marylandmom3

How much damage can a flute have before it needs to be replaced? My D is a freshman music ed major. This past weekend she went to visit her grandparents about 3 hours away from her college. Her roommate (they are not really friends, but get along okay) had a guy friend up in their room who was drunk. She claims she left him alone for just a few minutes...she thought he was a sleep. He want on a rage and totally destroyed their room, broke the window out, etc. Of course, we think there is a lot more to this story than what the roommate is telling. The police were called. He was arrested. He is not a student at the college. He was from her roommate's hometown. My D had left her flute on her desk in the case and in the carrying bag. It appears that he probably picked up the flute and banged it repeatedly against something. She had other things damaged but of course, this is the most important to her. Her flute professor, who is absolutely wonderful, looked at it yesterday and made a list of all the damages and called the repairman we use. (I think she is as upset as I am that this happened to my D.) My D took it to FedEx had it packaged and overnighted. Apparently many keys are bent, many dents in the headjoint, and the BFoot? (I'm not a music person, so I think I have it right) will need to be replaced. Fortunately the guy's parents have talked to my daughter and said they will pay for everything. The repair place will send an estimate of the charges to his mom and she will make the payment. My H and I were talking this morning and wondering at what point are the damages so extensive that it is better to just replace the flute, from a musician's perspective not from a money perspective. The flute is a professional Muramatsu. It is four years old. My D bought it with money that her grandmother left her when she passed away. I know her flute professor will probably be able to tell me. I don't want to bug her again. She has been wonderful talking to us and helping and supporting my D that I don't want to become a pest.

violadad

I'm sorry this happened to your d. Being a string parent, I have no idea of the cost of a professional quality flute, but I do know I'd be hard pressed to come up with replacement costs for son's primary viola.

This underscores the need for instrument insurance for any serious musician, or those with instruments of significant dollar values. Most homeowners policies will accept instruments on a rider, but the key here is that if the instrument is used professionally, most homeowner's policies will not honor a claim. It pays to have a policy from a company specializing in instrument insurance.

Having said that, I would not hesitate to contact your d's flute instructor again if you want to verify or discuss specific damage and the repair assessment. I'm sure that given the circumstances, it would not be viewed as an imposition. It's another trained set of eyes and an assessment as to whether repair versus replacement is the way to go.

Good luck.

deb922

I am so sorry that this happened to your D. A professional Muramatsu is a very very nice flute. I don't think that you will be "bugging" her flute teacher to ask more questions, flutist are very attached to their flutes and she is very aware of what your D is going through.

If I were you I would contact the people at Murmatsu MuramatsuAmerica I'm sure that they would have some idea how to proceed from this. Another contact that you might call is fluteworld Flute World

Good luck and I am so sorry that this happened.

BassDad

Wife is a flutist. I feel your pain.

Muramatsu silver flutes generally run in the $2500 to $8000 range, depending on model and options. They also make gold and platinum instruments in the $12k to $30K range, but if it were one of those I do not think you would be contemplating replacement. As a point of reference, a complete overhaul (partial disassembly, cleaning, replacement of certain parts that wear including pads and springs, reassembly, alignment, testing - sounds like a brake and tire job, no?) by an experienced flute mechanic will run $800 to $1000. From what you describe, this flute is going to need a good deal more repair work than a complete overhaul would entail.

If we are talking about an EX model or similar at the low end of their range, then replacement may be in the same price range as repair and it should be quicker. Because there are few options available on that model (basically inline or offset G key and split E or not) you can probably find a dealer with an exact replacement in stock.

Mid-level models like the GX add wall thickness and C# trill options, so you will have to get lucky to find the exact model that you want in stock. High end models like the GS have even more options and may even have to be special ordered.

A lot of the decision comes down to how much you trust your repairman. Can you trust their work, particularly on the head joint and the key mechanism, to bring the flute back to something close to what it used to be? This is not a job for someone who dabbles in flutes as a sideline to their clarinet business - you want a flute specialist and probably one who works regularly on Miramatsu instruments.

If you are contemplating a used instrument, never buy one that you cannot examine closely and play before purchasing. Realize that high-end used instruments sometimes sell for more than the retail price of the same model new instrument, because you know exactly what you are getting in terms of sound and response and you can get the instrument immediately instead of having to wait anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years for it to be built.

I agree with violadad. Do not feel that you are imposing on the teacher. Ask her whatever questions that come up.

marylandmom3

Thanks for your help. We will talk more to her professor after we get the estimate. The money part of it isn't really the issue. The flute was insured through an extra rider on our homeowners. It think it is an "AD" which I don't think they make anymore. It was appraised at 6000. It is covered. We made sure of this when she originally got the flute and we talked to the insurance again about it when she took it to college. I really think his parents will pay for the repairs or replacement. But if not the insurance will cover it. My D has already told his mom the value of the flute.
I just want to make sure if the flute is going to be the same if it is repaired or if we really need to look at replacing it. I know my daughter is very attached to it and it wouldn't be her first choice to replace it. She loves her flute. On the other hand I don't want to say repair it and she gets it back and it just isn't the same.
Thanks again. I won't hesitate to call her professor again. I just didn't want to be a pest about it. I know she is busy.

cathymee

marylandmom3
D owns and plays a Miramatsu also, in that same price range. I'm relieved to hear you are covered by the insurance rider. Although D now lives in the St Louis area, the flute was purchased and has been repaired (but never to that extent) here in the NY area by a very reputable person,known worldwide.Is your D at U or Maryland dealing with the flute studio professor there? If so, he is quite knowledgeable and I would trust his judgement on a repair person in Maryland/Virginia/Washington DC. If you want the name/number of the NY guy,PM me.

stringfollies

So sorry for your D. What a nightmare for a musician!!

lorelei2702

Our All-State homeowner's policy has a rider on it for my son's instruments and bows which allows for professional use. So it can be done, if you are up front about it.

Sorry to hear about the situation. ANother issue would be if it will be as much loved once it is repaired, the emotional association with the experience as well as whether it will truly seem like the same instrument. A repair person with extensive experience should be able to address the latter issue. Good luck.

BassDad

FYI,

Muramatsu America sells used flutes, including AD models. http://www.muramatsu-america.com/usedflutes_m.pdf lists several in the $3800 to $5500 range that may still be available for immediate delivery if you choose to replace. It is not unusual for appraisals to come in a little high. I am pretty sure they will let you buy one on approval and send it back for a refund if you do not like it.

CountingDown

What a terrible violation. Of an instrument, of her personal space, of her security, of trust in her roommate. Is your D considering moving to another dorm room?

My niece intends to be a music major (flute). Those instruments are like an additonal body part.

thumper1

>>I really think his parents will pay for the repairs or replacement.>>

I'm glad you added this piece of information. If HE doesn't pay, then I would ask the roommate who let this individual into the room.

I don't know anything about flute repair...but it sounds like the others above do. I think between the repair estimate, and the flute teacher's advice, you will know what to do. I'm so sorry for your instrumentalist who has to deal with this happening. Does the university have a loaner she can use while hers is either being repaired or replaced?

marylandmom3

Our D attends the Univ. of Tennessee. My H and I are both Maryland graduates and avid fans. D always said that she was going to Maryland. She couldn't imagine being anything else but a Terp. I made her visit other colleges because of the competiveness of being a flute music major. Tennessee was the first school we visited it and she fell in love with it. We followed the advise on CC and she did a lesson. She seemed to click with the Prof. at UT. So she is at UT, eight hours away, but her flute is being shipped back to Maryland. There are actually 3 different people that are qualified to work on her flute in the DC area now. Apparently at one time there were none. All three have worked on her flute. Her private teacher here prefers one but the Prof. at UT wanted her to use another one. So she went with what her Professor was telling her to do. All three have a good reputation. I guess it is just a matter of personal preference.

She is making arrangements to move to another room. She can't take her flute with her everywhere so she needs to be where she feels it is safe.

Her printer was destroyed and his parents had one overnighted to her today. She says it is much nicer than the one she had. They are quickly replacing anything that was destroyed or damaged. So at least that part so far has been easy. Because of the amount of damage he will face felony charges.

BassDad-thanks for the information. I have bookmarked the site in case we need it.

A fellow flute player that lives in Knoxville went home and picked up another flute of his for her to use. I think my D is emotionally drained at this point so I will try to talk about other things when we talk tonight. We will wait to hear from the flute repairman and go from there. I will let everyone know when we hear.

swimcatsmom

Good heavens what an awful experience for your daughter. I don't have any advice really - just cyber hugs for her. I know my Ds clarinet was her 'baby' and she would have been devastated if that happened. Plus it is really scary that it happened in a place she should feel safe and secure. We were burgled once and, even though we were not home at the time, I never felt completely comfortable there again. I am glad she is moving rooms.

Just a Dad in Oh

marylandmom3 - after having read your post, I sincerely hope that your daughters flute can be repaired and that she will be able to enjoy it again.

I believe that by offering this very personal account here on CC, you may have helped others realize that unfortunate things can happen to cherished personal belongings at any college. While incidents such as this are never completely avoidable, sharing this thread with other students, can increase their awareness of such random, unfortunate events.
JD

FiddleMom

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's flute, marylandmom3. My dh & older daughter both play flute and my music major daughter started on flute, so flutes are near and dear to my heart!

I'm very glad that the offender's parents are being very cooperative so far and hope that they follow through to the end on making right the damage to the flute.

I'm also very thankful that my daughter's school has lockers for all instruments no matter what size. She keeps her violin in her locker at all times when it's not in use, except for those random 3am practice sessions in the practice room at her dorm.