Shortening Headjoint

[myflute]

I play a Haynes flute from the 1920's. I love it's tone but it plays a bit below A440. I am finding it hard to play up to pitch with other musicians, and sometimes they play somewhat above A440. How much can be corrected by simply removing a half inch or so from the end of the headjoint? Or will the whole flute then be badly out of tune with itself? Thank you

[kymarto]

Your flute is most probably tuned to A = 435, as many older flutes are. You can shorten the headjoint (this is often done) but because it is impossible to change the tonehole placement your higher tube notes (the extreme being C#) will be somewhat sharp as compared to your long-tube notes, and this will be most noticeable across the octave break (C#5-D5). It is possible to compensate with the embouchure, but it is not an ideal situation, however it is probably better than playing flat all the time.

Toby