F.A.Q and Troubleshooting Woodwind family

Q. I am a learner starting to play the clarinet / saxophone, however I go red in the face and no notes come out.
A. When playing a reed instrument you need to get the reed to vibrate to create sound. If you look at the mouthpiece air is blown through this gap which makes the reed vibrate whilst it moves over the surface. What learners often do in their eagerness to play is to clamp their mouths tightly onto the mouthpiece and often close the gap. The correct posture is to hold the mouthpiece gently between the lips. The bottom lip covers the teeth whilst the top teeth rest on the mouthpiece. Sometimes the plastic can feel uncomfortable against the teeth. You can buy a small plastic / rubber patch to stick on the mouthpiece where the teeth would rest. This makes it more comfortable and reduces wear and tear on the mouthpiece.

Q. Some notes on my instrument don't appear to work.
A. It is a common problem with all woodwind instruments that gradually the keys move out of alignment. This is often because you have to hold the keys when you put the instrument together. The twisting action can move the keys. Over time the pads can wear and not seal properly (this can be reduced by cleaning and drying the instrument after use). All of these problems can create leaks of air which means that any notes from the offending key upwards will not sound. Although there will be teething problems with new instruments and damage caused by accidents, most of the problems relating to leaking air can be repaired and reoccurrence reduced by regular servicing. It is recommended to have a regular service (a form of M.O.T) on woodwind instruments every 9 months. This needs to be performed by a professional and we see our woodwind repairer weekly.

Q. The end section of my flute either spins round or falls off when playing.
A. A great deal of care needs to be taken when dismantling the flute. The tenon (the female part of each connecting joint) is quite fragile. When sections are removed they need to be kept horizontal so that the (both the head joint and the middle joint that connects to the foot joint) do not get curled over (pinched at the ends). This is what causes the foot or head joints to either get stuck or loosen. We have a machine which can stretch tenons to make the joints tighter but loosening joints would have to be performed by our repairer.