Welcome to the dead of Winter. Brrr!!! For some, this is one of the most difficult times of the year. The weather is still super cold, and the days are still short (and dark) due to Daylight Savings. To make matters worse, for most woodwind players, the cold weather can wreak havoc on our instruments. Wood-based flutes and piccolos face the most imminent danger as differences between the temperature outside of the instrument and the temperature inside the instrument may cause cracks in the wood. If you ever had to pay the financial and emotional cost of repairing a cracked piccolo during these frigid months, you will understand the lessons in today’s blog better than a few casual words of warning. What exactly can we do to guard against the challenges cold weather brings to our delicate instruments? In this blog, we will dive deeper into what causes cold weather damage and what we can do to prepare for winter’s wild thermometer dances.
For wood piccolos and flutes, it is first important to understand the nature of cracks and why they occur. When wood is exposed to a cold, dry environment, the exterior, or in the case of piccolos and flutes, the outside bore, shrinks. Meanwhile, when we play our instruments under these conditions, we introduce warm, moist air to the inside of the bore. This causes the interior bore to expand faster than the cold exterior allows. The wood cracks under this pressure faster than Anxiety cracked under the pressure of a hockey game in Inside Out 2. Yikes!
It is also important to note that the cold weather can affect the shellac used to hold the pads to the keys, making the adhesive brittle, and potentially causing the pads to fall off the keys when you least expect it. This sadly happened to me shortly before a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. In my terrified, high school mind, I decided in a panic to reattach the pad with bubblegum to survive the performance. Although this did work in the moment, I do not recommend it as a long-term solution as it can seriously destroy your pads.
Tip #1: Give your flute and piccolo more layers in the cold winter months. Just like we add layers of sweaters, coats, hats, and gloves in the winter, our instruments require the same care. If you usually use a case with less padding, you may instead opt for a BAM case when the temperature dips below freezing. For any standard hard flute cases, you can add an exterior case cover such as a ROI Flute Pouch and carry your instruments in an insulated gig bag such as a Crescendo Flute/Laptop Backpack.
Tip #2: Avoid leaving your instrument in your car. Especially overnight! This is like an invitation for the cold to destroy your flute and/or piccolo in its sleep. Even if you are going to a restaurant for a nice dinner or even just grabbing a quick coffee, bring your instrument with you to keep it safe and warm.
Tip #3: Although it is relatively safe to warm up metal flutes and piccolos with a warm breath of air, avoid this practice for wood instruments. This will cause the wood inside the bore to warm up faster than the outside of the instrument (hello, cracks!). Metal does not react in the same way and instead can promote even warming with a few warm breaths. Instead….
Tip #4: For wood piccolos and flutes, warm up the instrument gradually by keeping it close to your body. This could mean placing safely in the inner pocket of a suit jacket or a sweater. You can also start by placing just the headjoint under your arm for a gradual warm up. In the alternative, I recommend investing in one of my very favorite products, The PiccPocket (not sponsored – I just love this device). The PiccPocket is like a crossbody, fanny pack that keeps the piccolo in a padded pocket that you wear close to your body. Not only does this product allow you to transport your piccolo effortlessly between the greenroom and the stage, but it also keeps it warm in frigid backstage conditions.
Tip #5: Always swab the inside of your instrument to keep moisture away from the wood. In the winter, this could mean swabbing multiple times during a rehearsal or concert. A great product to carry with you during the winter months is an Altieri Piccolo Wand which easily and discreetly fits on a music stand for quick swab breaks between pieces. Another super handy product that can help quickly remove moisture mid-rehearsal without having to take your flute apart is the Take Down Microfiber Pouch Flute Swab from Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company. This genius cleaning rod can hang easily from a music stand in its sleek carrying case and can be assembled to quickly swab the entire length of a flute.
Tip #6: Avoid keeping your instrument out when not in use. Although you may be practicing in a warm studio space, an open door or window can easily cause the temperature of the room to plummet, exposing your instrument to the cold air. If you have leaky windows or tend to practice in a school practice room with totally sus heaters, it is best to put your flute in its case to keep it safe and warm when you are not playing it.
Tip #7: Avoid using a heater or heat lamp to warm up wood piccolos and flutes. This again exposes your instrument to temperature extremes, increasing the likelihood of cracks. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Tip #8: If you have to play outside for marching band or early spring outdoor concerts, opt for a metal or composite flute and/or piccolo. I recommend the Guo brand of composite-based instruments for such an occasion. This keeps your wood instruments safe and sound from the extreme cold and any possible cracking. It also ensures that you can safely warm your instrument up with a few warm puffs of air.
What are your best techniques to keep your flutes and piccolos safe and warm during the winter months? Have you ever experienced a cracked piccolo or rebel piccolo pads? What flute/piccolo gear do you rely on when the temperature dips below freezing?
Happy fluting and piccolo-ing! Stay warm!
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About the Author, Rachel Taylor Geier:
Rachel Taylor Geier holds a DMA in Flute Performance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, an MM in Flute Performance from San Francisco State University, and a BM in Music Performance from DePauw University. Former applied instructors include Immanuel Davis, Linda Lukas, Anne Reynolds, and Rhonda Bradetich. Dr. Geier currently teaches and freelances in Davis, California and hosts a popular Flute Friday Blog Series.
