Common Brass problems in middle and high school

[Mark]

bad smell
spit valve leaks

[Mark]

bad smell
spit valve leaks

there will be children under the age of 21, so to discuss those issues would b inappropriate

So, I guess there should be absolutely no mention of:

peeling lacquer (or nickel plating)

[MartyNeilan]

Posture!

While posture can cause problems with breathing, mouthpiece placement, embouchure, and valve/key technique, it can also cause issues with instruments.

Trombone players leaning on their instruments in the upright rest position, torquing the slide.
Trumpet players resting the end of their bells on the chair in front, creasing the bottom of the bell.
Tuba and euphonium players leaning on the leadpipe, bending it (while resting or playing).
Tuba players leaning on their tuba when it is on the bell during long rests (aka when the director is talking) bending the bell.

[windshieldbug]

Proper use of duct tape and other temporary fixes so that when your student comes weeping to you 5 minutes before the concert or halftime show you can get through it.

[scottw]

Problems arising when kids remove the finger button and then the felts below--then " lose" the felts.
Or, just wear-compressed felts, resulting in misalignment of the holes.

Dropped mouthpiece, resulting in the shank out-of-round.

Cross threaded valve caps, top and bottom from forcing the thread on.

Incorrect oiling techniques: along the stem/ in the weep hole in the bottom

Valve guides chewed up through misuse, especially the plastic ones