Correct Posture:

This probably has been posted on previous posts --- and I apologize if it has, but there are some (150) posts to go through, so I thought I might present it in a new light, expecting some feed-back.

From what I understand, the flute should be held in a (nearly) horizontal position, with the arms out-stretched. At least that’s what I learned.

Even in my beginning years, through intermediate to advanced playing, I find that I can’t accomplish this. If you were to watch Paula Robison play, for example, she plays some 5 or 10 degrees above the “horizontal” plane.

I can’t do this. I play, as it were, in a “fetal” position, wherein my flute is “hugged” next to my body. In order to accomplish this, the right arm is held virtually next to the body.

This means your embouchure is “skewed” in a ridiculous fashion, as in lips twisted to the left.

I think this is for two reasons: the first, psychological, in that I play as though I were “hiding something” --- and do NOT wish to feel “open or exposed”, as in arms “outstretched”.

The second is purely technical, in that I find that I can’t play the more accomplished pieces of flute literature, which require rapid slurs and tonguing, with my arms “out-stretched”.

As I said in a previous post, if you were to watch me play from a distance, you’d swear that I’m playing the clarinet or oboe.

Also, I do a lot of “weaving and bobbing” when I play (you have to stand clear of me).

The only other flutist who plays in (the above) fashion(s) is Doriot Dwyer, who “weaved and bobbed” more than I do,(if possible) and holds her flute in an ALMOST “vertical” position, compared with other flutists.

As one of my former teachers said: “you’d make a better acrobat than flutist”.

I know that I play in an unorthodox position ---- but it’s that which best suits my style of playing. I would NEVER recommend this posture to ANY flutist, but:

Am I way off, here, or does anyone else play in the (ridiculous) posture that I play in? I guess we all have to play in the style that best accomplishes our technique?

Regards, Jim Millen

"From what I understand, the flute should be held in a (nearly) horizontal position, with the arms out-stretched. At least that’s what I learned."

Hi Jim, I don't have much time right now but right off the bat, a lot of players don't play with the flute horizontal. This is very much a criticism of foreigners who see the US school kids learning this. It makes marching bands look spiffy but other than that id is not conducive to a relaxed posture. Check out photos of the players on the internet. Many of the older guys have the flute down as much as 45 degrees.

James Galway plays his flute almost perpendicular to the floor and he is an amazing flute player.

From what I understand, your supposed to hold your flute in a way thats the most comfortable for you. I play mine almost level to the floor but thats only because that's how it's most comfortable for me (my right arm must be larger than my left or something).

I read somewhere that: If you cross your left arm over your body as if you were about to place it on your right shoulder, the angle your fingers are lined is the angle your flute should probably be. and the angle the flute should be away from your body is usually supposed to be roughly the same angle your knees are compared to your body.

But abviously these 'rules' may not aply to everyone since different people find different things comfortable/uncomfortable, so just play the flute at an angle that's most comfortable. Comfort is everything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ZSSkMzS5E

heres a link to James Galway playing. I may have exaggerated alittle when i said "almost perpendicular to the floor" but sometimes it looks that way.

my embouchure is to the side, so my flute is angled down when I play...

Penny,
that Arabesque video of him playing Syrinx shows him playing with the flute at about 26 degrees down.

If you look at a more recent vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0n3n3N3SOY

he's now at about 32 degrees down.

I think that for many players this is fairly typical. It is conducive to less fatigue and easier finger control.

Patrick, why would the airstream location make a difference on the blowing angle or your flute angle?

I have a strange embouchure, will never make it into the method books, because it is off to the side, I can't hold my flute very horizontal, I know players who play in the middle of the lips and they hold their flutes pretty high...

I think that the primary factors that we should pay attention to is the sound and then the facility.