Every year you will have a student show up for their lesson and surprise, surprise their flute does not work. Here are some things to check which might allow you to fix it. And a few suggested tools you might want to keep on hand.
Unhooked Spring
The number one reason flutes don’t play is that a spring has come unhooked. Check for a spring, it looks like a piece of wire, which has come out of its clip. Look at the other springs to see how they are hooked in. Look at your own flute to see if there is anything that looks different. You can easily push the spring back into its clip with the tip of pencil. (The repair person has a spring hook)
Flute Maintenance and Repair : How to Fix Flute Spring Problems
Flute Maintenance & Repair Part 1 of 3 – Prevention. How to put the flute together properly. Preventing a stiff headjoint or footjoint and related remedies. How to clean the flute properly.
Flute Maintenance & Repair Part 2 of 3 – Tools for flute teachers.
Flute Maintenance & Repair Part 3 of 3 – When to go to the repair shop.
Loose Screw
The next thing to look for is a screw working its way out. The screws are located at the end of the rods which hold the keys on the body and foot joint as well as a small one holding on the thumb keys. These are easy to find. You can just screw them back in with a very small screwdriver or even your finger nail in a pinch.
Bent Keys
Check for keys bent or those out of line. These should be obvious bt may be just a key that opens too wide or not at all. Bent keys need to be adjusted by a qualified repair person.
Leaks
While the student tries to play a note, which does not play, depress keys with your fingers to find out which one allows the note to play. This will tell you if any of them are leaking. A repairman will need to adjust the flute to eliminate any leaks.
Foreign Objects
This is my favorite ailment. Check for foreign objects in the flute by looking inside and down the tube. You know things like retail receipts, cleaning cloths or pencils.
Loaner Flute
It is a good idea to purchase an inexpensive flute to have in your studio as a loaner for your students. It just needs to play – it does not have to play well. This will allow them to take their lesson if their own flute is not working.
Preventing Repairs
Parents are never prepared for the expense of repairs. Help prevent instrument damage.
- Be sure to teach your students how to put the flute together without twisting the rods or keys.
- Impress on them that this is a musical instrument worth hundreds of dollars, not a toy. Instruct them not to let friends or siblings “play” their flute.
- Be sure that they do not set their flute on the music stand.
- Also do not hold the flute by the headjoint, rather hold it by the barrel – the part on which the brand name is engraved.
- Do not store the cleaning rod with the cleaning cloth inserted in the case with the flute. It is not meant to fit in the case with the flute. It will depress the keys possibly cutting the pads and may bend the keys. The “wet” cleaning cloth is also not good for the flute. Store it in your flute/music bag.
Suggest to parents that a repair technician should check over and tune up their student’s flute at the end of each school year.
