Items to Have in Your Emergency Clarinet Kit

In addition to the daily necessities, I also carry an “emergency” clarinet kit in my bag. Not only is this a great excuse to shop for cute makeup/toiletry bags and small clutches (which work very well to corral clarinet accessories!), this is also practical for long practice sessions, back-to-back performances, or worst case scenarios (broken mouthpieces, ligatures with stripped screws, etc.).

Here are some items I have in my clarinet emergency kit:

Clarinet accessories & repair

• Jeweler’s screwdriver set
• Backup mouthpiece and ligature (make sure to store in protective cushions or cases)
• EZO, floral tape, or other cushion for your teeth and lips
• Cigarette paper
• Q-tips, paintbrushes, makeup brushes, or other tools to clean tone holes
• Extra swab
• Humidifier
• Extra cork grease

Hygiene

• Toothbrush and toothpaste (I love Colgate Wisp single-use toothbrushes)
• Brush and/or comb
• Compact mirror
• Hand sanitizer
• Lip balm (My favorite is Burt’s Bees)
• Deodarant (great for pre-performance panic, running from one gig to another, long Mahler symphonies, and other perspiration-inducing musical situations)

Miscellaneous

• Extra pencil
• Phone charger
• Headphones
• Gloves (I always bring a pair of gloves to competitions, auditions, and performances so my fingers still cooperate if I have to wait in a tundra of a greenroom)

Feel free to personalize this list according to your schedule and musical requirements. Comment below with any other necessities you keep in your case!