BASIC WOODWIND MAINTENANCE - FLUTE

This information is designed to help you keep your instrument in the best playing condition possible.
To begin with there are a few accessories you will need. These are as listed:
- Cleaning Rod
- Absorbent Material (eg chux)
- Polishing cloth

ASSEMBLING YOUR INSTRUMENT
Please do not attempt to assemble your flute until shown how by your music teacher. This is very important, as the keys on the flute are very easy to bend and snap. How disappointing not to be able to make a sound out of your new flute because you have bent a key.

CLEANING YOUR INSTRUMENT
After you have finished playing your flute it should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out.
Using your rod, thread the material through the eye and wrap around the rod so no plastic or metal is showing. Remove the headjoint from the flute and carefully swab the inside. Next, swab the inside of the body and foot joint to remove any excess moisture.
Polish all the keys to remove any fingerprints. Some people’s fingerprints have a lot of acid in them and this can tarnish or strip the instruments plating. The only way to slow this process is to polish your instrument after every time you have touched it. Be very careful when polishing the keys so as not to knock off any of the key corks or springs. Do not try to polish under any of the keys.
Hopefully this helps with the care of your new flute.
The most important thing to remember is to have your instrument regularly serviced by a technician to keep the other technical parts of your flute in excellent working order. This should be done at least once a year.

BASIC WOODWIND MAINTENANCE - PICCOLO

Congratulations on the purchase of your new instrument. This information is designed to help you keep your instrument in the best playing condition possible.
To begin with there are a few accessories you will need. These are as listed:
- Cleaning Rod
- Absorbent Material (eg chux)
- Polishing cloth
- Bore Oil (wooden piccolos only)
- Oil Swab (wooden piccolos only)

CLEANING YOUR INSTRUMENT
After you have finished playing your piccolo it should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out.
Using your rod, thread the material through the eye and wrap around the rod so no plastic or metal is showing. Remove the headjoint from the piccolo and carefully swab the inside. Next, swab the inside of the body and foot joint to remove any excess moisture.
Polish all the keys to remove any fingerprints. Some people’s fingerprints have a lot of acid in them and this can tarnish or strip the instruments plating. The only way to slow this process is to polish your instrument after every time you have touched it. Be very careful when polishing the keys so as not to knock off any of the key corks or springs. Do not try to polish under any of the keys.

OILING YOUR PICCOLO (Wooden Piccolos ONLY)
Using a separate brush or swab (from your cleaning pull through), put a few drops of oil on it and pull through the inside of all wooden parts.
If you want to oil the outside do so very carefully by wiping a little oil with a cloth around the keys keeping away from the pads so as not to damage them. Leave it to dry overnight and polish off any excess oil.
This only needs to be done every 6 – 12 months depending on how often the instrument is played.
Hopefully this helps with the care of your new piccolo.
The most important thing to remember is to have your instrument regularly serviced by a technician to keep the technical parts of your piccolo in excellent working order. This should be done at least once a year.

HAPPY PLAYING!!