Unlike other musical instruments which you can pick up and start playing immediately, the flute needs to be assembled before you use it and disassembled when not in use. Most flute players know how to do this but not all know how to do it correctly so as not to damage the instrument. Often, it is the keys of the foot joint that is damaged during assembly. Here are some helpful tips on the proper way to assemble your flute.

Note that this is a step by step guide, so follow the directions in order.

1. Pick up the body of the flute by the edges and not by the keys.
2. Firmly hold the edge of the body of the flute on your left hand. Be sure that you are not touching or squeezing any of the keys. Your left hand will be sort of your anchor, it must not move from its original position. The right hand will do most of the work.
3. With your right hand, pick up the head joint and insert the edge into the body of the flute. Do not push it in too far, there must be about a quarter inch of the head joint showing which you can use for tuning.
4. Now, line up the lip-plate or embouchure hole with the keys.
5. With your right hand, pick up the foot joint on the edges. Let the foot joint slide down your palm, the two large keys must be clamped on the edge of your palm. Your thumb must not be around the bottom of the piece to avoid bending the keys when you twist on the foot joint.
6. Now, insert the foot joint to the edge of the body of the flute. You must line up the foot joint so that the rod is centered with the tone holes of the body joint of the flute.

Here's a video of how to assemble a flute courtesy of YouTube.