The Flute Mechanic

Brannen 🧡

Do my customers know how to shop for me or what?? 😍🚗 Thank you for the GTO Ann Partridge , this really brightened my day 💛

There's actually several gifts in this picture. I love being surrounded by things that people bring me. My workshop is a happy place that I always have gratitude and love for, and it's easy to see why. I'm surrounded by it, thanks to my wonderful clients and friends 💗

A freshly adjusted gold Muramatsu sounds as good as it looks 😍🧡

Wishing everyone a super fun and memorable NFA convention in Portland! Though I typically attend NFA every year, I'm taking this year off for several events that conflict with the NFA schedule- one of which is the wedding of a dear friend of mine, who just happens to be the person who first trained me in piccolo making and repair! So obviously, I'm not about to miss that ❤️😄 Though I won't be at the convention, I've got plenty of fun flute adventures planned for the fall and winter, so stay tuned! 🎶

Now that this very rare cocus Brannen piccolo has your attention...

I wanted to share an updated schedule PSA! I am booking into November and December for COAs, and due to high demand, my next overhaul appointments are for 2028. Thanks to all of my amazing clients 💓 I am forever thankful for each and every one of you for your continued support and your trust in my work! Thank you for believing in what I do and the way that I do it. I will never stop aspiring to be my very best for you. All of you inspire me and keep me going, every single day!

Additional PSA: Repair Scheduling Tips

This isn't just for my shop, this goes for anyone seeking professional grade service for their flute. If you are playing regularly, virtually every manufacturer of quality instruments recommends an annual clean, oil, adjust (COA) service.

A COA isn't repair, but rather, it is maintenance. Repair is when you are reactively fixing something after it breaks. Maintenance is where you proactively take care of things before they can become a problem. A COA maintains a high level of performance for your instrument by keeping up with adjustments and pad replacements from year to year. That way, instead of a reactive approach to keeping your flute working, it's a proactive approach, which reduces stress and makes it so that your flute is something you don't have to worry about. Imagine that! I know that's what I love for myself, so even I make room for a COA on my flute every year. I know not everyone is able to do that, and I totally understand, but for professionals that depend on their instrument to make their living, and for serious students who are looking to advance in their programs and in their careers, it's one of the most important investments that you can make. As most of us know, the condition of your flute can make or break your performance. Although things can still happen unexpectedly, with regular maintenance at a high quality and experienced shop, these types of incidents are very few and far between. I can't even remember the last time that I worried about my flute performing well, and my goal is for my clients to feel the same way.

You might be thinking, "But Rachael, how can I get my flute maintained regularly when you're booked so far out?" Do not worry, dear reader, I have a solution for you. First of all, most shops worth their salt are booked at least a few months out at a time. This completely normal, and this isn't just a TFM thing, this is a general tip for any fancy flute shop that you might choose to go to, especially if they are an artisanal one-person shop like me. So, knowing that, players can simply plan accordingly and plan their maintenance at least a few months before they're going to want it done. The most high demand times for flute repairs and maintenance are during the summer months, and in the early winter months, for the same reasons: a lot of people have a break in their playing schedule during that time, and it's a convenient time to be away from their flute for service. If you're thinking that a summer or early winter COA would be convenient, I recommend booking extra early, as there's going to be lots of others thinking the same thing!

"But what if I have an emergency??" I have more good news for you: when your instrument is well maintained consistently by the same shop, emergencies are not only much more rare, but when they do pop up, it's much easier for a shop to fit a flute into the schedule that they've thoroughly gone over already and have a solid service history on. Then, the tech knows that they are likely only going to be fixing the emergency problem, not opening Pandora's box! A flute repair technicians' time is their most critical resource. When the times for services are as predictable as possible, it allows us to help more people and be more flexible for emergencies. So if your flute gets its regular checkups, not only will you not usually have to worry about that sort of thing, but if something does happen, it's much easier to get on the books for an emergency repair at your favorite place.

One final tip: If there is consistently a time of year where you can be without your flute for service, my recommendation is to go ahead and book the next appointment as soon as you can. I have people that book their next year's appointment right after their COA, just so they have the time reserved. This is especially recommended for the summer folks, as the summer months book up so quickly! I've already got summer 2027 appointments booked, just to give you an idea. I think of it like a dentist's office. After you get your teeth cleaned, they will often have you set up your next cleaning 6 months later, and this keeps scheduling stress-free and consistent.

Booking is easy on my website, www.theflutemechanic.com. I am technologically challenged, so this is a big achievement for me 😂 I hope this will make scheduling easier for all of my wonderful clients! If you have any questions about scheduling or pricing, there's lots of info on my site about all of that as well.

Anyway, isn't this piccolo gorgeous?? What a gem! It was a treat to have it in the shop!