Instrument/Equipment Inventory:
As we approach Earth Day, it’s a good time to remember to take care of instruments to keep them out of landfills. Regardless of the number of instruments and equipment in your program, checking and updating the inventory can easily be assigned to a student leader or group of student leaders. Teach your system for inventorying the instruments and equipment, then delegate the responsibility. This both empowers students and develops behind-the-scenes insights. Check in periodically to ensure the process is understood and performing well.
Instrument/Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance:
Ensuring your program’s equipment is in working order for the next year is essential. Whether repairs occur in-house or if you have a repair budget, your leadership team can help make the process faster for you.
Teach your brass leaders how to disassemble their instruments and clean them, how to check for major and minor errors, and have them label things needing to be repaired.
Show your woodwind leaders how to check for pad leaks and misalignment, then label instruments with major issues.
Assign your colorguard, and maybe their caption head, to determine what equipment is usable and what is not, creating a “wish list” for items needed for the upcoming season.
Your percussion, again maybe their caption head, should check drum head quality, mallet instruments stringing, the quality and quantity of drum sticks, and the quality of the yarn mallets. Leaders then compile a “wish list” for materials needed for the upcoming season.
Regular maintenance and cleaning build your burgeoning leaders' skills and prevent equipment from being trashed. If your school can afford new instruments, either sell or donate your decent instruments to other schools. For those unsalvageable instruments, consider recycling. Or maybe you can find a lamp maker.