Flute: Producing Sound
The flute is a member of the woodwind family. It is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument. Sound is produced from a flute by blowing onto the splitting edge of the lip plate. This split air vibrates in the head joint to produce the flute's beautiful tone!
Care For Your Flute
Before you play:
- Pick up the middle joint called the "body" of your flute and grasp it with your left hand where the brand is engraved (so you're not putting pressure on the keys).
- Pick up the head joint with your right hand and slide it into the body with a gentle twisting motion.
- Turn the head joint until the center of the embouchure hole lines up with the center of the main row of keys.
- While still holding the middle joint at the engraved name, slide the foot joint on in the same way without putting pressure on the keys.
- Line up the foot joint so the rod connected to the Eb key aligns with the keys on the middle joint (as in the picture above).
After you play:
- Disassemble your flute in the reverse order above.
- Use your swab to remove moisture from inside your flute’s head, body, and foot joints. The pads under each key seal the airflow when you play. Moisture causes the pads to get stiff and leak, making your flute harder to play.
- Use your polish cloth to wipe the fingerprints off your flute. Fingerprints contain acid and will eat into the finish of your flute.
- Put your flute in its case and fasten both latches. Most flute damage occurs when it's left out on a music stand, a table, a chair, a bed, or on the floor. If you'd like to leave it out, use a flute stand.
- Don't store anything (music, paper, a cloth, etc.) on top of your flute in its case as it will push on the keys and bend them out of adjustment, making your flute harder to play.
Periodically:
- Clean the finish of your flute thoroughly with a flute polish cloth. The flute polish cloth contains a small amount of polish, so you won't need any liquid polish. We don't recommend liquid polish because it can damage the flute pads.
- Use a small key brush to clean between the keys.
- Apply a very small amount of key oil to the pivot points of your keys. To apply the right amount, put a drop of oil on a saucer; then dip a toothpick into it and touch it to the pivot points on your flute.
- Wash out your swab or replace it with a new one.
- Don't tighten the tiny adjustment screws on the keys. They're not supposed to be tightened all the way down; instead, they're used by the technician to adjust your flute’s keys so they work together properly.
- Bring your flute to the Amro repair shop at least once a year or whenever you feel it's not playing its best. We'll inspect and test it free of charge, usually while you wait.
- If you have Amro’s maintenance & replacement plan, any repairs or adjustments it needs are free.