Flute Care

Flute care starts before you even open the case. Make sure the case is right side up. Usually the maker's name will be on the top of the case.

Holding the flute . . .
Never grab the flute by the key mechanism. Hold it at the top of the middle joint. Otherwise, you risk bending the rods, resulting in incomplete closing of the keys and an airy sound.

While we're talking about holding the flute, let's talk about the safest place for your flute--in your hands! Not on a chair, on the music stand, on the floor, or anywhere else. This is how flutes become damaged.

You will see some flutists using flute stands, frequently in an orchestral setting when the flutist also plays the piccolo. Setting the flute on this stand is often more comfortable than leaving it on your lap.

However, I don't recommend these for general use. It's too easy for them to be accidentally knocked over by children, the dog, even you!

Putting the flute together . . .
Handling the flute is an important part of flute care. The flute is a delicate instrument and can easily be bent and misshapen, causing it to play improperly.

Gently slide the pieces together with a slight twisting motion. Never put any grease on the joining segments. This a metal flute, not a wooden clarinet with cork tenons!

Oral hygiene
Brush your teeth before playing your flute. Doing this will help keep sugary saliva from entering your instrument and wearing out the flute's pads.

Clean hands
Make sure your hands are clean before playing your flute. You don't want to play a dirty, sticky flute, and this helps maintain your flute in proper working order for years to come.

Clean the flute before you put it away
Be sure to dry the inside of the flute before you put it away. Leaving moisture inside the flute will cause the key pads to deteriorate faster.

A swab such as the one below is good for drying the inside of the flute. I avoid metal rods at all costs--they can scratch the inside of the flute. A dry flute is essential for optimum flute care.

I always wipe off the outside of my flute, too. I hate taking a sticky, gummy-feeling flute out of the case, so I am very meticulous about cleaning off my flute. Yes, I'm usually the last person out of the rehearsal hall, but you will be rewarded for this extra effort. My flute is 30 years old and it has rarely had any mechanical problems at all.

I use a piece of ultrasuede for wiping off the outside. This is expensive material, but you can buy small portions of it at your music store.

Ultrasuede cleaning cloths are available from Carolyn Nussbaum on her web site. She has a toll-free number to order them.

I use a twist-and-push method for cleaning the inside of the head joint instead of the traditional cleaning stick with the fabric stuck on the end. I think you get the head joint dried better this way.

I like to use a clarinet style swab for drying out the middle joint and foot joint. I just think it works better than the rod and cloth, and you don't risk scratching the inside of your flute with a metal rod.

Proper flute care will help avoid unnecessary trips to the repair shop as well.

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