On Instrument Repair

This week, I had some trouble with my flute. Actually, the problems have been very slight for about six weeks now, but it got worse this week. This comes at a shaky time for me, because my recital is in under two weeks! Yikes! The question for me was whether to chance playing on my flute with its leaks or sacrifice a few practice days without it. Thankfully, the repair person, Tom Peterson of Flute Asylum, loaned me a flute for the days mine will be in the shop. Here are some things I’ve learned through this experience:

1. Tom said it’s best to have a fully working instrument, and I believe him. Even if I can’t be with my flute in the practice room this week, being able to use the full range of my sound during my recital will be worth it.
2. Don’t wait until the last minute! If you suspect an issue, it is always better to have your instrument checked than let problems build up. Even if nothing is wrong with it, it is worth it to get the instrument checked. I’ve learned it’s better to lose a day of practice for inspection than to lose a week of practice for big repairs.
3. Don’t assume you know what is wrong before you hear it from a professional. I thought my flute was in decent shape and would only need a fifteen minute tune-up. Was I so wrong….
4. Go to someone you trust. Repairs done poorly over time can lead to terminal instrument damage, as I learned with my previous flute. Usually, there are repair people who work with your instrument type and make specifically, and can offer you the best advice. Yes, it can get pricey, but it’s a price worth paying to keep things in ship shape. 
5. ​You can practice without the instrument in your hands. I was so lucky that I was loaned a flute, but if you don’t have that luxury, then it’s a great idea to listen to recordings, mark your scores, sing, and go through fingerings on a desk or with a pencil in hand. In fact, these are practice techniques that are great regardless of instrument availability. 

And that’s really all! It may take time for repairs to be done well, but if you have an instrument in the shop right now, I’m patiently waiting with you. 

Sarah Castle