subject: Taking Care of Your Flute [print this page] Taking Care of Your Flute Taking Care of Your Flute
Basic Parts of a Flute
During your first flute lessons, you'll learn that the flute is composed of three main parts: the foot joint, the body joint, and the head joint. The foot joint is the smallest part and is located at the other end of the flute. It only has a few keys but it's important that this part is properly aligned with the body joint so that the instrument will be able to produce tones with the correct pitch. The middle part of the flute is the body joint, which connects the foot and head joints. This is the longest part because it's where most of the keys are located. This is also where you'll find the tenons and tuning slide. The part where you blow air into the flute is the head joint. This is where you'll find the mouth hole or blow hole, embouchure plate, and tuning cork. The blow hole can either be oval or circle. The bigger the blow hole is, the lower the notes produced are and vice-versa.
When cleaning your flute, remember that the parts that frequently come in contact with your fingers and mouth require more attention to avoid moisture and saliva build-up.
Cleaning Tips for Metal Flutes
The flute can be made of a variety of materials that include wood, tin, and metal alloys such as gold or silver. When cleaning your flute, you should determine first what kind of material it's made of. When cleaning a metal flute, use a non-abrasive flannel cloth. Moisture build-up can easily lead to rust, so it's best that you wipe these parts well before putting them back together for your next flute lessons.
Cleaning Tips for Wooden Flutes
If you have a wooden flute, make sure to sterilize it regularly since saliva from your mouth can ruin the wooden finish. To sanitize a wooden flute, dip a soft cloth in a soap solution and gently wipe it over the different parts of the flute. Flute teachers can suggest other cleaning solutions or products you can use so be sure to ask around. For hard-to-reach areas, use cotton balls and q-tips dipped in the same soap solution. Once you've wiped the flute with the solution, rinse it well with warm water. Let it dry before assembling the pieces back together because excess moisture can lead to moldy spots.
Conclusion
When cleaning your instrument after private flute lessons, keep in mind the kind of material your instrument is made of. Metal flutes are sturdier than their wooden counter parts but they can rust easily when exposed to moisture. As for wooden flutes, you'll have to use a soap-and-water solution to get rid of grime or saliva that can destroy the finish. By regularly cleaning your flute the proper way, you'll be able to enjoy it for more years as you continue to learn how to play the flute and avoid costly repairs.
