Scenario:
A diligent flute student is busy practicing and the phone rings, she sets her flute on the kitchen table to answer the phone. The call is for her and she goes around the corner for a little privacy. Her sisters boyfriend is there, and he decides to examine her flute more closely. He picks it up and notices what he thinks are loose screws. A quick scan of his surroundings helps him find the tool that will allow him to accomplish his good deed for the day. He grabs the fork left on the table from an after school snack and begins to tighten all the adjusting screws on the flute, the very same adjusting screws that the diligent student has just paid $75 to have professionally adjusted. Her phone conversation ends just in time to see her sister’s boyfriend finishing with the last screw. Needless to say she has had better days.
This scene could have been avoided if this diligent student had followed one simple rule that is relayed to our customers on a regular basis, that is: If your instrument is not in your hands in should be in your case. It would seem that this rule would just be accounted to common sense but we see too many crumpled bells and warped flutes to trust that rule to common sense.
In order for students of music to have a complete education in their particular discipline it is necessary that they be taught how to properly handle and maintain their instrument. If they are unable to play their instrument due to a well meant adjustment with a fork how are they going to be able to pursue the study of their instrument. If we can help students understand the importance of taking responsibility for handling and maintaining their instrument they will be more able to progressively pursue their music education.
