I thought some of you out there might have an idea: Our church orchestra is calling for an alto flute part. I’d LOVE to play it, but have carpal tunnel issues. Does anyone know of some sort of stand/contraption that would support an alto flute while you play it to take tension off the wrists and hands?
Or, does anyone have a suggestion for how to make one?
I’d also like to play some Irish tunes on the alto flute, but have never tried it for this ergonomics reason.
If there isn’t such a thing yet, there ought to be. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to engineer. If no piece exists, a starting place might be one of the lighter, more “spidery”-looking music stands, minus the top and plus a ball-swivel/pipe clamp arrangement to mount to the flute. Brain churning…
Since you asked for something relatively unconventional, please don’t expect a conventional solution, but perhaps a solution could exist.
Now, these are “rough and ready” ideas, nothing formal, but just a couple of ideas for you to consider, please.
By using perhaps a pair of extra tall music stands, minus their desks, or perhaps a pair of microphone stands, minus their microphones, perhaps some form of flute support could be devised using something as simple as popsicle sticks and “duck” tape, but this could be somewhat odd to look at, although perhaps functional. Edit: Speaking of microphone stands, a microphone is held by a, well, microphone holder, and just maybe the microphone holder could be large enough to fit an Alto flute into, but I’d suggest using at least two of them, one per microphone stand, at roughly 18" apart, each.
Again, the use of some simple form of stick, or sticks, held onto your forearms perhaps with the use of “ace” type, elastic bandages wrapped around the forearms to hold the flute supports in place could be less conspicuous, while taking the load of the flute off of your hands and wrists. Whether the wrappings would interfere with the muscular control of your fingers, however, remains to be seen.
My alto flute has both curved and straight headjoints. The curved headjoint allows you to have your hands closer to the body. I assume that don’t currently have a curved headjoint for your flute, but perhaps you know someone who would lend you an alto flute for a short time. If you promised to advertise for them, perhaps a music store would loan you a flute for a week on trial. I purchased a new Chinese alto flute with both headjoints for less than $1,000, and I am satisfied with its performance.
Long, long ago in the world of at least Boehm flutes, and perhaps others, a “crutch” could be fitted to a flute. That crutch usually had an upside down “T” shape, which rested the weight of the flute between the LH thumb and first finger, roughly at the balance point of the flute.
That, too, could be a solution to carpal issues, perhaps.
Ahhh, that’s what it was - we had a prescient minor thunder storm here yesterday mid-morning. Rob’s brainwaves are not limited to the universe, you know…
