After playing a Boehm system flute for years, I decided to try the Tony Dixon and Sweetone high D Whistles a few months ago. I love them! The musical expression I can get with whistles is incredible compared to what I can do on my Boehm flute. I don’t know why I never tried playing simple system instruments before!
In fact, I’m doing so well and am having so much fun, that I now want to switch to an Irish flute. -I am considering the Dixon Polymer flute as my first instrument, but am a little afraid to buy for one reason only… I am a woman with small hands which I fear may not fit any Irish flute!
To give you an idea of my hand size (for those of you who are familiar with bagpipes), I’ll tell you that I CAN play a REGULAR length bagpipe practice chanter with the second pad of my fingers on both hands. I’m not sure if I could make the stretch to the finger spacing on a LONG practice chanter though. My fingers on the regular practice chanter are stretched to their limit. For this reason, when I get around to learning to play a Great Highland bagpipe…if my hands are too small…I will end up playing mouth blown smallpipes with a D chanter instead.
From this information, can anyone tell whether or not the Dixon Polymer flute (or any Irish flute) would be an option for me? I’ve been playing the high D whistles with the first pad of my fingers (not finger tips). I assume I’d have to play the Dixon flute with the second pad, as I do the regular bagpipe practice chanter. Is the hole spacing on a Dixon Polymer flute wider than that of a regular practice chanter? If so, I may not be able to reach! And how big are the holes on the Dixon Flute? My fingers are thin and might not cover large holes.
Any advise on flutes that are playable by small handed people would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Michelle,here we go,distances between holes on the Dixon poly flute(starting at the ‘B’ hole,working down,hole centre to hole centre )are;left hand 3.5cm-3.6-then,right hand-3.3-3.7.The holes are small(the E is 9mm in diameter),I have no problem covering them,and I have skinny fingers for a bloke. Hope this helps.
Yeah, the Dixon polymer is a hand-friendly instrument, plus the tone-holes are on two separate sections, allowing you to rotate them for best comfort. The flute has real bang for the buck. Go for it!
I would recommend that you contact Alan Mount about his PCV flutes, which he can customize for your hands. I have one that he made, and it is just wonderful. The tone is lovely, the tuning precise, the spacing comfortable (he offset my G hole), and the price is right. Here’s his web site, where you can hear clips as well.
Also, Casey Burns makes
mopane and even blackwood
flutes specially for people with
small hands. I think the
mopane goes for about
400–unlined head,
good flute for the
price. I know good
female flutists with
small hands who use
them. Lark in the Morning
has them; available in
other retail places, too.
My 14-year-old daughter played my Dixon polymer regularly and had no trouble with the reach. Go ahead and buy one. If it really is too big for you you’ll have no trouble selling it for what you’ve got into it.
Kevin M., the measurements you provided seem to indicate that I just MIGHT be able to play the Dixon Polymer…although I’m sure I could not stretch any further than your measurements indicate! I’ve decided to go ahead and order one to see how it works out. If the stretch is too painful and difficult, I will next consider Jim Stone’s suggestion of a Casey Jones flute for small hands. The Casey Jones flute seems like it would be perfect for me…but I would prefer to purchase a less expensive first instrument, since making the switch from a Boehm flute to whistles and now an Irish flute.
And now, since making my decision, the bad news: Thom Larson from The Whistle Shop e-mailed me and said that the Dixon Polymer is out of stock. It’s going to be a looong 2-3 week wait…
there has been a run of Dixon flutes sold at the whistle shop in the past month. I’m currently the next up for the next Dixon 3 piece coming in, there are two more for sure behind me, but the good news is that they get regular shipments in from Tony. I’ve been waiting, as of today in fact, a month. I guess my point is, hang in there, I know what you’re going through.
On 2003-02-02 20:50, If the stretch is too painful and difficult, I will next consider Jim Stone’s suggestion of a Casey Jones flute for small hands. The Casey Jones flute seems like it would be perfect for me…but I would prefer to purchase a less expensive first instrument, since making the switch from a Boehm flute to whistles and now an Irish flute.
Just for clarification, while Casey Jones does blow a mean (train) whistle, the maker is Casey Burns.
Thought ye might like to know.
Hi Michelle,When I measured the Dixon,I just used a standard 12"/30cm rule,so I purposefully tended to 'round up’the measurements i.e.:9mm may have been closer to 8.5mm,SO the reach may be ever so slightly easier than I indicated.I’m pleased that you’ve decided to take the plunge into Irish flute playing-Simple system instruments just seem so more responsive to the player,alive and ‘natural’(even if it is polymer!As some one mentioned the oil used to produce the polymer was living plant material millenia ago).The Dixon will get you off to a fine start!
LOL! Thanks for the clarification Gordon! Casey Burns IS what I meant to say! -Just a Freudian slip, I guess…
Hey, while I wait for my Dixon Polymer to come in…maybe some of you can tell me how you deal with problems like ganglion cysts and tendonitis! I have a small problem with my right wrist because I work on a computer as a graphic designer all day…then I go home and play piano, Boehm flute, whistles and bagpipe practice chanter all night! (Well okay, maybe not ALL night).
I’ve been to the doctor. He gave me an anti-inflammatory called Bextra. It helped, but I still have the problem. It’s not bad yet, but I want to prevent continuing problems as much as possible. I’ve never had to deal with this before in any of my music playing.
I have to watch out for my right hand, too. I’m a Boehm flute player, and also dabble in the whistle. I’ve had no luck so far finding an Irish flute with my small hands. I’ve never tried the Dixon, but have tried similar flutes. I’m looking at the posibility of fifes or higher-pitched flutes.
One thing that has helped my right hand issue amazingly is getting a 3m Renaisance mouse. It allows you to mouse in the handshake position, and has pretty much cured the strain in my right hand. I highly recommend it!
