All players should have a go-to straight and cup mute for everyday use (plus a Harmon for jazz). Beyond those mainstays which will get you through 99% of gigs, there is a wide and growing universe of mutes and manufacturers to explore.

• Soulo Straight Mute - the latest addition to my collection, I love this mute. It plays in tune throughout the range of the horn and cuts through the ensemble when needed.

• Dennis Wick Cup Mute - a versatile mute that creates the classic cup sound and can be used as a practice mute if needed or slide off the removable the cup rim and you have a straight mute in a pinch.

• Genuine Harmon “Wah Wah” Mute - I’ve had this since high school and have never had a need for another model. Put some heavy Hetman’s grease on the stem to keep it from falling out.

• Crown Royal Bags- perfect for keeping your valuable mutes scratch free in your gig bag.

Finding the right bag or case can be a journey in and of itself. Besides the original hardshell cases my horns came with, here are the bags I couldn’t do without:

• MyMüte Bag - fantastically compact little messenger-style over the shoulder bag with customizable dividers for carrying all your critical accessories, mutes, and music from home to rehearsals, to gigs and back again. Set it and forget it.

• Protec Flugelhorn Bag- lightweight, versatile softshell bag that you can throw on your back to keep your hands free for carrying other items. Has room for music and some accessories. Great value for money.

• Glenn Cronkite Single - Glenn used to make bags by hand out of his shop in San Francisco. Some years back he sold the business to the fine folks at Torpedo Bags. They carry on his legacy producing beautiful, minimalist soft-shell leather bags for the discerning musician.

• Glenn Cronkite Double - carries my Bb and my C or one horn plus accessories. They also make triple and deeper versions that can hold a Flugel. Check ‘em out.

If you’re planning on taking your horn(s) on a plane, get a hardshell case. They’re not cheap, but they are better than the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged horn!

I keep things simple - oil, grease, and a decent polish cloth are almost all I ever need.

• Hetman Synthetic Valve Oil - I keep their #2, and #3 piston valve lubricants handy. I use #2 on my “newer” horns with tighter valves and use #3 on vintage gear like my Flugelhorn. If Hetman’s is unavailable or hard to find, try…

• J. Meinelschmidt Synthetic Valve Oil - a great alternative to Hetman’s. Do not mix synthetic and petroleum-based oils (e.g. Al Cass) in your horn. Wipe down the valves well with a soft cloth and flush your horn before changing oils or consult with a technician.

• Hetman’s Grease - like their oils, I find Hetman’s grease to be the best on the market. I use #7.5 Slide Gel Plus for my 1st and 3rd valve slides and #8 Tuning Slide Grease for the, well, tuning slide.

• Bach silver polish cloth- nothing fancy, just something to keep the exterior of the horn relatively clean and shiny. Helps to wipe away sweat and discoloration to protect the lacquer of your horn. For longer term storage, anti-tarnish bags are also helpful.

• Mouthpiece Shank Tool - has helped me save beloved mouthpieces numerous times that were dropped on the floor and needed to be reworked to original dimensions.

• Cleaning and Repair Kit - useful for maintenance at home. Toss the grease and valve oil or give to a buddy if you use synthetic products on your horn.

For anything other than day to day maintenance and minor cleanings or repairs at home, please consult with your friendly local brass technician.

For services like valve rebuilds, re-lacquering, and after-market modifications there are a handful of folks in the U.S. that do this kind of work and do it well. Check out the resources page for more info.

• Manhasset Music Stand - the Symphony model is the gold standard in construction and reliability. Great for home practice.

• Vekkia Collapsible Music Stand - I keep one of these in the trunk of my car for rehearsals and gigs. Sturdier than a wire stand but also compact enough to take on the go.

• Vekkia Stand Light - for those rehearsals in poorly lit spaces, evening concerts, and/or pit orchestras. Configurable, chargeable LED lights can be modified both in terms of warmth and intensity.

• Gator Mute Holder - a fantastic, robust little contraption to keep your mutes off the floor and close by for those pesky quick mute changes.

• K&M Flugelhorn Stand - a necessity for any flugel player. Comes with 5 metal legs for stability.

• K&M Trumpet Stand - a must-have item for any Bb/C trumpet player, I recommend the 5-legged model for added stability and durability.

• Protec Mouthpiece Pouch - these come in soft and hardshell plus a variety of sizes and are the best value for money I’ve found on the market so far. A must have to protect your mouthpiece(s).

• Roche Thomas Mi T Mist - ever forgot your mouthpiece and need to borrow a friend’s? Or want to try someone else’s mouthpiece or loaned out one of your own? This sanitary spray will help keep your mpc’s clean and hygienic.

• Bach Trim Kit - if you want to give your horn a different look or add heavy bottom valve caps to your Bach valve block.

• 1st and 3rd Valve O-Rings: eliminates the metallic “click” you get when pulling your valve slides back in.

• Korg Chromatic Tuner - nothing fancy, I’ve had this little guy since middle or high school and it’s still going strong after all these years.

• Sabine Zipbeat Quartz Metronome - like my trusty Korg tuner, I’ve had this clicker forever and it has been a lifesaver when practicing at home and helping my quintet internalize the beat as we learn new pieces. It has stood the test of time.

• BERP for Trumpet: stands for “buzz extension and resistance piece.” A small but simple tool that attaches to your mouthpiece receiver and provides an intuitive way to work on your buzzing technique with varying degrees of resistance.

• Embouchure Visualizer: a simple but effective diagnostic tool to help you better see and understand what your lips are doing when they are vibrating in the mouthpiece. Another variation of this from Asper-Pickett can fit into your horn’s mouthpiece receiver.