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Visiting the Makers Behind the Music
Visiting the Makers Behind the Music
At Wind Instrument ProShop, we believe great instruments and accessories come from great craftsmanship, innovation, and relationships. This past week, our director(Joshua Adam) traveled to British Colombia and Washington State... Read more...
Woodwind intonation guide
Setup & Maintenance · Intonation What Affects Intonation on a Woodwind? Intonation isn't just about you—it's built into the instrument. Here's what we look at when we set up a woodwind to play in tune, and what you can adjust yourself. The Main Factors Intonation on a woodwind comes from several things working together: the shape of the bore, the size and placement of the tone holes, and how high the keys sit above those holes. On saxophone, resonators play a role too. On wooden instruments like clarinet or oboe,... Read more...
Pad system replacement
Repair & Maintenance · Pads When Do Pads Need to Be Replaced? Pads are what seal airtight against the tone holes on your instrument. When they fail, your instrument loses notes, response, and tone. Here's how we decide when a pad needs to go—and why we rarely replace just one. What Are Pads? Pads sit inside the keys of your instrument and press against the tone holes to seal them shut. When a key closes, the pad creates an airtight seal. That seal is what lets each note speak clearly... Read more...
How often should a flute get a COA
Repair & Maintenance · Flute What Is a Flute COA? A COA is a routine tune-up for your flute. It keeps your instrument playing well and helps you avoid costly repairs down the road. Clean, Oil, Adjust COA stands for Clean, Oil, and Adjust. Each part matters: C Clean The flute is fully taken apart and cleaned inside and out O Oil Old oil is removed from the mechanism and replaced with fresh oil A Adjust Pads, felts, and corks are checked and adjusted so everything plays right What's Included... Read more...
What is my Tip Opening
Mouthpieces & Reeds · Reference Mouthpiece Tip Openings Explained The tip opening is the gap between the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece. It controls how the reed vibrates and how the mouthpiece feels to play. Here's how the numbers work—and what's most common for each instrument. What Is the Tip Opening? When you look at a mouthpiece from the side, there's a small gap between the reed and the tip rail. That distance is the tip opening. It's measured in inches or millimeters, and given a number by... Read more...
Flute Padding 2026
Repair & Overhaul · Flute What Goes Into a Flute Overhaul? A good overhaul makes your flute play well—and keep playing well. Better pad seal means better response, better articulation, and an easier instrument to play. Step 1: Mechanical Work The mechanical condition of your flute is what separates a good instrument from a great one. If this is done well once, your flute won't need major attention again for a very long time. It also sets the foundation for everything else—pads, tuning, response. Any flute with Lotus, Straubinger, Pisioni... Read more...
A saxophone mouthpiece for marching band
A saxophone mouthpiece for marching band
We dive into what to consider when choosing a mouthpiece and 2 great offerings for saxophoneists in a marching band. Read more...
Everything You Need to Know About Saxophone & Clarinet Reeds
Everything You Need to Know About Saxophone & Clarinet Reeds
How to Choose the Right Reed for Your saxophone or clarinet Reeds are one of the most important parts of your setup but also one of the most misunderstood. If... Read more...
Saxophone Repair at Wind Instrument Proshop in Calgary: What to Expect
Saxophone Repair at Wind Instrument Proshop in Calgary: What to Expect
If your saxophone isn’t playing the way it should, you’re probably searching for saxophone repair near you. Not all repairs have the same quality and longevity. Only needing to have... Read more...