Holding the Flute - Rotating problem

[Jon Homer]

I am very new to the flute and having a small problem in holding the flute. I happy in that I can support the flute but I find that the Keys being top heavy causes the flute to start rotating towards me. It does turn slowly but I cannot stop it from doing this without using the left thumb. This thumb I know should be free to move around.

Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?

The flute is brand new (Pearl 501PF).

Any help would be appreciated!

[MeLizzard]

Be sure your flute is resting in a stable position on the joint at the base of your left index finger, and on your right thumb, and that you are using your right hand little finger for all essential notes (basically everything except D). Test this by slowly playing from middle B to middle C#. If you can't accomplish this interval, reposition your left hand. A very young student came to me a coule years ago with a terrible habit I wasn't able to get her to break--another "teacher" had started her, and had ignored the fact that she was holding her flute, in the left hand, with the tips of her index finger and thumb, with NO contact elsewhere on her left hand!!!! She eventually quit (arggh!). This could have been avoided.

[ick27]

I agree that it's very important to hold the flute well with your left hand. The flute should rest just above the knuckle where your finger meets the hand. You should try to support the flute from underneath with your left hand, which also means your index finger will be very curved. Your left thumb should operate the thumb keys using the middle of the thumb, not the tip, and the thumb shouldn't really bend. In this way, you "cradle" the flute in your left hand in a comfortable way.

As you observed, the flute rolls towards you because of the weight of the keywork. Some flutists hold the flute with the keys facing up and away from the player, with the rods pointing upwards. In this position, the flute is in ballance, and will not roll towards or away from you. Unfortunately, this sort of hold doesn't work well for everyone (I think it works best for people with very large hands.) In any case, you should never hold the flute with keys pointing back towards you--they should be pointing straight up or a little forward.

[flutepicc06]

As you observed, the flute rolls towards you because of the weight of the keywork. Some flutists hold the flute with the keys facing up and away from the player, with the rods pointing upwards. In this position, the flute is in ballance, and will not roll towards or away from you. Unfortunately, this sort of hold doesn't work well for everyone (I think it works best for people with very large hands.) In any case, you should never hold the flute with keys pointing back towards you--they should be pointing straight up or a little forward.

I believe what you're are describing is called the Rockstro position, and this was actually conceived for players of simple system/baroque flutes, so while it works on Boehm flutes, the angle that the flute must be rotated to place the rods at the top (and thus prevent rolling) is extremely awkward for most people. The rods, which are placed away from the flute by the posts are actually what causes the rolling by shifting the center of gravity, and playing with the keys angled back a bit actually lowers the center of gravity and can help prevent rolling. While the "keys to the ceiling" concept is logical, there is nothing wrong with playing with the keys back a bit. It will not hinder technique (mind you, I'm talking about a slight angle backwards, not keeping the keys parallel to the wall or anything), and for some people will actually help maintain a more stable hold on the flute.

[Jon Homer]

Thanks for all your advice.

Yes rotating the flute forward slightly fixes the problem and fortunately I have long fingers (over octave reach on piano). The flute now is holding steady....Moving the flute to this position also helps to position the little finger better that helps to steady the flute.

Thanks Again!