The flute is a delicate musical instrument and needs to be properly taken care of in order for the player to be able to fully enjoy using it. The flute should always be properly cleaned, kept in a case and transported in a case cover.
A Good Flute Case
When not in use, the flute should always be kept in its case, which should be specific to the make and model of flute. The flute should never be kept outside of its case, for example, on display on a shelf or even inside a display cabinet, as any kind of dust or dirt can cause the pads and mechanism to deteriorate seriously.
It is not safe to leave the flute outside its case if your attention is elsewhere, for example, during the coffee break at band practice, or unattended in your living room. If anybody accidentally knocks the flute over, hundreds of dollars of damage could be caused.
When buying a second hand flute, it is very important to check that the flute is provided with its own, original case. A non-specific case will be ill-fitting to the flute and can cause damage to the instrument every time the case is opened, closed or transported.
If the case provided is unsuitable, the owner should contact the flute manufacturer and ask to be sent the correct case, or to have one specially made. Some players like to have their own special personalised cases, made for carrying two flutes at a time, to include a spare head joint or even a piccolo flute. In this instance, it is essential to have the case made by a flute specialist in order for it to conform perfectly to the models that will be kept inside.
The Flute Case Cover
Although the flute case protects the instrument, the case itself is still relatively fragile, and should be protected by a flute case cover. This is a special padded bag which fits snugly around the flute case, protecting it from any bumps while travelling which could damage the hinges or closing mechanism of the case, or the body of the case itself. The case cover should also be waterproof.
The case cover should be specific to the general type of flute it will carry, for example, there are separate case covers for B foot and C foot flutes. It is also possible to buy a case cover that will carry a flute and piccolo together, though in separate pouches to avoid the cases knocking together.
No additional items should be carried inside the case or case cover, such as cleaning cloths, screwdrivers or music, as this will prevent the case and cover from protecting the instrument correctly. However, many case covers conveniently include an outer pouch for these extra items. Some of the best flute case covers are made by NAP, Paris (pictured here). These case covers, as well as some flute cases and many cleaning materials can be found online at All Flutes Plus, London, Topwind, London and Dawkes Music.
Cleaning the Flute
Each time you play your flute, it must then be cleaned inside and out, to prevent deterioration. The flute must be taken apart and each section must be cleaned first with a cleaning rod and cloth. The rod should preferably be made of wood, not metal, to avoid scratches. The cloth should be passed through the eye on the cleaning rod and folded over the top of the rod. It must not bunch up as this will make it harder to push the rod through and thus could cause damage.
The rod must be passed through the flute in an upwards motion two or three times, to clean away the moisture from the inside of the flute. The cloth is usually made from muslin and can be bought from most music shops. Finally, the outside of the flute must be polished with a cloth like a duster or a silver cloth, in order to remove sweat and grease which could find their way into the pads, and keep the flute looking shiny.
Following these basic rules will ensure the flute remains in the best possible condition. In any case, the flute should be taken for a service once a year even if there are no evident problems, in order to prevent any nasty surprises. In case of a breakdown, it is unadvisable to try and repair the flute yourself if you have no specialist experience. Flute and woodwind specialists such as All Flutes Plus, Topwind and Dawkes are able to provide service and repair work.
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