Teacher’s Repair Toolkit

As much as we would like to have everything work perfectly with our flutes all the time, well, you know issues are bound to arise – especially in teaching young students.  We recently caught up with Powell Flutes’ Marketing Manager, Christina Guiliano-Cobas, to talk about what she keeps in her teaching toolkit/emergency bag.  Christina maintains a studio of several younger players, so she delves into the toolkit quite regularly.

What’s in the bag?  Well, as you can see from the photo, she has a nice assortment of items that are handy for fixing small issues with student flutes.  So, let’s take a look at the items and their uses…

• Band Aids – These are for the teacher and the students!  Students may need them from time to time.  However, when it comes to doing repairs, if you get scratched or poked with springs and screws, these are quite helpful.

• Chapstick – Chapstick is great for cleaning piccolo corks and keeping them moisturized.

• Cigarette paper – Great for cleaning pads, but it can also be used for making slight adjustments (small pieces would need to be cut).

• Small pair of scissors – Great for cutting small pieces of the cigarette paper above, Teflon tape, and other purposes as needed.

• Spring hook/screwdriver multi tool – Springs are bound to come unhooked, and screws will come unscrewed.  This handy mini-tool is a must-have.  You can find it at many flute shops or online at http://www.upperoctave.com/index.php?UID=13708485105165be5dbbfef&Cat=4&Item=37.

• Tweezers – Tweezers and flute repair go hand-in-hand, because everything is very small!  These are great for picking up bits of adjustment papers and corks, as well as any other small items.

• Teflon tape – A great substitution for a tenon cork in a pinch, and also very handy in fitting headjoints and footjoints temporarily.

• Pipe cleaners – Great for cleaning in between keys and even the inside of mechanism tubing.

• Sharpie marker – Helpful in pointing out anything that really needs attention – especially to show your student what may need to be fixed (i.e. – circling dents).  Sharpie marker also comes off easily with alcohol.

• Cigarette lighter – Good for heating floated pads when they need to be re-seated.

• Nail polish – Slight marks can be used to help students properly align the headjoint, body, and footjoint.

Christina mentioned that when problems arise that need a quick fix, she explains the issues with the student.  This helps them understand their flutes and recognize any potential issues.  Because the emergency kit is for emergencies, it is also helpful in showing students what would need to be remedied when they take the flute to the repair shop.  As Christina says, “I always try to make quick repairs a learning opportunity for the student as well.”  Her emergency bag is also quite simple – it’s a Ziploc bag!  Some flutists have bags, some use small boxes…  What about you?  What’s in your repair toolkit?

Lesson "Checklist"

Teachers are surely quite familiar with this scenario:  A student walks into the lesson, picks up the flute, and nothing comes out.  Not a single solitary note.  The student turns to you and says, "Something is wrong with my flute -- it won't play..."  Hmmm...where should you start to help diagnose the problem?  Well, we recently caught up with Christina Guiliano-Cobas, our Marketing Manager here at Powell.  Christina has managed a studio for several years and spoke with us about a "checklist" for this common situation.

1) Dirty Tenons - The tenons on students’ flutes can become quite grimy if they are not regularly cleaned.  In turn, the build-up of dirt will make the tenon and headjoint fit too tight.  This tight fit could cause the mechanism to bind (the keys won’t go up and down) or over time cause the joints to go out of round.

2) Cork alignment - You'll want to check the cork alignment with the swabstick.  Proper cork alignment can make all the difference.  However, if the cork is too easy to move, it may need to be replaced.

3) Leaks - Student flutes normally have felt pads, and it may be possible to detect an air leak simply with an initial visual inspection.  However, this would not be possible with Straubinger pads.  In the case of felt pads, if you notice a gap between the pad and cup, there is most likely a leak!

4) Spring tension - This issue could be present even if sound is produced and the student is able to play.  Feel the keys to see if something is too heavy or difficult to press.  In this case, the spring may be too tight, which could impact the student's technique.  Obviously, the key could be too light as well, in which case the spring would need more tension.

5) Swabstick - Oddly enough, it is possible for a student to leave the swabstick or cleaning apparatus in the flute.  This would certainly be detectable by a visual inspection!

If you detect an issue that demands specialized attention -- or if you are not sure -- it's always best to contact an authorized flute repair technician.  Clean, well-adjusted flutes make for happy students and teachers!

Begin with an overall visual inspection - just like we do with brand new flutes!

Checking for even key height.

Checking spring tension.

Checking the overall feel of the mechanism.