Thank you so much. I’ve always had tension in my left shoulder and have been pushing the flute in really strongly. This explains perfectly how to correct my problem. Really appreciate you taking time to explain so well. Love & light Maureen
@DoctorFlute
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Maureen, so glad I could help. You will be much happier playing flute when you don't have this tension. It makes playing much more pleasant. Good luck with fixing it. Keep me posted.
@chamallow989
10 ай бұрын
I've been playing the flute for almost 15 years and genuinely didn't know offset flutes existed. Now i'm questioning my whole existence and really want to try playing one because after not playing for a few years I came back to it and something feels off about my left hand and it sounds like and offset G could make it a lot more comfortable but I'm not excited by the idea of getting a new flute.
@DoctorFlute
10 ай бұрын
That is a tough choice! The offset G is not always the right choice. For my students I always recommend it but for me who has played for so long I would not change now. I think it could create problems instead of solving. You should definitely trial a flute with offset G and see what you think. It very well could fix things for you but it isn't the automatic answer.
@chamallow989
10 ай бұрын
@@DoctorFlute Yes it would be hard to know without trying. After looking it up it also seems like offset flutes have become the norm in most english speaking countries but in France where i'm from, it's still viewed as a beginner option and I don't know how easily I could get one to try.
@marinogarcimartinmusic5427
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! This helped me a lot. I realized that my tension was because the wrong position of my thumb.
@DoctorFlute
3 жыл бұрын
Hey, fantastic! Happy Holidays!
@ArielZevon
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I only just realized after waking up with pain in my jaw for last few weeks that it was because I was pushing the lip plate so hard that my jaw was having to push forward and hold so much tension! This is so helpful. Thank you!
@DoctorFlute
Жыл бұрын
Fantastic! It is no good playing with tension like that. I used to plaster the lip plate on my lip as well. It is freeing to not do that anymore. Keep working at and get loose!
@mariusschrecker4427
Жыл бұрын
Hi. Thank you for that. I agree on all your points regarding relaxed, naturally curved fingers and straight thumbs. Keeping the fingers relaxed and close to the flute, without to much "rockstro" to block the lip and kill flexibility. I just started playing again after 25 years. Long ago I played an open G# (offset G#), but my new flute is closed G#, inline. I didn't notice this as a problem when I bought the flute, but as I rebuild my technique, I find that I have a long index finger that is blocking the Bb. Looking at your video it looks like your C# key is raised. What I couldn't see is whether it's raised far enough that your index finger can never close the Bb when the C# key is closed (C). You have much better finger lengths than me (long ring finger, shorter index), but I'd be interested in your thoughts around the general issue - do you know players/have you had students who have trouble with involuntarily closing the Bb and, if so, how can they correct that by modifying their technique/hold? Back in the day I had a good technique and hand position and never had an issue with this. I have tried thinking and practising hard around all that I knew then about LH, and even tried using a finger-port to get more of the index finger out of the way, but nothing helps. In fact, as my technique is building up again this particular problem is getting worse! The only thing I can think of is that the combination of long index finger and inline G is to blame and that I should give up trying to fix it in technique and just stick some cork on the C# key or bend the landing plate. But that wouild be bad if an issue with my technique is causing it. I'd be very interested to read your thoughts!
@DoctorFlute
Жыл бұрын
This has got me thinking. I'm going to have to experiment with finger positions. I don't think my C key is any higher then all flutes. Can you give me more clarity? What do you think of as the C# key and the Bb key?
@colinparalusz
3 жыл бұрын
My left shoulder is killing me: I played 7 years and took it up again 30 years later. I played tenor for 4 years and trombone for 2. I developed tendinitis in my left hand from clenching too much. With exercises and being gentle it went away. For flute, I need exercises to relieve the pains in my left shoulder tendons.
@DoctorFlute
3 жыл бұрын
Are you getting help for those pains?
@lolasaysyes
3 жыл бұрын
Could you elaborate a bit more on what you mean by “relax” to reduce pressure on the left index finger shelf? Which part of the body to specifically relax? This part always causes me trouble and I don’t think I’m pressing the lip plate too tightly against my lip, but it’s difficult for me to stop tensing up the left hand when I play. I have a solid silver flute that is heavier, and one with silver body but nickel silver keys, and I definitely find myself gripping much more on the solid silver. Am using something like a modified Rockstro hold and I have always played inline but I do have small hands. Thanks!
@DoctorFlute
3 жыл бұрын
Hi! I think you can determine if you are relaxed. We need enough pressure to hold the flute up but no more. If you are loose on the lip when holding it to your flute you probably don't have tension. Usually when there is pressure that needs to relax it has to do with the left arm pushing the hand into the flute and thus into your lip. If that is not happening then you probably don't have tension. Fingers can be tense on their own. Then it is just a matter of relaxing the hand. You probably need to do an analysis of where the tension is coming from. Maybe you should think about an off set G?
@lolasaysyes
3 жыл бұрын
@@DoctorFlute thanks for the reply and advice! I figured out most of my problem was still a balance issue and I have corrected my right thumb position (I had a misunderstanding of where to place it). Because of poor balance, I was also tensing up from the shoulders and neck area. I learned to relax the shoulders actively and work on balance. My left hand fingers are comfortable but the flute still rests on the index finger joint a little too much for my liking. In my experience, the offset G hasn’t made much of a difference since I have longer fingers, but will keep my eye on this when I consider any future flute upgrades. I don’t feel too much lip plate pressure, but I’m also consciously trying to focus on keeping the embouchure as relaxed as possible with a very small aperture, using support rather than the lips. These changes have made a world of difference! Thank you and many other wonderful instructors on YT for sharing your knowledge!
@gmallapilates8229
3 жыл бұрын
So many thanks. I have problems with my left pinky, I tend to put a lot of tension on it. Now, I realized that in some point is due to the position of my wrist. Thanks.
@DoctorFlute
3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic! It is no fun to play with tension so if this helps you to play tension free that is a win win.
@miapia3566
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Your advice helps me to get rid of the pain in my left shoulder. My left thumb is not bent anymore. But I still need to work on relaxing my left pinky. It is full of tension and in the mirror I can see that it is stretched high in the air if I don't press the Ab key . And even after 30 years of playing the flute I'm noticing that I'm pressing it too much against the lips.
@DoctorFlute
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Mia! I too can get into the habit of pressing too much. I regularly need to remember to loosen that pressure against the lip. I hope you can play without pain!
@miapia3566
3 жыл бұрын
@@DoctorFlute It's getting better, thanks.
@aoi5551
2 жыл бұрын
NATURE is the key. Thank you!
@DoctorFlute
2 жыл бұрын
It sure is!
@markmasterson849
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video!
@DoctorFlute
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@indrawahyudiendradjarwa4685
2 жыл бұрын
Is that different for the head joint too?
@DoctorFlute
2 жыл бұрын
I'd love to answer but I am not quite sure what you are asking?
@indrawahyudiendradjarwa4685
2 жыл бұрын
@@DoctorFlute I can blow the lip plate with invers position, not normal position. But I do fingering with normal position. So I need only the head joint for left handed. So I ask you is that different form between head joint for normal player and left handed player.. In other words I have a problem to blow with normal lip plate. Or my asking is can I modification my flute to rotate the lip plate only
@DoctorFlute
2 жыл бұрын
Wow that is interesting. The easy answer is yes the hand positions would be the same regardless. The bigger mystery is why you are unable to get a sound blowing the regular way. Do you have a teacher that can problem solve with you?
@indrawahyudiendradjarwa4685
2 жыл бұрын
Hahaha some teachers are coming from youtube incl. You and my personal experience. I think it's okey with my fingering but I got the problem with my uncorrectly blowing
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