Where possible, try not to eat or drink prior to playing the flute as this will increase the amount of moisture in your breath. This can potentially affect the sound and cause excess moisture to accumulate in the instrument which may reach the pads.
When assembling the flute or taking it apart, take care not to put pressure on the keys as they can be easily damaged. Always grip it by part of the body or foot joint (end section) where there are no keys eg the underside or the barrel. (where the logo is stamped)
Make sure you don’t drop it as if the flute lands heavily on the key mechanism side you could be left with an expensive repair. Be careful not to clip the music stand or leave the flute lying around as it may get scratched.
Particularly ensure that the blowhole in the headjoint does not get scratched as this is finely crafted to produce the sound. The smallest change in the rim of the hole may impair the sound of the flute.
When you are not playing the flute always point it slightly downwards so that any moisture that has collected in the flute runs out of the end.
Although leaving the flute out (preferable on a flute stand) may encourage you to practice , it may also cause the flute to tarnish quicker, gather dust and cause it to be damaged accidentally.
