Your videos are very helpful. Whenever I have a question about my flute, I will always watch your videos and you answer them! You give many very very helpful tips on how to play the flute and have helped me advance my flute playing. Thanks!
Dr Klee, you mentioned studying in North Atlanta. I'm wondering if that is where I went (many years ago). I started playing when I was 12 and my instructor would not even let me blow into the mouthpiece the first month. My "at home work" consisted of standing in front of a mirror and practicing the different embouchures. It helped tremendously and my cheeks hurt for the longest time. I really appreciate your instructions, even 55 years after beginning the flute.
Question: Do you need to use the cleaning paper or the pad drying cloth to clean the pads? If yes, which one do you recommend? Also, can you use permanent end-papers or blotting oil paper? And what can't you use for cleaning the pad? Thank you!
Dr Klee: In addition to the cleaning method you illustrated I also place the head, middle and foot joint in front of a fan to dry out any residual moisture the cleaning cloth may miss.
I never thought of that. Some flutists leave their flute case open after they practice to dry out the flute too. The fan trick is pretty cool. I\ll pass it along. David
Dr: Klee: In addition to my previous post I have a pre-playing ritual I go thru whether I play sax or flute: I wash my hands with mild soap and water twice and brush my teeth before playing. This leaves a no oil build up on the metal and no foreign particulates to affect my tone. Brushing the teeth comes from my harmonica playing ritual: Clean mouth...clean harmonica.
Finally someone with common sense!! About the pads, I mean. My friends would always use a sheet of paper (which I think damaged my F# key. THANKS ERICA) to remove dirt or dried up spit that the pad absorbs. It causes that sticky sound when you press the keys. Now question: How would you clean the pads? I hate having that annoying sticky sound and it also effects your playing; it doesn't make it "smooth", if that makes sense. I've always used a cloth, from my flute cleaning kit. Would that work?
+PrincessKiya Hi!! I have heard many tales of what to use to clean the pads. Unfortunately most of them will only damage the pads. I use only professional flute pad cleaning paper I purchase from music stores-that is made ESPECIALLY to safely clean the pads. It the pads are still making noise then I take my flute to a professional horn repair man and have them clean them. David
I see no mention at all of the 3M silver anti-tarnish strips. They are rectangular paper strips that fit nicely inside a flute case, even a piccolo’s. I still have a student model Blessing silver plated flute I acquired new in 1999. It came with one of those strips inside the case from the factory. It looks spanking new, not the least tarnish anywhere. These anti-tarnish paper strips are inexpensive an are readily available at woodwind music suppliers. They are well worth the effort to get.
Hi, at one time with brass instruments I used to use Listerine to sterilize mouthpieces since we shared instruments. Is this recommended. What do people use now?
I bought a used flute through Goodwill a few years ago - how can I sanitize it - what products can be safely used to do this myself, or are there services that do this for a fee?
Hi! I would suggest two different pathways depending on how far you want to go with the flute. 1. I would take it to a certified woodwind repairman to have it cleaned and deodorized (including the case). They can be found at most most major music stores that sell band instruments. 2. If you do not have access to a music store to clean your flute-then you will have to do it yourself. I would use some kind of sanitation cleaner that you can wipe in the flute case to help to get the mildew out. As for the flute, you can use some kind of alcohol/water solution to clean the inside and outside of the flute. DO NOT SUBMERGE THE FLUTE IN IT. Just take a clean cloth and dip it into the solution, wring it out, and lightly wipe the metal of the flute. Do not touch the pads with the solution. You can take a cloth and dip it into the solution, wring out the extra, and run it through the three parts of the flute with the cleaning rod. Hope this helps!! David
+Cool Beans You are correct! The flute is not only made of metal; it has many parts that are made of felt, cork, and other organic materials that would either be destroyed or come off the flute when wet. Whatever you do, DO NOT put your flute in water. Take a clean cloth, lightly dampen it and gently wipe the metal parts of your flute to get off the body oils and other things. Then take a clean dry cloth and light/gently wipe your flute dry taking care to try to not touch any of the pads or other non-metals parts of the flute when cleaning it. David
I would be very careful when it comes to touching or brushing your pads. They are made of an organic substance and can tear or rip very easily which then that would require a woodwind specialist to replace the pad. My advice is to not touch or brush the pad with anything. David
Hi!! Yes I would throw it into the wash every few weeks or so because technically it is a germ carrier (make sure that your cleaning cloth is washable-some are not). I am very bad about washing my cloth. I usually don't even think about until after a symphony rehearsal when the flute section is cleaning up their flutes and I notice that my cleaning cloth is much more dark and dingy than theirs. Take care and keep fluting! David
Yes as long as you do not submerge your head joint into the water. You have a cork at the crown end of the flute and that would ruin it. If you put the mixture on a cloth and lightly rubbed the head joint inside and out that should take care of the germs. Good luck. David
It should not turn black unless you are using some kind of grease to lubricate the head joint. If you are not using any kind of grease then the blackness should subside after a few cleanings. David
+Relitha Mondesir Hi!! Did you accidentally get your flute pads wet?! If your pads are wet from water the best thing you can do is let them dry. Hopefully they will not change shape too badly. If they are wet from another liquid like soda pop or something then you may be in trouble. If it is another form of liquid I would suggest you take it to a competent instrument repairman and have him evaluate what to do to try to salvage the pads. It is possible that some of pads may have to be replaced. David
Random question,but I dropped my flute into my pool while practicing in my backyard.I can now not play any note higher than C.Is there any way I can fix this,or do I need to get a new flute?PLEASE ANSWER IM VERY SCARED MAN
Your pads may dry on their own, but with everything having gotten SO wet from being dropped in a pool, you should take your flute to a repair shop to have the pads reseated properly. There is no way you'll be able to do this on your own. No, you shouldn't need a new flute, and you may not need new pads. However, they will need to be reseated properly by a professional repair person. Sorry this happened!
Unfortunately there is only two ways to deal with saliva in the headjoint. One way is to cover all of the keys and blow through your headjoint and the saliva will pass through the flute (not the most preferred, especially if you are in a performance!). The only other way is to remove your headjoint and use your tuning rod with a clean cloth wrapped around it and insert it into the headjoint. Hope this helps. David
@@DrDavidandJudiKlee I used to take the head off and shake it . It may not come out but works its way down where I can better clean it. Also, the cloth with silver polish on one side is called a rouge cloth (from my jewelry appraisal days). They are actually a double cloth - one a silver polish embedded cloth and the other a buffing cloth and they are sewn together in the middle. You can find them where you find jeweler's supplies.
+60darklord thanks for your comment, however, there is no solution in it. I actually found something to remove the tarnish without damaging the instrument.
+Michael Harris II There are two potential problems with trying to remove tarnish off the metal of the flute. The tarnish remover might actually pit/scratch the silver permanently-I always use a non-abrasive silver cleaner. You might damage the pads by accidentally touching them with the cleaning cloth I currently use a silver cloth that has polish on one side and a dry clean cloth on the other (this cloth is made for silver instruments and is sold in music stores). I try to be very careful about not touching the pads. If the flute is extremely tarnished then I would suggest sending it to the instrument repair shop and have them clean it. They would remove all of the pads and get the flute down to the bare metal before cleaning the silver. David
Hi Alexis! If it is a new Mendini flute that is green, that means it has a green lacquer finish. To clean it I would use only water on a cotton cloth and carefully wipe your flute clean. David
All you need is a cotton cloth to clean both the inside and outside of your flute.If your flute is tarnished I would recommend that you purchase a polishing cloth (the kind with silver polish on one side) from either a music store or online. Do not use commercial silver polish from a store. It is usually too abrasive on your flute and could scar the silver finish. Good luck! David
Hi Doug! Yes, you can use water provided you do not get the water in the shafts, corks, pads and other parts like that. I suggest you take a clean cloth, dip it in water, squeeze out the excess water and then gently wipe the metal parts of the flute with it. Once you have done that use a clean dry cloth to dry your flute. Always take care not to touch the pads, corks, and other parts that could be damaged with the rubbing. David
Hi!! I wipe the inside and outside of my flute everyday before I put it back into the case. Depending on what part of the world you live in the left over water/moisture could have germs/mildew. So I clean my flute daily. David
Hi Alexis! If you use these suggestions your flute will last for years and your pads will also last for five to ten years. 1. Always wipe the inside of your flute with your flute stick and a clean cotton cloth rapped around it to insert into the flute. 2. Always wipe the outside of the flute with a DIFFERENT clean cotton cloth (after every practice/performance session) paying careful attention not to rub the pads. 3. Twice a year have your flute oiled and adjusted by a PROFESSIONAL! The oil they use is much finer than what you can buy at a music store and the repairman uses less oil. Most young flutist use TOO MUCH oil which will collect dust and other particles in the key mechanisms. Try these tips and I think you will be on your way to having a very happy flute. David
If I understand you correctly, are you saying that when you play your flute the headjoint gets stuck and will not come out easily?! Usually that happens if the end of the headjoint is not cleaned regularly or if if is bent or too tight to begin with. David
+Chaos Dragons Flute pads are the little inserts under the keys. When you press a key, the inserts (or pads) are what actually touches the top of the key hole below the key you press. They will have indentations in them from being compressed when you press down a key. Hope this helps!
In my head this man is the Bob Ross of the flute. I don’t know why. He just is.
Your videos are very helpful. Whenever I have a question about my flute, I will always watch your videos and you answer them! You give many very very helpful tips on how to play the flute and have helped me advance my flute playing. Thanks!
+Ashlyn Lanaville You are very welcome. David
The way he fondles that flute gives me a new type of hope I never knew was possible...
Amen brother
This is very helpful.
Dr Klee, you mentioned studying in North Atlanta. I'm wondering if that is where I went (many years ago). I started playing when I was 12 and my instructor would not even let me blow into the mouthpiece the first month. My "at home work" consisted of standing in front of a mirror and practicing the different embouchures. It helped tremendously and my cheeks hurt for the longest time. I really appreciate your instructions, even 55 years after beginning the flute.
I just started to play the flute in middle school. and now i have advice
Keep up the great work!!! David
Question: Do you need to use the cleaning paper or the pad drying cloth to clean the pads? If yes, which one do you recommend? Also, can you use permanent end-papers or blotting oil paper? And what can't you use for cleaning the pad? Thank you!
When you try to clean in between the keys with a Qtip, should you wet it first?
Is this man still active on this video? if so, this helped a lot.
Thanks.
Thank you so much this really helped
Ruby Studios to clean the insides of the flute does it have to be wet or no?
Dr Klee: In addition to the cleaning method you illustrated I also place the head, middle and foot joint in front of a fan to dry out any residual moisture the cleaning cloth may miss.
I never thought of that. Some flutists leave their flute case open after they practice to dry out the flute too. The fan trick is pretty cool. I\ll pass it along. David
Wooow nice video🤗
Dr: Klee: In addition to my previous post I have a pre-playing ritual I go thru whether I play sax or flute: I wash my hands with mild soap and water twice and brush my teeth before playing. This leaves a no oil build up on the metal and no foreign particulates to affect my tone. Brushing the teeth comes from my harmonica playing ritual: Clean mouth...clean harmonica.
Yes, I try to wash my hands and brush my teeth before I practice. Thanks!! David
Also, scrape your tongue.
Can I use 99 percent alcohol to disinfect the outside part and the inside part of my flute? Hoping to receive your answer.. thanks..
Finally someone with common sense!! About the pads, I mean. My friends would always use a sheet of paper (which I think damaged my F# key. THANKS ERICA) to remove dirt or dried up spit that the pad absorbs. It causes that sticky sound when you press the keys. Now question: How would you clean the pads? I hate having that annoying sticky sound and it also effects your playing; it doesn't make it "smooth", if that makes sense. I've always used a cloth, from my flute cleaning kit. Would that work?
+PrincessKiya
Hi!!
I have heard many tales of what to use to clean the pads. Unfortunately most of them will only damage the pads. I use only professional flute pad cleaning paper I purchase from music stores-that is made ESPECIALLY to safely clean the pads. It the pads are still making noise then I take my flute to a professional horn repair man and have them clean them. David
I see no mention at all of the 3M silver anti-tarnish strips. They are rectangular paper strips that fit nicely inside a flute case, even a piccolo’s. I still have a student model Blessing silver plated flute I acquired new in 1999. It came with one of those strips inside the case from the factory. It looks spanking new, not the least tarnish anywhere. These anti-tarnish paper strips are inexpensive an are readily available at woodwind music suppliers. They are well worth the effort to get.
Hi, at one time with brass instruments I used to use Listerine to sterilize mouthpieces since we shared instruments. Is this recommended. What do people use now?
I have heard flutists use such things as peroxide, alcohol, and you can even purchase a commercial cleaner. David
I had recently bought a cleaning kit but I don’t know what the cloths are used for. The cloths are 2 one is a silky the other is nice and fluffy
Untitled Channel
Oh, I thought it was the opposite, wouldn’t the fluffy one soak up saliva better?
Hi Dr. Klee! Thank you for this and all your wisdom. :D I'd like to ask: what brand is that two sided silver polishing/buffing cloth?
Yamaha makes one and at most music stores you can find them. I have seen them on Amazon. David
I bought a used flute through Goodwill a few years ago - how can I sanitize it - what products can be safely used to do this myself, or are there services that do this for a fee?
Hi!
I would suggest two different pathways depending on how far you want to go with the flute.
1. I would take it to a certified woodwind repairman to have it cleaned and deodorized (including the case). They can be found at most most major music stores that sell band instruments.
2. If you do not have access to a music store to clean your flute-then you will have to do it yourself. I would use some kind of sanitation cleaner that you can wipe in the flute case to help to get the mildew out. As for the flute, you can use some kind of alcohol/water solution to clean the inside and outside of the flute. DO NOT SUBMERGE THE FLUTE IN IT. Just take a clean cloth and dip it into the solution, wring it out, and lightly wipe the metal of the flute. Do not touch the pads with the solution. You can take a cloth and dip it into the solution, wring out the extra, and run it through the three parts of the flute with the cleaning rod.
Hope this helps!!
David
If I understand correctly, I should never submerge my flute in water like a trumpet, right? (just making sure) :)
+Cool Beans You are correct! The flute is not only made of metal; it has many parts that are made of felt, cork, and other organic materials that would
either be destroyed or come off the flute when wet. Whatever you do, DO NOT put your flute in water. Take a clean cloth, lightly dampen it and gently wipe the metal parts of your flute to get off the body oils and other things.
Then take a clean dry cloth and light/gently wipe your flute dry taking care to try to not touch any of the pads or other non-metals parts of the flute when cleaning it. David
So when cleaning my flute is it okay to touch the pads?
I would be very careful when it comes to touching or brushing your
pads. They are made of an organic substance and can tear or rip very
easily which then that would require a woodwind specialist to replace
the pad. My advice is to not touch or brush the
pad with anything. David
Do we need to wash the cloth that we use to clean our flute?because mine gets all dirty After I clean my flute.
Hi!!
Yes I would throw it into the wash every few weeks or so because technically it is a germ carrier (make sure that your cleaning cloth is washable-some are not). I am very bad about washing my cloth. I usually don't even think about until after a symphony rehearsal when the flute section is cleaning up their flutes and I notice that my cleaning cloth is much more dark and dingy than theirs. Take care and keep fluting!
David
Is it good to let your headjoint dry overnight outside the flute box?
A lot of flutists leave their flutes out or at least their cases open to help dry the pads after use. David
Ok I'll do that myself as well then. Thanks for the reply!
I’ve seen a method on cleaning the head joint with boiling water and baking soda, is that a safe alternative?
Yes as long as you do not submerge your head joint into the water. You have a cork at the crown end of the flute and that would ruin it. If you put the mixture on a cloth and lightly rubbed the head joint inside and out that should take care of the germs. Good luck. David
thank you
You're VERY welcome! Glad it helps.
What if the handkerchief becomes black when you are cleaning the head joint
It should not turn black unless you are using some kind of grease to lubricate the head joint. If you are not using any kind of grease then the blackness should subside after a few cleanings. David
what if you wet your flute and can't play please answer im freaking out I cant play low notes or f and d and d flat
+Relitha Mondesir
Hi!!
Did you accidentally get your flute pads wet?! If your pads are wet from water the best thing you can do is let them dry. Hopefully they will not change shape too badly. If they are wet from another liquid like soda pop or something then you may be in trouble. If it is another form of liquid I would suggest you take it to a competent instrument repairman and have him evaluate what to do to try to salvage the pads. It is possible that some of pads may have to be replaced. David
Random question,but I dropped my flute into my pool while practicing in my backyard.I can now not play any note higher than C.Is there any way I can fix this,or do I need to get a new flute?PLEASE ANSWER IM VERY SCARED MAN
So I know that you should dry the pads,but what is the fastest way to dry them?I have band practice tomorrow!!!!
Your pads may dry on their own, but with everything having gotten SO wet from being dropped in a pool, you should take your flute to a repair shop to have the pads reseated properly. There is no way you'll be able to do this on your own. No, you shouldn't need a new flute, and you may not need new pads. However, they will need to be reseated properly by a professional repair person. Sorry this happened!
DrDavidandJudiKlee Thanks for caring about what happened,and l will take it to a repair shop
inside the head piece, there is saliva which i cant reach.
how do i do it??
Unfortunately there is only two ways to deal with saliva in the headjoint. One way is to cover all of the keys and blow through your headjoint and the saliva will pass through the flute (not the most preferred, especially if you are in a performance!). The only other way is to remove your headjoint and use your tuning rod with a clean cloth wrapped around it and insert it into the headjoint. Hope this helps. David
@@DrDavidandJudiKlee I used to take the head off and shake it . It may not come out but works its way down where I can better clean it. Also, the cloth with silver polish on one side is called a rouge cloth (from my jewelry appraisal days). They are actually a double cloth - one a silver polish embedded cloth and the other a buffing cloth and they are sewn together in the middle. You can find them where you find jeweler's supplies.
What do you use to clean tarnish off of a flute??? It looks slighty brown from the tarnish...
Removing tarnish yourself is dangerous and can damage the flute, it doesn't affect the sound at all, it only affects the cosmetics.
+60darklord thanks for your comment, however, there is no solution in it. I actually found something to remove the tarnish without damaging the instrument.
+Michael Harris II There are two potential problems with trying to remove tarnish off the metal of the flute. The tarnish remover might actually pit/scratch the silver permanently-I always use a non-abrasive silver cleaner. You might damage the pads by accidentally touching them with the cleaning cloth
I currently use a silver cloth that has polish on one side and a dry
clean cloth on the other (this cloth is made for silver instruments and is sold in music stores). I try to be very careful about not touching the pads. If the flute is extremely tarnished then I would suggest sending it to the instrument repair shop and have them clean it. They would remove all of the pads and get the flute down to the bare metal before cleaning the silver.
David
I have a silver mendini flute that doesn't work and I'm getting a new mendini flute andb its green
Hi Alexis! If it is a new Mendini flute that is green, that means it has a green lacquer finish. To clean it I would use only water on a cotton cloth and carefully wipe your flute clean. David
How do I clean my flute with out this stuff because I don't have it
All you need is a cotton cloth to clean both the inside and outside of your flute.If your flute is tarnished I would recommend that you purchase a polishing cloth (the kind with silver polish on one side) from either a music store or online. Do not use commercial silver polish from a store. It is usually too abrasive on your flute and could scar the silver finish. Good luck! David
I wish I could just go back in time and not be dumb and watch how to clean a flute
Can you use water?
Hi Doug! Yes, you can use water provided you do not get the water in the shafts, corks, pads and other parts like that. I suggest you take a clean cloth, dip it in water, squeeze out the excess water and then gently wipe the metal parts of the flute with it. Once you have done that use a clean dry cloth to dry your flute. Always take care not to touch the pads, corks, and other parts that could be damaged with the rubbing. David
Should you clean your flute everyday?
Hi!! I wipe the inside and outside of my flute everyday before I put it back into the case. Depending on what part of the world you live in the left over water/moisture could have germs/mildew. So I clean my flute daily. David
How do you clean your flute properly
Hi Alexis! If you use these suggestions your flute will last for years and your pads will also last for five to ten years.
1. Always wipe the inside of your flute with your flute stick and a clean cotton cloth rapped around it to insert into the flute.
2. Always wipe the outside of the flute with a DIFFERENT clean cotton cloth (after every practice/performance session) paying careful attention not to rub the pads.
3. Twice a year have your flute oiled and adjusted by a PROFESSIONAL! The oil they use is much finer than what you can buy at a music store and the repairman uses less oil. Most young flutist use TOO MUCH oil which will collect dust and other particles in the key mechanisms.
Try these tips and I think you will be on your way to having a very happy flute. David
What's a handerchieft??
How do you keep your flute from the heax joint getting stuck. Cause when mine got stuck it was so draining how can i prevent it
If I understand you correctly, are you saying that when you play your flute the headjoint gets stuck and will not come out easily?! Usually that happens if the end of the headjoint is not cleaned regularly or if if is bent or too tight to begin with. David
I've heard somewhere about sanding it a bit and to fill it with paraffin in this case of tightness
Please anwser
Can somebody please tell me what pads are?
+Chaos Dragons Flute pads are the little inserts under the keys. When you press a key, the inserts (or pads) are what actually touches the top of the key hole below the key you press. They will have indentations in them from being compressed when you press down a key. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much !!!!!!!!!!
+Chaos Dragons The pads are right under the keys to the flute, they are yellow little things in mine and seem to be covered in a plastic-like thing
Well when a young women has that time of month she will need pads or tampons to not get her clothing stained with blood
Bach Identity
I knew I would find a comment like this