I brought my flute 4 years ago in South Korea where it's really dry, then it was in Vietnam for 2 years where it's humid and now it's in Melbourne, Australia.

It's been playing up alot, and hasn't be serviced for about a year. I have given it to my flute teacher to fix, and it broke almost instantly again.

It's mostly my lower notes, and they only work when I go up, and not down - its the strangest thing.

I think there a leaky pads, and i've had problems before with screws coming loose, rods out of place, and i've dinted it a couple of times (and had it fixed).

Is this my flute running out of puff and I need a new one, or does it just need to be looked at by a professional.

You do not mention the model, brand or type; anyway I am not an expert, but in my case when my old M2 reached a similar condition where it failed frequently, I bought a better instrument and had the M2 repaired and kept it as a second instrument (for holidays trips, for instance).

I have a 13 year old yamaha which is in impeccable condition (just serviced, 2 new pads) so unless you've damaged it in an irrepairable way, a good service should sort it out. Yamaha is a solid and dependable brand.

If you have leaking problems, then it's probably just a case of new pads needed - and until you get a technician to look at it, you can't really know if it's worth fixing or not. But that's certainly the first call - rather than suggesting you buy a new flute! That's a bit like buying a new car when the windscreen wipers fail!

i think it probally just needs a good looking over from a proffesional, my teacher ues 30 yearold yamaha and i sounds great still, i would take it to the local tech and so what theysay needs doing then take it to anothr ad ask what they say, then you have 2 opinions on what nees work and you can take it to the one which you think will get you the best service for you money, alos see if you teacher can recommend you a ech, it just needs a bit of tlc, as yammys are built to last