by Elizabeth Watson, Headjoint Department Manager

Make sure that your headjoint fits your flute properly. A fit that is too loose will result in a weak sound, just as if several pads were leaking!

Keep the inside of the barrel clean, and also the headjoint tenon. Accumulated dirt will often damage one or both of these things. Nail polish remover is very good for removing gummy or sticky dirt, but use in a well-ventilated area, and sparingly---just enough to get the job done.

Check to see that the headjoint cork is in its proper position. There is a line around the end of your swab stick. (It should measure 17.3 mm or 0.681" from the end.) Place that end of the swab stick into the headjoint, with the stick touching the stopper, or cork assembly. Look at the embouchure hole, and observe where the line seems to be located. It should appear to be in the center. Now turn the headjoint around 180^o and look again. Is the line still in the center of the hole? Sometimes, depending on the lighting under which one observes the line, it gives the illusion of not being centered when observed from both directions. In that case, the cork should be placed so as to make the line appear off-center by the same amount when observed from both directions.

A headjoint cork should not be loose enough to move with only slight effort, but should be moveable with concentrated effort and care. To move the cork toward the embouchure hole, unscrew the crown a turn or two, leaving a space between the crown and the headjoint tube. Push the crown toward the tube. When the space disappears, you know that the cork has moved. Check its position with the swab stick. To move the cork away from the embouchure hole, tighten the crown and check the alignment with the swab stick to see if the cork has moved. The threaded rod positioned in the center of the cork will "climb" the threads inside the crown and pull it up. If you cannot get the cork to move this way, try to push the cork (be gentle!) from the inside with the blunt end of a wooden swab stick. Never force a cork assembly toward the very top end of the tube. The cork, and the metal fixture surrounding it (the assembly), is of a larger diameter than the top end of the headjoint where it is tapered. Severe damage may occur to the headjoint if the cork assembly is forced too far up the tube.

Avoid bumping into things with your flute. A dent or scratch on the embouchure hole, especially the blowing edge, may damage the headjoint beyond the point of restoration. A tiny nick in the blowing edge may cause the headjoint to play in an unfocused or unreliable manner. Be careful about wearing jewelry while handling a flute, rings or other jewelry, microphones; even orthodontic braces can mar the body, headjoint tube, and embouchure of the flute. Any time a metal ring comes into contact with the flute, especially a silver flute, there is a potential for scratches and nicks.

Take care in choosing your flute and headjoint. They not only represent a financial commitment, but an artistic one. A little care and diligence in the maintenance of your instrument will serve you long and well.
© Elizabeth Watson 1998