The Flute Dr
by Bobbi Prewitt
Sales 713-996-7993
Shop 713-996-9176
Cell 281-330-5983
Bobbi Prewitt is a flute repair specialist with Music and Arts.
Have a repair question for Bobbi?
Please submit Questions to theflutedr@houstonfluteclub.org
Change your Head Cork Once a Year
Questions have come up recently about when and how often to replace the cork in a flute head joint.
Should it be changed after I have been sick?
My flute has no volume, what could be the problem?
Yes, you should change it after being sick. It is impossible to get all of the moisture out of the head joint after playing. The remaining moisture soaks into the cork. If the cork is left moist the head joint can take on an odor and it could hold germs.
Yes, the head cork can cause a volume drop. This happens when the cork shrinks. Every time the cork gets wet and then dries up, it will shrink a little. After awhile the cork shrinks to a point where the air you put into the head joint goes in both directions. When the air goes in both directions, the flute then looses volume.
So the moral of the story is to change your head joint cork once a year. At that time the head joint will be washed to kill germs and remove any residue from the ‘spit’ that went into the tubing. Having a tight head cork will help keep your beautiful tone.
