1. To care for your flute you will need a clean, lint-free cloth and a cleaning rod.
2. Always be very careful when assembling your instrument to hold it in such a way that keys are not bent.
3. Always swab the moisture out of the instrument with a swab every time you finish playing. This will extend the life of the pads and prevent unpleasant odors.
4. Adjustment screws are for delicate adjustments of the mechanisms, particularly in flutes. THESE SHOULD NOT BE MOVED. If you believe the instrument needs adjusting, see a certified Summerhays Music repair technician.

Flutes & piccolos require little maintenance other than regular cleaning. If the joints on your instrument become too tight or too loose, or if it becomes difficult to tune, bring it to a Summerhays Music repair technician to be properly inspected and/or refit. CORK GREASE SHOULD NOT BE USED ON FLUTES.

To prevent tarnishing, fingerprints should be wiped off the body and keys of silver instruments with a clean lint-free cloth or polishing cloth. Silver polishing cloths are available through music stores and jewelers for this purpose. Be careful to avoid rubbing the edges of the pad with the polishing cloth. Doing so will damage the pads, making it necessary to replace them.

DO NOT USE LIQUID OR PASTE POLISHES ON YOUR INSTRUMENT, AND DO NOT LEAVE YOUR INSTRUMENT IN YOUR CAR.

All flutes are not created equal, but choosing a quality flute doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some things to consider:

1. Student-level flutes are often a little more durable, relatively speaking, than their better counterparts, due in part to the materials from which they’re made but,
2. Those same instruments don’t play as well because there is less silver in their construction.
   • Cheap instruments often contain 50% silver throughout the entire instrument.
   (most durable, poorest sound)
   • Better instruments contain 65% silver throughout the entire instrument.
   (better durability, good sound)
   • Intermediate instruments will have a solid silver headjoint and 65% silver throughout the body.
   (good durability, better sound)
   • Pro instruments are solid silver throughout the entire instrument.
   (care required, best sound)
3. Choose a “closed-hole” flute for the beginner, or choose an intermediate “open-holed” flute and use plugs until the player improves.

A word of caution: inexpensive flutes made overseas are finding their way into the market through big box and other discount centers. While the lower price is tempting, you should consider that poorly constructed instruments play poorly, hindering the student’s ability to learn. They are also difficult if not impossible to regulate and adjust. Many repair shops won’t even touch them, or charge a premium to do so. Most teachers will agree that a poor instrument defeats the student even before he/she has begun.

Summerhays Music Center is dedicated to the musician from the aspiring beginner to the consummate professional, and carries only quality instruments which will improve the player’s experience. Stop by and speak to our knowledgeable staff, each of them musicians in their own right. We’ll help you determine which flute is for you, and you’ll be able to choose from such respected brands as Yamaha, Pearl, Miyazawa, and Sonare. Summerhays Music also services what we sell and is home to one of the largest in-house repair centers in Utah.

So stop by and visit us. We’ll help you on your way toward a great musical and learning experience!

The flute is one of the oldest instruments known, with some examples dating back thousands of years. Early flutes were often made of wood, stone, and even human and animal bone. More recent flutes have been constructed of glass, ceramic, and brass and other metals. The earliest known example of the transverse flute (held and played sideways) is believed to be the “tsche,” originating in China about 2637 BC. Over time, improvements were made to the flute including the materials used, the addition of keys, and the shaping of the instrument, culminating in what is considered to be the modern flute developed by Theobald Boehm in 1846.

The flute, part of the woodwind family, includes the piccolo, E flat, concert, alto, and bass flutes. The concert, or C flute, is the best-known member of the flute family and is often recommended for beginners.

School band programs typically introduce the flute in the fourth and fifth grades since the student must be large enough to reach the keys. Curved headjoints are available for smaller or younger students who are unable to reach the length of the instrument, and are sometimes included with models designed for beginning students. As the student grows, the curved headjoint can be replaced with the straight headjoint.