I used to play the flute. I started, as most kiddos do, in the 4th grade. The Weiser music teacher Mr. Frank Aspiri did some testing for each student to see where they might have natural ability. He held a flute head piece to my lips and told me to try to make a sound. And there was sound! So that was my instrument. Well, at least until junior high when a took up the trombone. More about that another time.
Anyway, my daughter is majoring in vocal music performance and physics at Boise State, and she needs to add to her instrument familiarity. She chose flute. So, I rounded up one of the flutes I have loaned to students over the years. A Yamaha open-hole version. The first flute I played. It’s REALLY old. More than 40 years. And sure looked it when I opened the case. Can you see how tarnished it is? It’s silver-plated and that happens over time.
I ordered some small polishing clothes and a dental care kit and got to work, using the dental instruments wrapped in the cloth to get to all the small areas.
I spent about two hours, only stopping to take photos when I tackled the foot piece. A little cleaner in the photo above. And the photo below showed when I decided it was good enough for now.
Some other minor repairs are still needed, but I will have to take it in for professional care for that. In the meantime, it’s fun to hear my kiddo try to figure out how to play.
~Debbie