How to Assemble Your Flute (to avoid repairs)

[deband4]

very interesting. I've been playing flute for years, and cannot remember if I was ever told how to put it together (probably was). Interesting to see somone explaing how and why, and I do do it very similar.

[fluteloophost]

Sorry for the muffled fast-talkin' ha ha.

The muffled words are: "I have another line drawn on the flute for if it's really really cold, or really hot (in the room you're practicing in). "

[wenglish1968]

I'm sorry. another line for what?

[fluteloophost]

@wenglish1968 wrote:

"Another line for what?"

Jen replies: Sorry but there's not sufficient clarity to the question; I don't know what you're asking. J.

[fluteloophost]

@wenglish1968 Can questions be more precise?

[fluteloophost]

To learn flute the right way you need to go to weekly flute lessons with a qualified flute teacher. The flute teacher has to hear and see YOU in order to help you learn the fastest. Best, J.

[raeofhope8]

Could you do a video on beginners because I am one and my flute/band teacher can't teach me during the summer

[stretchipress]

Thank You Jennifer! Was useful

[Quiedy]

thanks, it is very useful.

[fluteloophost]

A 440 is a standard of PITCH.

If you google the term you'll find a definition of the pitch that all instruments tune to.

It's four hundred and forty cycles per second; an actual measurement of sound waves. J.

[violinistx100]

what do you mean by A440 on a flute?

[carnater14]

thank you very much!...i will just buy my first flute tomorrow!...Thanks a lot!...

[flutiste94]

great review...very helpful of those who are begginers but helpful to the experienced as well

[balshoij]

great review, I finally know how to do it! many thanks!

[fluteloophost]

Thanks for the good reviews! I had no idea that there were no videos about how to take flutes apart. That's just wild!!

Thanks, though for saying "thoughtful". That's very kind. J.

[CatCommunication]

I am an adult taking up flute for the first time.

This is the first video on the internet I've been able to find that shows how to take the flute APART!

I've found 4 or 5 videos online showing me how to put my new (used) flute together, but once I had it together I realized that I didn't know how to put it away!!!

Your videos are very thoughtfully made. I hope you'll make more of them.

[ohznard]

mine got 2 dents near the mouthpiece, is that repairable?

[fluteloophost]

If the dents are repairable and flute repair technician will tell you. Spend $20 on a repair visit. J.

[CometFlute31]

What does it mean to have a leaky flute??

[fluteloophost]

When the air escapes through a leaking PAD (the yellow or white spongey part of each key) then the flute is "leaking".

Pads last about 1-10 years depending on how well they're cared for. But developing a leak in a pad is very very very common. That's why flutes should go to the repair shop each year for pad replacements, pad shimming, and key adjustment. J.

[CometFlute31]

Oh! Thanks!

[fluteloophost]

Thanks everyone for all the great video reponses. Hopefuly all who watch this video will avoid unecessary repair trips.

Jen :>)

[AlissaDEG]

This was great! Thanks! [:

[trombonist0903]

omg. . .i have been doing tis everytime i set up my flute =.=

[EmilyIsAShrewsFan]

That explains what happened to my flute. . .Great advice - will never put it together wrong again!

[furrealjoyful]

Your videos are so great and informative. I am glad that you take the time to show proper technique, unlike other flute videos that are on YouTube. The flute world needs more of your generosity.

[cheddarcheeze]

Thank you very much! i recently got a hand me down flute from my ocusin, so i was pretty much clueless on how to handle flutes and such.

[Quickfire412]

uh oh i think i've been doing it wrong for like 3 years :( that's bad

[melwhite01]

lol- me too! But it does explain why I have had to repair it so often!

[fluteloophost]

....It doesn't happen the first few times, it happens over several weeks/months.

Most students in band have flutes that are leaking and have fuzzy tone because of these leaks.

After you've had your flute serviced at the repair shop, so the leaks are finally gone, never grasp the moving parts during assembly again, and you can find that you have very very few leaks over time.

Best,

Jen

[fluteloophost]

Hi Shelby,

You can "touch the keys" but not "grasp the keys".

Flutists who grasp the keys (by wrapping their hands around them when putting the flute together/taking it apart) tend to bend the keys, and have leaks quite quickly, because the keys don't seal very well after being slightly bent. continued....

[shelby10102]

wow i always touch the keys my bad

[Nali1456]

Wow, now I know that I've been doing a lot of things wrong xD. Thanks!

[prairietrish]

Thank you from a family of two flute enthusiasts!!

[peachesyourmom]

It depends on if you tend to go flat or sharp. Pull it out if you go sharp or in if flat. Don't go to the extremes though. You can usually fix your tone by reposistioning your embouchure.

[mscrimger]

Good information. Learned something new here.

[Checkersisfun1]

Nice video, now I know not to touch my keys. But I have a few questions...

What is a flute flag?

And when you put the head join in, did you push it in all the way? My band teacher, and a few instructors, have told me that the flute wasn't made to be pushed in all the way.

Thanks for the video!

[fluteloophost]

Thanks for your comment.

The reasons why we tend to want flute stands with covers is to protect the flute from costly repairs. I've seen a couple of students end up with "banana flutes" from leaving them on beds and then accidently sitting on them (or having others accidentally do so.) I've even heard that the weight of the flute's tube can warp the flute if left repeatedly on a bed. I would create a flute stand and get a friend to sew a cover. Good luck, J

[rthompson1985]

I liked this video. I wouldn't have known to turn my flute joints in, in a circular motion. I live in Thailand at the moment so I am continuing my practice alone, so video's like these are real nice reminders on how I should be doing thigns...

I feel sort of bad that my flute is in full assembly on the bed right now... It's going to be taken well care of from now on!

[crabman06]

Good video but one more thing: I mentioned the cleaning because you seemed to focus on not touching the keys when assembling which is important but nearly impossible to keep fingers off keys when cleaning out the bore. Thanks for posting this.

[fluteloophost]

Hi Crab-man;

I use a flute flag to clean out the bore.

It is the full length of the flute for quick cleanings (while continuing to play without changing the setup) and when it is pushed through piece by piece, I still don't touch the keys very much.

I hold the smooth sections when I push the flute flag through.

For the next video, obviously. J

[lietzen]

Flute flag, yes yes, the best invention since sliced bread. I also use one, but I allways need a paper towel added to it because it does not absorb the water properly ... even it has been washed several times.

[crabman06]

You forgot to show how to clean it out after playing, too. I have long fingers too and would never be able to align the foot as you did as it is way too low to get good facility on the foot keys.

[FluteMark]

Great information for all flute-players! Good to see Youtube being used to share this kind of valuable information for the care of the flute. Flutemark