I’m also originally a Boehm-flute player. Classical types are really picky about posture, as we all know, and so I’ve had all kinds of advice from teachers, which is generally not contradictory as there’s a standard technique everybody uses.
Then one day I was at a masterclass with a well-known trad flute player. During the course of the class, said flutist corrected my posture, as every other flute teacher I’ve ever had has done, saying I was holding the flute at too slanted an angle - then picked up the flute and proceeded to play it, with the end on the left shoulder and head tightly tucked…!
I nearly walked out of the class at that point. Glad I didn’t, as there was plenty of good information and I learned a lot.
The reasoning behind not tucking, according to my classical-flute teacher, is that you get better projection - the sound goes farther. Also, the ergonomic reasons others have cited are a big factor.
Hi again Hup. How long have you been playing ? Is this posture something you have adopted from the get go, or is it something you are experimenting with in order to improve tone and projection/volume. If it is the latter, I am sure there are plenty of experienced players here who will give you some tips and advice on how to go about achieving this goal without having to " adopt " this stance. One important thing to bear in mind is that flexibility, mobility and suppleness is something that comes in short supply as you age, and there is the possibility you may not be physically capable of maintaining this posture without increasing level of stiffness, discomfort or even pain as the years go buy.
I play with an orthodox hold and position - usually.
My low E and D are inconsistent. If I play long tones on E
and D I can nail them. But when I’m playing tunes that jump
around - it’s hit and miss. Maybe that’s because my flute
joggles a little too much and I go off target? Flutes also
vary a lot in how good they are on those notes, but I am
the main problem.
Besides trying the tucked-in position, I’m also experimenting
with extra upward pressure against my bottom lip, using the
orthodox (classical) position. That also seems to help.
I’ve been playing 5-ish years but my main instrument is
Irish trad fiddle. I also had a long career - what a joke -
on clarinet including lessons, coaching, orchestras, chamber
music etc etc.
Hello Hup,
Sounds like you enjoy your music - isn’t it funny how one instrument often leads to another especially in the Folk Tradition. I think it’s because they have the best kit-bag excluding our Orchestral counterparts. You are right some flutes have a stronger sounding foot than others. Quite often this can be ameliorated to some extent by ensuring you have no leaky pads and such higher up the flute. You haven’t mentioned the types of flute you play. Antiques models are invariably more prone to problems, which can often be easily remedied, just because of age/wear and tear. I’ve also noticed that if any note is going to be inherently weak on the English ones it will be the E. If yours are modern ( and keyless ) then the problem is more like likely to be one of technique.
If you suspect the technique angle ( I find moving around too much when playing is just begging for trouble with my embouchure ) can I suggest you stand stock still in front of a good sized mirror and keenly observe your movements when playing " tunes that jump around." It would seem to me the reason you are trying to lodge the flute on your shoulder or wedge it against your bottom lip, is because you are failing to anchor the flute correctly with your left hand thumb and index finger.
Also, some people use their right hand pinkie ( little finger ) to rest on the top/side of the flute at the other end forming another anchor point. If you can that’s a bonus - if you can’t, then all the more reason to ensure the hold at the other end is secure. One other suggestion would be to study footage of other players on youtube, and observe the varying types of “hold” employed. Give some of them a go and see if it works for you.
If it’s of any consolation, I had similar problems when first starting to play the whistle. Initially on fast tunes I THOUGHT THE DAMNED THING COULD CATAPULT THROUGH THE WINDOW. Owen