Hi Guys. I am taking a long vacation and I am wondering whether it is possible to learn flute repair by myself.

I have an old flute that is just too costly to repair and I want to make it my prototype. Can you recommend books or any other sources where I can get these info?

There are a couple of resources for this. Of course, the best way to learn is to actually have a person teach you, but failing that, books may help. Jonathon Landell has a repair booklet and tool kit for sale (I believe buying the tool kit gets you the booklet). The book by itself is $25 and the kit $250. He also teaches several classes throughout the year ranging from repadding and COA work all the way to actually building your own flute or headjoint. I attended one of these just recently and had a terrific time. Burkart's "The Complete Guide to the Flute and Piccolo" also has a section on repair, if I'm not much mistaken. I don't know how in depth they go, but that's a good book to read anyway.

I believe Micron normally has a book her recommends.

I agree that a hands on approach is probably the best way to learn. A great friend of mine recently took two years of flute repair classes and has become very good at flute repair. She did some minor work for me when she was home on a holiday and explained some of the way her classes were taught. For instance, her first 2 weeks we spent finding leaks with only cigarette paper. No lighting or those type of techniques, it had to all be by feel. It was also very interesting looking at all of the different thinknesses of shims for flute. You wouldn't think a leak as thin as a piece of tissue paper or less would cause problems, but it was amazing that a leak could be fixed that easily.

Ack! Edit feature gone...

Micron has a book HE recommends.

Yep....That's the kind of minute, precise work a repair tech does, though. It's terribly interesting (at least to me), but then I've always been interested in taking things apart and putting them back together so that they work better.

The reason I ask is because I want to understand how things are done during repair. I found out that I am actually very dumb about flute the last time my flute got repadded. The technician at Yamaha explained a lot to me about why they need to change/do certain things like changing cork or re-aligning. It sparks interest in me.

Actually, most people don't really have a clear idea of what's involved in flute repair, or why it needs to be done (so you really aren't that dumb about flutes), but it's great that you're interested. I think that the more you know about the flute, the more capable you become as a musician, because you start to understand exactly what's happening when you press that key, and it gives you a whole new insight.

Agreed with Micron on Reg's book.

But know that it contains more than just flute repair info...

But it's worth it..

Joe B

Agreed with Micron on Reg's book.

But know that it contains more than just flute repair info...

But it's worth it..

Joe B

Echo...Echo... Sorry...sorry...

Joe B