FLUTE MAINTENANCE

What is the best maintenance program for your flute? Although there are many articles that cover this topic from different angles, one point they all have in common is that the maintenance of your flute should be done on a regular basis. All things mechanical that contain separate parts, like clocks, automobiles, lawnmowers, and to some extent, even computers, should be worked on by professional technicians and maintained on a regular basis in order to keep them running at their best.

However, there are maintenance things that you can do yourself, especially on a daily basis, to ensure that your flute does not fall into disrepair. First of all, swab out the moisture after playing it using the swab stick and a 100% cotton handkerchief. A man’s handkerchief is the perfect size. Then, clean the outside of the flute using a 6″ x 11″ piece of paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol. Make sure the paper is not soaked, only moistened, so that it doesn’t drip onto the pads and dry them out. Crumple the moistened paper towel and use it to remove the fingerprints from the body and key tops being careful not to rub the skins on the pads or they will tear and you’ll have to replace them – which is a costly endeavor. Use light even strokes while removing the fingerprints and stop occasionally to check your work to make sure you did not miss any.

This maintenance routine should be done after you play the flute, each and every time. If you play it every day, do it every day, because fingerprints that are left on the flute for too long will be difficult to remove later on and will have to be removed by a professional technician. The prints will also attract tarnish quicker which, after a long time, will have to be removed by a professional technician. Swabing the interior and cleaning the exterior as I explained is the basic maintenance routine you should adopt in order to keep your flute in top shape. Anything else it needs, such as adjustments to the mechanism, installing a new headjoint cork, and replacing pads, key corks and springs should be performed by a competent professional technician.

By the way, talking about getting the most out of your flute, the best flute headjoint (mouthpiece) to have on your flute in order to get the biggest and fullest sound is made by J. Novo wooden headjoints. It is made from African Blackwood, the same wood that is used to make professional clarinets, oboes and flutes. Mr. Novo makes two models of headjoints: one for the intermediate player (which can also be used by the beginner), and one for the professional player. Check out www.jnovoheadjoints.com for more information on these wonderful world class affordable flute headjoints.

Well, good luck on keeping your flute in top shape and remember: “Success is 95% labor and 5% inspiration.” God bless!

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