Recorders and moisture

A Simple Request

Please pay attention, because I’m about to start begging.  Half of you reading this are guilty, well at least I’m guessing at half.  So, if you are not, then the people playing next to you are, and you have seen them do this.  When after a few minutes of playing and moisture begins to clog the windway, please do not ever stick your finger in the window over the labium and blow that condensation into the recorder.  Please, for the love of the recorder, don’t do it.  There is no single reason why this technique is detrimental to your recorder… there are many.  

Here is one basic fact: recorders abhor excess moisture.  Whenever excess moisture is blown through the windway into the bore it cascades down and is quickly absorbed into the interior end grain surface of the block. That moisture contains saliva, food particles, and other debris.  By not intentionally blowing that excess into our instruments, as well as making it a habit to avoid playing directly after eating, most of the problems this causes can be avoided.  Inspection with a light held up to the head joint will help identify any buildup on any surface of the block.  All surfaces should always appear clean, and any debris will negatively affect the instrument’s tone.  

Mold on the moisture absorbing surfaces of the recorder is the most common and often most serious problem.  Black mold tends to grow on instruments that are well played and not allowed to dry properly before storing them.  Black mold in the windway is a potential health hazard and often extremely difficult to remove permanently.  Black mold can cause permanent damage to the block and windway if left untreated. At the very least black mold will permanently discolor any affected surfaces.  Green mold, which is less of a problem to remove, can still be an issue when left untreated for any extended period. Mold can damage your recorder regardless of the material from which it was made.  Plastic recorders, although durable and machine washable, are usually neglected for these reasons and often go many months without cleaning.

 

The block’s end grain surface absorbs moisture faster than the plain sawn surface and leads to swelling.  Swelling, after extended practice sessions, will usually cause poor intonation, especially in the upper register.  Although cracking is not a common problem associated with regular playing it is something to consider on a recorder not yet broken in or acclimated to its environment. Ever notice that your well played wooden recorder has the block sticking slightly out from the head joint.  That is often a result of swelling on the interior side of the block which causes the tapered block to pop from the joint.  The simple fix is to push it back in place after it has had time to thoroughly dry.

The simple act of placing your finger over the window to block the outward flow of air can have negative consequences. Any recorder with excess moisture blown onto the cutting edge of the labium is fragile. The cutting edge is often so thin that any moisture softens it so that any pressure from your finger has the potential to bend or even break it.  While this is not the case with plastic, and less severe with woods like ebony, the labium is the voice of the instrument and should be very delicately handled and protected from foreign objects like your fingers.   

Moisture that collects in the middle joint will have a tendency over time to glue any debris on any uneven surface of the bore and especially in the tone holes.  Mold is less of an issue in the middle joint as a result of the greater surface area which allows it to dry quickly after playing.  Regular cleaning with a flute swab will prevent most of these very simple tone affecting problems in the middle joint.   

Here are a few simple techniques you can employ that are printed in most recorder care manuals. Properly warm up the head joint prior to playing, and even during practice, by placing it under your arm or in your pocket; a warm head joint is less likely to clog.  Make a habit of sucking the moisture back through the windway before it ever builds to excess and you’ll probably never even notice it.  If long playing sessions without rest lead to serious condensation place your hand over the tone holes and your mouth over the windway and the moisture can be expelled out the beak with a forceful breath.  Ideally, when time allows, remove the head joint and with your mouth positioned over the window place your hand over the open end of the bore and blow.

So I am pleading with all my recorder loving friends, most of whom are not aware they are doing anything wrong, to pay more attention to these basic concerns.  With regular focus on proper care and cleaning your recorder may never have any permanent problems associated with excess moisture.