How to Deal with Crappy Instruments

[@jasminelav.332]

"Things You Learn Playing the School's Flute in High School"

[@jessicacyriaque3976]

My flute sucks so when I play at school my teacher stares at me like What's Happening to Your great flute skills you had last year! And when i play on my friends flute I sound awesome! I'm getting a free flute to borrow and keep in 3 yrs soon!!!

[@Atochabsh]

TAke your flute to the repair shop. It might be a minor fix, you never know.

[@katwatson007]

Oh man, tell me about it! I have been putting off getting my flute cleaned/oiled/adjusted since I got it August 2012! I'm FINALLY having Yvan in Montreal look at it TOMORROW. Before I head to Orford for the week. Way to go, me!

[@Atochabsh]

as a 20 year experienced repair tech, I can tell you that the brand of the instrument is all important. And the first thing to put to bed.....is that new instruments are in adjustment and play. They do not!!!!! When talking piccolos, no one really likes working on them, they are the "devil horn". BUT with patience and care a good repair tech can get a good piccolo up and playing. It might cost some money, most times pads need to be replaced. It's just a basic rule of thumb that the smaller the instrument the finer the adjustment needed. And Piccolos are the smallest. Frankly you are better off with an old all metal Bundy piccolo than some of the new Chinese brands sold on the internet. And from a repair point of view....the all metal piccolos are a bit easier to work with then the "wood" bodied ones.

[@broccolifireminecraft6367]

when you're a bassoonist and you are the only one. so you can't watch others.

[@cooperricard8843]

Baron Young omg same

[@DoubleDomino]

I wish I had watched this last year. I had to play a really old piccolo that was NEVER in tune. I also had to play it on a grade 5 piece... At the preformances, it was very out of tune, so I tried to play a little quieter, and it went even more out of tune. BTW, what model and brand of piccolo would you recommend?

[@alohakikadude]

Hello, and many thank yous for your insights. I am a guitar player who inherited a violin and a flute. I enjoy your energy and spirit. Big hug and Happy New Year.

[@megalomania29]

I own a 100$ flute, imagine how crappy it is :P. At least I can learn flute, it's better than nothing.

[@Atochabsh]

Not really. YOu have no idea how easy and rewarding flute is to play because you were set up for failure from the beginning.

[@Naiwaqp]

I have a $40 flute and somehow it's holding together, so I don't really know at this point lol.

[@ariana7332]

megalomania29 my flute was $58 but it plays pretty well :D

[@jayveeaurea9091]

Mine was a premiere $165 and it’s kind of descent although it’s open hole.

[@huskypuppypaws4850]

@@Atochabsh damn dude

[@shaniviolin1677]

My violin riddels a lot. I the middle of class it just riddels. So does my friends. Then someone's chin rest was lose. They fixed it thought.

[@heyitsbeppa4809]

My piccolo has problems with the d-f# range also! I haven't been able to find what's wrong, but I found that a more "concentrated" embouchure helps. (I am not sure how to describe it, but I mean tighten and focus on it more.) PS the video really helps! Thank you for making them!

[@kassieheartsflute]

Oh my gosh this was so relatable. Being a highschooler with a used flute and a school pic, I definitely have had to sit down and try to figure out my crappy instruments haha.

[@radiantxdreamer]

This is exactly the video i needed! Thank you so much Johanna!!

[@Mr.Altavoz]

really enjoy your videos... Started again playing the flute (bought me a Yamaha 311) for Christmas .. and now Iam looking for a mic... like to play mainly rock -blues jazz. Any advice ? thanks in advance

[@nolanmaisey]

On my crappy flute, I have to use the trill fingering for F# (the one on the second key of the right hand) to get it to sound nice.

[@welovemyramerciless3026]

practicing on crappy instrument is a must ! its when you practice most efficiently!

[@welovemyramerciless3026]

e.g. if you can totally control that 50 bucks double bass drum pedal and play anything you want at any tempo... you won't have any problems playing on a DW9002 aswell.

[@Hannah__794]

I was playing around with my friends new geminhardt and discovered how inferior my flute is. Hers takes less air to play in fact She says mine take a lot of air to play and it's heavier. My flute's brand name is pan. Any idea what could be the problem? Pls help

[@emmettborton5836]

I have a 50ish year old flute, the plate on the head joint is peeling off so their is a piece of tape to keep the airflow steady, the pads have been eaten by some bugs so I have a death grip when I play.

[@elijahtroutman7697]

It's a leak and you need to get it checked out

[@ineedachachabeat1886]

you should make videos on you picollo

[@NoodleyBits]

I have a Bundy piccolo (yeah, that was a big mistake) and that thing has never hit a note above the C two lines above the staff. I MIGHT hit the E/Eb if I press the keys so hard my finger tips turn white. It actually hasn't worked the same since it was accidentally dropped, but it was junk from the start.

[@kiaraeijo]

Bundy instruments are not good at all. I started with a Selmer Bundy flute and during the four and a half years that I played on it, it always had leaks and it was difficult to hit the lower register.

[@NoodleyBits]

+Kiara Eijo They're better with making brass than woidwinds.

[@kiaraeijo]

+FarfalleAlfredo I had no idea that they made brass instruments but I heard that they don't make flutes anymore

[@NoodleyBits]

Kiara Eijo One of the trumpet players in my band uses a Bundy trumpet and it is pretty awesome. However it is older when pretty much everything was better made. My old flute is about 25 years old and it's an Artley. I wouldn't buy an Artley now though, but the flute has done great for many years. Even at it's age it just needs some cleaning and maybe a pad or two

[@Atochabsh]

Bundy flutes and piccolos are not the best, but they are far better then most newer Chinese made instruments.

[@confusedflourbeetle4734]

The viola I borrowed from school had a massive crack down the back.

[@iYessicaH]

Plumbers tape!!! That's the answer to all your problems. lol My clarinet was $100 and it's not completely unfortunate sounding. I have a buffet mouthpiece) so that helps because the one that came with the instrument sucks. But anyway....plumbers tape. The pads and cork joints have started falling off and I've been "gluing" them with plumbers tape and it plays fine not too leaky.

[@mrlawilliamsukwarmachine4904]

beautiful. Reminds me when i tried to help my music teacher with her piccolo. i held it in my teeth to pull it...and left teeth marks in the body. :(

[@huskypuppypaws4850]

:(

[@Angela-kc1ee]

In our school band, we are just beginners and we tune using a different method.. like we pull out the head joint a certain amount (not all the way in) and I don't understand this way of tuning... I don't know how much to pull it out. He tells us to do the Bb scale and he says "push it in a bit " and "pull it out a bit".. I think that means my flute is sharp or flat. But I don't know whether to push it in or pull it out when it's flat and to pull it out or push it in when my flute is sharp. I know profressinals don't tune like this but if you understand this way of tuning, may you please explain to me?

[@1DriftingAimlessly]

If the flute is running sharp, you want to pull the head joint out, if you're flat you want to push in. The reason this works is because it changes the length tube, which changes how fair the air has to move. Good luck practicing :)

[@quinleyfawks1726]

Sofi, like the name. Sharp Out, Flat In.

[@ariana7332]

Angela Cen if you are sharp u pull ur head joint out a bit and if your flat u push in a bit

[@Aetohatir]

my saxophone is currently a little broken but I'm just too lazy to glue a piece back on so...

[@barbaragibson612]

You're not being creepy to watch your fellow musicians, you're conducting research! 😉

[@radiantxdreamer]

Opps Joanna*! Love you!

[@clockworkreads5273]

I spent about $1,600 on a flute (just a standard student's flute, hence the price) and then, over the course of a single year, I have spent around $300 on repairs. And it's not shiny any more. *cries in a corner* I need to find a way to shine it... Any suggestions?

[@laymeht]

use a silver or gold ring polish cloth. To really make it shine try using ring cleaner on one side of the cloth and apply that side to the flute like a ring, and then use the clean side to remove the polish and give it the finishing touch.

[@saraeunice30]

You look so stunning like always, fighting!

[@RollyPraise]

way you do not fill the instrument your self?

[@gaokelsey]

How do I deal with sticky flute keys? (It's a school instrument)

[@isaiahkaiawe9701]

Omg I know right!! I got my school flute and whenever I press some keys down, it makes that weird sticky noise. Apparently its build up water in the key's sponges, I have no idea how to get rid of it. I think the only way we can is if we go to the repair shop. ._.

[@LittleFugueFlute]

Powder paper is your magical answer. Most music stores will sell these packets of thin pieces of paper with powder on them that you insert in-between your keys to get the gunk out from the pads (you'll have to press the key down to do this -- pressing down lightly while sliding the paper out should do the trick). If your local music store doesn't keep this product in stock, try getting rice paper (the small papery sheets people use to blot facial oils) from a beauty store. If you need a quick emergency fix, a dollar bill should do the trick. However, using dollars won't last for long and won't fix the whole problem if you have a really bad stick.

[@markeagles7383]

You can buy pad-cleaners for about $15 AUD. I know really expensive but worth it. It sucks out the moisture in the pads. I hold in in for about 5 seconds.

[@Atochabsh]

get some baby powder and a dollar bill. Doesn't matter the demonimation. Lightly put some powder on the bill and with slight pressure put it between the pad and tone hole, and pull through. This is caused when people drink sugary drinks or chew gum and the sugars make the pads sticky.

[@froskonic1854]

Atochabsh, if you're currently using this method, I would highly advise you to stop. Using a dollar bill, baby powder, and pulling something out from under your pads can seriously damage your pads.

[@audrey4654]

My piccolo won’t go down to a low f to d any tips?

[@alohakikadude]

P.s. Now, I am going to watch you teach Mom...

[@RoadKing21-e1p]

I'm just learning flute I have a Buffet flute needs repair extensively looks like someone beat someone to death with it, anyways i have a Gemeinhardt student flute I'm using at the moment

[@willistaylor4077]

My first Flute, a school instrument, was absolutely rubbish. So, was the school piccolo, which I played half the time... 😜😢😜🤪

[@kayleealsip7080]

Can you do a video on how to tune the flute

[@ariana7332]

Kaylee Alsip to tune a flute, if your too flat you should push in your head joint and if your too sharp u should pull out ur head joint (you get a tuner it helps alot), if you are still flat and your head joint is all the way in then either change the way your blowing or one of your keys could be not closing complete (which you would have to take it to the shop)

[@ariana7332]

I typically tune my Bb

[@huskypuppypaws4850]

pencil sharpener rule

[@Kaiandherfloof]

My clarinet is giving me crap and I am so freaking DOONNEEEEEEE 😂

[@chantelrobins9800]

How do you tune a flute that's always flat and the head piece is all the way in

[@quinleyfawks1726]

Change your embouchure

[@pipledo5615]

Chantel Robins you might need to adjust the cork

[@ariana7332]

Chantel Robins either adjust the cork( check with your tuning rod if your cork is in the right place ) or change the way you blow your air, if those don't work then take it to the shop

[@kulydevreb7037]

Just tell myself "It's a middle school instrument & it's not me..."

[@TxRxAxP]

im gonna be in school in a week and im in band. I am gonna play the flute but im scared im gonna suck

[@misfitghoul5085]

Everyone sucks at first:)

[@pipledo5615]

Partyer I play flute, and my first 6 months I was last chair but then I went to first chair in 1 chair test, next year I made the best band

[@pipledo5615]

Partyer Good luck

[@WeAreEnglishCubers]

Poor Joanna!

[@ip82001]

This is so true 😂

[@timr3826]

“Enjoy the view?” Lol

[@jacksonrodriguez3056]

i play saxophone, ALL MY KEYS WIGGLE!!!

[@joanadiaz9690]

hello

[@williamadam6261]

CD enjoy the veiw

[@shaniviolin1677]

*though

[@kensleyvictor2732]

that making me think wrong right now

[@gensoumusic2145]

+Noooah (nryananan) omg you guys are dirty mind! xD

[@musicrase66]

I have a crack on the end joint of my flute..... Don't judge me

[@Hannah__794]

I really can't afford anything. I've never really been jealouse of the rich until now. All I want is a piccolo

[@RoadKing21-e1p]

lovely shoulders

[@shaniviolin1677]

*Rattles

[@ethanluu5641]

3:08

[@terribilisAmicus]

This helped me because my flute is $100 and thanks to this video I got far with it....still to lazy to go and buy a new one

[@genericide8231]

I have an idea to do these with other instruments. Oboe: Sucky reeds? Get new ones. End of story.

[@trevenaayman6183]

how to deal with my cheap flute P.S. it won't make any tunes!!