Interesting. We must be doing something differently grip wise. Or equally likely you’re just a better man
I’m not dropping flutes, but I really have to have things lined up just right with pressure/counter pressure between my thumbs, pinkie and chin, or things get dicey. Even with my best grip, if someone at a session bumps my right arm from behind, that flute is gonna go flying. With standard grip that sort of jostling would be a complete non-event.
I’m guessing it’s the former, because the latter I am decidedly not.
Well, we’d have to do a real-time comparison, because I’d never really given what I do any hard thought until now. I can only go from memory, and it’s no secret that I don’t play flute anymore. But what I recall is 1) the upper thumb position is key, and 2) I never had to consciously align much; habit took the driver’s seat, because what worked became that ingrained. I can assure you that I never felt as if I were doing a high-wire act, gripwise. Or maybe I’m just dull to danger.
It’s probably also a question of what one is used to. I had stability issues when finally switching to the “correct” hand position for my right hand with the thumb behind and not below the flute.
Originally I had a background in classical flute so started out with Rockstro. Then played a lot of low whistle so switched to piper’s grip also on flute. Now I am mostly back to Rockstro but sometimes switch when a tune has a lot of ornamentation with the left (upper) hand. For classical tunes (Bach, Mozart, etc) I only use Rockstro.
Yes, I suppose it is a relativistic thing for me: Going from a more secure grip to one that is still perfectly functional, but somewhat less secure.
I imagine if one starts with the Piper’s grip it probably feels rock solid more or less from the outset.
Probably doesn’t help in my case that I spend a lot of time with slippery delrin flutes in hand, but I can’t bring myself to rough them up with 100 grit sand paper. Been waiting for a radioactive spider to bite me, but so far no luck.
Anyway… for the OP: If buying used, you could look for a keyed flute that already has post mounted keys, which might be less problematic for playing piper’s grip than a non-custom flute with block mounted keys.
Thanks for all the reply’s on how other players navigate a regular keyed flute. I’m especially pleased this lead into a discussion on the different methods of balancing the instrument while using piper grip; which I have found somewhat challenging. Pipers grip for me hasn’t been a choice, (I am a piper & low whistle player), but I’ve got a fused joint on the middle of my left index finger which makes a regular grip impossible. Still trying to find the perfect thumb position I think will be the key for me.
I notice in the video Sedi posted, even though John Wynne isn’t resting the flute on his shoulder he has his head twisted around almost as far as if he was, twisted further than most people playing with the standard grip.
And then there is the skill of shifting position, on- and off-shoulder, mid-tune. (What a mighty player, Cein Sweeney). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYXkwZnJYMo Say, 2:40-3:23, a couple of times. I can only admire how he maintains his tone - and tune.
