AboutHerbert Smith Expertise I can answer questions about almost any flute-related topic. I have trained professionally as a flute repair tech and and music educator, and have a broad range of experiences as a performer. I also have plenty of experience with flutes of every level from a huge variety of manufacturers and built with every imaginable material or specification, and can comment on the quality of various instruments, as well as guide people through the flute-buying process. I'm willing and able to discuss various flute gadgets as well (Valgon rings, Foster extensions, etc.).
I am also glad to offer advice on how to approach difficulties within pieces of music, offer teaching tips to those who give lessons, provide suggestions for repertoire, as well as answer just about any other flute-related query you can throw at me! I'm also quite familiar with piccolo, alto, and other harmony flutes (including those in unusual keys, such as Eb flute, Db piccolo, G treble, etc.), and have experience building professional quality head joints.
Please note, however, that I am not an appraisal service, and will not provide estimates of value. Please do not ask me about the value of your flute.
Experience I'm a professional repair tech with years of experience, and a veteran high school band director. I've maintained a successful studio for private flute lessons for many years, and have performed professionally in just about any imaginable venue.
Education/Credentials I have bachelor's degrees in music education and performance from highly regarded universities, and have trained with one of the best flute techs/flute makers in the US.
Expert: Herbert Smith Date: 7/5/2008 Subject: Polishing
Question QUESTION: Hi there.
I managed to pick up a Yamaha 225SII today. This used flute is my 1st flute. It seems to play nicely, though I intend on having an oil & adjustment as it has not been to a tech for a number of years.
Anyway my question relates to the finish of the instrument. The silver plating has developed a line along where the flute has been stored in the case. It hasn't been played a lot in recent years. These marks are like a mild brown stain.
As I am new to flute ownership I would like to know how best to look after the silver-plating. Which products are best? Would I need to buy supplies from a flute specialist, or just from a regular music shop?
Many thanks,
Robin
ANSWER: Hey there, Robin!
Congrats on your new flute! You chose a great instrument to get started with, and I hope it brings you many years of enjoyment!
The best way to maintain the finish of your flute is with a polishing cloth meant specifically for musical instruments with a silver/silver-plated finish. These are available from virtually any music store for just a few dollars. Do not use commercial polishing cremes/powders, as they are far too abrasive for a flute, and can get into the mechanism and gum things up.
It's important to note, however, that even with special polishing cloths, there are some rules that you should follow:
-First of all, do not polish your flute excessively. You should have a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe it down after each play session (I like microfiber cloths for this), but do not polish it after every time you play. Regardless of what method you're using to polish your instrument, you're stripping small amounts of metal every time you polish it, which can actually cause long-term damage to a silver-plated finish (even very good plating like Yamaha does is still relatively thin). In any case, the microfiber will remove finger oils and other tarnish-causing agents, which will help retain the shine, so constant polishing should not be necessary anyway.
-Do not polish directly around the embouchure hole. As I mentioned above, every time you polish the instrument, you're stripping small amounts of metal. The embouchure hole determines how the instrument plays with regards to tone, response, flexibility, dynamic range, etc. and even very small changes in size/shape of the embouchure hole will affect all of these. It's fine to polish most of the lip plate....Just stay away from the very edge of the embouchure hole
-Do not try to jam the cloth under/around the keys, under the lip plate, or anywhere else that it does not want to go. Forcing the cloth into these areas can cause keys to bend or the lip to warp, which will mean that the flute will need attention from a tech.
On a different (but related) note, I would suggest brushing your teeth and washing your hands before playing in order to keep your flute at its best. Food particles can create tarnish problems, but mostly they affect the pads, creating stickiness and wear that would not be there otherwise. Washing your hands will reduce the amount of skin oils (which contain sulfur and cause tarnish) and other materials that find their way onto your flute, which in turn will reduce tarnish problems.
I hope this is helpful, and once again, congratulations on your new flute! If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Herbert
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QUESTION: Thanks for the speedy reply Herbert. I appreciate your time.
So is the polishing cloth enough for the removal of the brown mould-like stains that have built up over the years?
I am enjoying playing it so far - I like the idea of brushing teeth and washing hands before playing. I had not considered that before! Thanks for the tip :-)
Answer Hello again!
That polishing cloth should definitely be enough to take care of the brown marks. It's almost certainly just tarnish (I have the same model Yamaha, and it tarnishes to the same brown color), rather than mold...It takes quite a lot to get silver to develop mold. Because you say that the flute hasn't been played for several years, it may take a little extra elbow grease to get rid of the brown than it would if it had been polished last month, but it should come off with a little time and effort.
If, for some reason, you find that it won't budge (which I think is pretty unlikely), a good repair tech should be able to take care of it for you (using various chemical/ultrasonic baths, buffing machinery, and/or hand polishing combined with the above). However, tarnish is merely a cosmetic problem, and will not affect how the instrument plays, so if you can't get the brown off, I suggest leaving it until your flute's next scheduled trip to a tech. In my opinion, there's no reason to spend extra money on something that won't have any impact on your playing.
I'm glad I've been able to offer a bit of help, and wish you the best! I'll be glad to answer any other questions you may come up with!
