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Question: Band Geeks! HELP!!?
I am in Marching Band (The best in the Metro Area, too) and for the last two days of practice outside it has rained A LOT! I play the Flute and the pads are okay!. I need tips on cleaning it!. Near the bars is build up for the few years I have had it and also need to know how to dry the pads faster!. I have used the Hair dryer and I have sat it out on a towel all night; anything else I could do!?

So the Questions are:
How to clean it!?
And
How to dry the pads faster!?

Thanks!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
get padsavers AKA shuv its
you stick them inside the instrument before you case it up & they pull moisture off the pads!. cost maybe $20!.00

if the shuv its get too damp you can dry them with the hairdryer (with heat) lol!Www@QuestionHome@Com

wow, when it rains when we practice outside, all of the woodwinds have to run and put our instruments in the cases, and just do a fake horns up until the rain stops!.

well, i play clarinet, so i have no idea how to take care of a flute!.!.!.!.
i guess if using the hair dryer works, go for it!. lol

whenever my instrument gets wet, i wipe it out w/ a swab, then wipe down the keys, then leave it in the case to dry out over nite!.

but if i were you, i'd either ask your band director what you should do, or go to a music shop and ask them what would be best!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They sell special pads for marching band!. The sound quality isn't as good, but they do hold up better during the marching season!.

As for trying to dry the regular pads, just leave your flute out in an open area!. Don't use a hair dryer because that can mess up the metal (heat is bad)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There is NO HOPE for flute pads once they get wet!. You are talking about a repad job - which is NOT CHEAP!. You need to play something else during marching season - maybe bells, or utility percussion!.

If you cannot tell, after your pads dry out, that the flute SERIOUSLY is playing terribly - then there is no point discussing this!. You might as well get a length of broom handle and paint it silver! NOE NOE NOE of my fine flute students play flue in marching band - and our is one of the best in the STATE (big state, too!)!. Alway top rating, gold with distinction!. They all do something else, like percussion or flags, etc because band is fun - but their practice on flute gets them into All-State!.

So - I may not have answered your question exactly, beacause you needed to hear THIS instead!.Www@QuestionHome@Com