January 01st, 2013

Happy New Year!

Lots of people think about fitness at the start of the new year...and keeping your instrument itself in good repair is part of instrument 'fitness'! Student instruments should receive a COA (clean, oil, adjustment) at least yearly. Take the instrument to a good quality repair shop and they will know exactly what this basic service entails. You can do your part every day keeping your instrument in good shape by always swabbing out the flute after each use, and wiping the exterior of the instrument off before putting it away each time as well. Make sure that any treated 'anti tarnish' cloths never touch the pad material as the chemicals used can eat away at the pads. Also, keep your hands away from the crown: needlessly twirling the top of your instrument can cause a shift in the cork position and this will adversely affect your intonation. Here's to Fit Flutes!