I am looking for help holding a no key flute. I come from a concert(silver) flute background and am use to using my right pinky to help stabilize the flute. It seems that the only way I can do that on the non keyed flute is to use a pipers grip…otherwise my pinky does not reach. If I use the tops of my fingers on the right hand I can’t keep the flute steady on the open C#. If I never plan on moving to a keyed flute is the pipers grip ok? or is there a way I can hold it that would help? What do most of you do? I have looked at Terry McGee’s site but can’t seem to make it work.
Thanks
Doug
Try my Flute Hold help-sheet.
It’s really all about your R thumb!
I hope that helps. Let us know.
BTW, you should hold/support any type of transverse flute the same way (unless you do go eventually for a piper’s hold or derivative thereof) - keys of any system or none…
Lots of opinions/options. What I do (and a lot of others, FWIW) is keep using the rt pinky to stabilize the flute, and flatten the rt hand fingers that cover holes. It isn’t piper’s grip, because one can still more or less use the pads of those fingers on the holes, but they do extend over them somewhat, but not lots. Also, FWIW, I sometimes put my rt ring finger down on the bottom hole, along with using my rt pinky, which adds some stability on C #. Hope this helps.
I’m not sure I would agree with that statement. Why make allowances for keys (especially the Bflat thumb key) if you’re not going to use keys? Having the LH thumb free to move anywhere comfortable opens up a lot of possible grips. I had an epiphany reading Quantz, who advocates a three-point grip with the left-hand thumb and index-finger knuckle providing the support along with the lip base. My right hand is arthritic, so this takes a lot of pressure off of it.
I’m hoping to get a fully keyed Olwell in the next couple of years, and will opt for only a RH Bflat touch.
Steph goes through it on this video.
I came from the silver flute as well. I ended up using a pipers grip on the right hand and find its the best for me. I can vent Eb as on the Boehm flute and am able to hit the lower C keys reasonably well. The left thumb is free to hit Bb. I can switch over to using my finger tip pads, and do at times, but I find the pipes grip is better for me. I do the same with my keyless flute and I have no problem switching.
One of my flutes is a Copley and I had trouble with the Eb key. I had Dave modify it so that it was easier to use with a pipers grip.
There are lots of opinions but just do what feels best for you.
Does anyone know how old Steph was when she moved to Ireland? I just ask because she has a mild but noticeable Irish accent. I have a close friend from Dublin who moved to the US when he was maybe 23. When he lived here he had no discernable Irish accent, but when I saw him in Ireland, his speech was completely different. I tend to pick up bits and pieces of local language quite readily. When my wife met me she thought I was from California – it was a mixture of Connecticut, Maine, and Virginia.
I just love her playing. Her solo record is one of my favorites, and I enjoy the Alan Kelly Gang’s albums, too.