I have a flute that sat in storage for 8+ years(and was I storage for 6+ years before that, since it was only used briefly, and I brought it out for the first time and it is covered in green marks that I assume to be corrosion and not mold(no smell and the case it was in seems fine no visible signs of anything)

What can I do to clean it up/make it playable? I have silver polish from my brass instruments but not sure if that will help here. Should I just find some local repair shop? Am I cooked?

Thanks in advance

I’ll try to keep this explanation as brief as it can be. I am primarily a saxophonist and I owned this flute for doubling. I was never excellent at the instrument, especially upper register was very hard, but was told by another saxophonist that it was in great condition. It is a Gemeinhardt 30SHB, bought used a few years ago. Haven’t done anything to pads or anything. I was also taught by an adjunct flute professor who never questioned the quality of the instrument. All key action seems good.

I had a person come try it today and she seemed very dissatisfied. She expressed that she usually plays with hole plugs on two holes in particular and was sad I didn’t have them. She played a few chromatic runs that sounded fairly airy, and quickly hit me with “I’ll get back to you…” and “sorry…” so it really seemed like she thought it wasn’t worth it. I asked her if there was anything directly wrong to her and she looked it over and says “maybe the pads?” I’m here to see if anyone can spot anything wrong at all. I really don’t want to scam anyone but it seems like a solid instrument. I’m not sure how much this person knows about flutes and I also don’t know much myself.

TL DR:
Do you see anything clearly wrong, specifically with the pads?

I haven't experimented much, so I wonder if there's a generally set fingering most people use who have studied this piece.

Just thumb+2? thumb+2+5?

Hello!! I played the flute from 3rd grade through 12th grade. I took flute lessons for many years. In high school, I did marching band and wind ensemble. It was a great outlet! I have many fond memories from band.

College happened and I perused a science degree and flute ended up in my parents’ basement. Those dang science GEs just took up all of my free time.

Health events and then professional school…. I haven’t played the flute in 14 years. Of course I’m scrolling through IG and see all of these fun and creative flute reels. It sparks my interest again. I need some advice.

1. Should I pick up the flute again for fun? I have hypermobile fingers (I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and have had thumb surgery. I’m just concerned about my thumb and tolerating the flute playing. Is there anything I can do on my end to prevent hyperextension and subluxations that is safe for my flute?

   edit to add - I have also had shoulder surgery.

2. My flute hasn’t been used in at least 14.5 years. Is it best to take it to a music store and get it cleaned and back into shape? It’s been kept in a temp controlled basement and I always took good care of it in school.

3. I need to refresh my memory on a lot of things with the flute. Any helpful resources?

I apologize if I didn’t put the correct flair on it. I figured most of my questions are regarding flute playing as a hypermobile person.

Thanks! I appreciate all the help.

Help, this middle key (F# key?) is down and I cannot figure out what screw etc is associated with it to adjust the key? Help!

This is the place to promote yourself! Whether it's a performance you are proud of, offering teaching, or anything else flute related.

I don’t understand how to do it? Can someone demonstrate it for me?

Seven bars after rehearsal number 44 in Humperdinck’s opera Hänsel und Gretel, there is a trill (marked in yellow by me) in the second flute part that strikes me as rather odd. (Picture 1)

In both editions of the full score available to me, the second flute does not play a trill at this point. (Picture 2 & 3)

I was wondering whether there are any flautists on this forum who have performed the opera, or are still performing it, and could tell me whether they play a trill at this point or not.
Thank you!

I'm looking to upgrade my flute, and have been going in circles a little bit about which features I should be considering for buying my first open hole flute.

For context, I've been playing since grade 8 (20+ years) and have had the same flute that a member of my wind symphony found at a yard sale for $50. It is a Yamaha YFL-225N, a series 2 entry level student flute with a C foot, closed holes, and and offset G key. It has served me well, but I have needed an upgrade for years and I wasn't playing enough to justify it. I have always had a physical problem with some notes in my higher register, high e natural specifically, which I did try to have fixed in university but never really improved (I can easily play high register notes on other flutes).

I know that this flute would need a full overhaul of pads and alignment possibly, and I would rather use this as a time to upgrade into putting money into repair. I'm not looking for recommendations for a specific flute to buy, but I am looking for anything to consider when it comes to an open hole that might help me narrow down the ones to try.

If I am coming from an offset G key should I continue with the same, or would there be a benefit at all to choosing an inline G? I know I want something that will come with included plugs, and a B foot, and I know there will be a learning curve moving to open hole, but are there any other deciding factors that I'm missing?

It also doesn't matter to me if it ends up being another decent quality student flute or something intermediate, but considering something in the 1000-3000 dollar range but don't know if that is unreasonable or not. I'm also in Canada, and will be purchasing from Long and Mcquade if there are any suggestions for specifics to test out. I know it will ultimately be based on my own playing and preference!

So i got this flute from a second hand in Netherlands, Tilburg. It didn't have any marks accept the price tag. Gemini and ChatGpt told me it was a turkish or Syrian but both answers were wrong. I hope reddit can identify it. Thank you!

Hello, I am EXTREMELY new to to instruments and want to try the flute. I have never played a flute and the closest thing was a recorder in the 5th grade. I want to purchase an entry level flute and my budget is around 100$ give or take. I’m aware most of the options won’t be the best but that’s really all I am willing to spend right now. If anyone could suggest a brand or certain flute I should get I would greatly appreciate it!

Hi! One week ago, I asked for advice for my upcoming performance of Colors of the Wind and I got a lot of great advice! And thanks to all the advice I got my playing improved a lot. This is how the performance turned out!!

I’m very proud, even though it has its rough moments and my breathing wasn’t just how I wanted it. But still!! Honestly the thing I’m most proud of is that I was brave enough to actually do it!

So thank you r/flute, it wouldn’t have sounded this good without you!

I'm considering buying and Audigo to record wooden flute performances. Mostly on the go (I travel a lot... and love recording in nature). I currently use a Rode N1 at home, which works great but it's bulky. I also have a Tascam X6 which is pretty good but I wonder if the Audigo would be better.

I was so excited to see Pavane pour une infante défunte on the RCM Grade 2 Flute exam list - (The Marcel Moyse arrangement). Over a period of two weeks I carefully entered the accompaniment into MuseScore Studio to create the backing track, all the while starting to attack playing it (solo).

When I finally could play with the piano backing - ouch. I'm flat, I'm sharp, my upper second register first notes split and don't speak right away.

I recorded myself and it is too painful to hear this beautiful piece slaughtered half way through. That's it. I died trying.

Think I'm going to go for the Elizabeth Raum, "Flowers" work instead. It has a tiny hint of Celtic and flows very nice. Achievable just might revive my "dead spirit".

I listen to this no less than 8 times per day, it’s just so stunningly beautiful. Yubeen Kim is currently the principal flutist for the San Francisco Orchestra.

Hello, I am visiting Skopje and I would like to purchase a good real duduk (not a souvenir), I am amusician and I like to learn to play traditional woodwind instruments from around the world. I found this item in doremi store https://doremi.mk/index.php?route=product/product&product\\_id=951 and I wanted to know if it is a good option. Thanks in advance for any guidance with traditional woodwinds from around this area :)

I don't even know what flair I should add

Just started doing mouse's exercises in my daily routine.

I have heard that tone and sound volume takes a while to develop.

Is it true?

Some of the exercises leave me very tired and out of breath. Should I just keep practicing and wait to improve my sound and endurance?

Tuba girlie here coming in peace!

My friend wants to sell her Piccolo and I need help gathering some information.

Here's what I know:

• Gemeinhardt brand
• All wooden - grenadilla?
• sterling silver hardware and keys
• Purchased new in 2007 for ~$1k
• "LTD 352" engraved under the logo
• Plays fine, we had it taken to our local shop for an estimate (hasn't been used in years)

Questions:

• What is the model? I couldn't quite find this exact one in my searches. Could be a 4w?
• Is $860 to refresh the instrument crazy or should we get a second opinion?

Any info or insights on this is greatly appreciated as I figure out how to sell it.

This is an improvised solo with a Latin-jazz feel. What do you think?

Anyone got tips on how to hit the high G better on piccolo? Somehow I could hit all the way to high Ab and Bb, but couldn’t hit my G? Is it something wrong with my instrument or am I just blowing wrong? 🫩

Or rather what does this mean under the met marking?

This is the ending of Beethoven Symphony No. 5 4th mvt if you're curious.