My flute keys

[emmyx3]

My daughter is beginning to learn the flute on Sept. 21 and one of the keys are stuck( wont go up after i press them). It is a used flute I bought from a store. Can anyone help me please?

[pied_piper]

If you bought it from a music store, take it back to them to fix it. If you bought it from a pawn shop or other non-music store, you still need to take it to a music repair shop.

There are a variety of reasons a key might stick down:

• A spring has come off it's hook and needs to be put back in place
  A spring has broken
  The mechanism is rusted or needs oiling (Don't oil it yourself without knowing what you are doing - special oil is needed and you could cause other problems)
  The key or key shaft is bent

There are a few other reasons that a key might stick, but those are the most common problems. If you take it to a repair shop they should be able to quickly evaluate the problem and give you a free estimate of the repair costs.

[emmyx3]

ty so much! we are going to the music store tommorow (thx to you!)

[MathWizard]

Yes, Pied Piper is correct.

The most important thing to remember is to never try to fix something yourself without knowing exactly what you are doing. Doing things wrongs will lead to other problems. For example, you see that a spring is off, so you try to put it back, but in the process you break it.

Always bring it to a professional. A lot of times, band directors can help.

[Bo]

Used flutes need maintenance sometimes, but then they will work alright. Good luck with it!

[Zevang]

New flutes also need maintenance, so what about used ones?!
A new flute will need at least a COA (Cleaning, Oil, Adjustment) every year, if it's used on a daily basis, assuming that the intention is to keep the instrument in perfect playing condition (precaution).
If you buy a used flute, first thing is sending it for a complete revision by a good technician. This is to avoid the sensation of being a bad flutist, when the problem in reality is the instrument per se. If it will be used intensively, better send it for COA every 6 months.

[Bo]

Yes, of course new flutes need maintenance too... I meant used flutes need maintenance immediately, you can't just buy one and expect it to play perfectly...
By the way, my Yamaha manual (the one that mentions the mysterious tone reflector ) says to oil the keys every three months... Is it too much?

Bo

[Zevang]

Not too much if you play 3 to 4 hours in a daily basis.
I would say 6 months is enough, at least once a year.
It also depends on the conditions of your location.
If you live in a dry place, the oil tends to "expire" more quickly. So three months could be a good idea.

[Bo]

Thanks for the reply.

I think the golden mean (6 months) will be OK.

Maybe Yamaha Australia considers that Australia can be very dry, but I live by the sea, so 6 months should be enough.

Cheers,
Bo

[pied_piper]

How close you are to the sea may influence your periodic maintenence. Salt water and the air near ocean locations can be particularly corrosive (RUST!) to steel and iron. Flute key shafts are typically made from steel (occasionally stainless steel).

I live about 20 miles from the ocean and oil once each year. Oiling once or twice each year should be fine, unless the keys actually get wet (playing outdoors in the rain?). If your flute ever gets really wet, it's not a bad idea to reapply some oil to drive out the moisture.

[Bo]

I live pretty close to the ocean, something between 1/4 and 1/2 mile. I wouldn't play my new flute outside, the old flute will do. I really like to play at the beach, but it can be "dangerous" with the breeze if the sand gets into the keys...

Bo

[pied_piper]

... or a sandblasted finish ...