First, let me say I've been in the musical instrument repair business
now for 26 years; my specialty being woodwinds, primarily flutes and
clarinets.  I have also been a private teacher on and off during this
time.

There have been many different products tried over the years to replace
the standard felt-and-fishskin pad on woodwind instruments.  These
include all sorts of leather products as well as a large variety of
plastic products.

None have proven to work better than, or even nearly as well as,
the pad that has been in use for well over 100 years.  The fishskin
covering on the felt is soft enough to make a very nice seal on the
tone hole, but strong enough to last a number of years (much depending
on how the instrument is treated and handled).  (It seems as if
'natural' products still work best in many areas).

If you really feel you must re-pad the flute yourself, I'm sure you can
find a music store or repair shop that will sell you the pads.  I would
guess the cost would be $20 or so.

Now -- and I say this with all sincerity -- not as a person who is
going to benefit should you decide to have it repaired professionally
-- - you will not be doing your daughter a favor by re-padding it your-
self.  It is difficult for a student to learn to play an instrument
that is in 100% top condition; having an instrument that is in a lesser
condition makes it all that much more difficult.  As a professional,
I would guess that probably 50% of the students who do not continue
after the first year or two are students who became discouraged because
their instrument did not play properly.

I would like to add that at my company, we generally hire people who
have graduated from an area vocational/technical school.  When they
start for us, they have approx. 9 months experience.  After they start
working for us, it takes between 1 and 2 years of experience before
I feel I no longer have to check the quality of all their work and make
"final adjustments".  In reality, should you actually get the instrument
to play as well as it should, it will have been shear luck.

I'm not suggesting that if someone wants to attempt re-padding a flute
"for the experience" that they should be discouraged.  However, when
the instrument is going to be used by a student, why add to the
difficulty of learning to play?  $200 for a re-pad may seem a little
high, but you are paying a professional to do what she or he knows how
to do.  Considering that the job can take between 4 and 8 hours, I
consider it a bargain.  Have someone work on your car or computer for
that length of time -- you will not get by spending only $200.

Jon Miller
Saint Paul MN