. Thank you for inviting us for lunch after too! 

We hope the knowledge passed down during this workshop sticks with these musicians for a lifetime and gets passed down to their band juniors!