Hello there,

After several years of not really playing my flute very much, I have decided to give playing it seriously another go. I seem to be doing quite well so far. The only problem I am having is that whenever I play, my left hand begins to hurt. When I put down the flute, my index finger is red and slightly sore. The pain is not severe enough to really bother me, but I'm sure it means I'm doing something wrong which I should probably correct. It wouldn't be practical for me to take lessons at the moment, so I am working out of some books that I have.

Thank you!

Pain is indeed an indicator that something's not quite right, but unfortunately, we can't be of too much help without observing your playing. It could evolve into a bigger issue as time goes on that could prevent you from playing the flute in the future. It's important that it be addressed with a good, live teacher. It may not be possible to continue lessons with them beyond the firts few, but you need to consult someone to be sure you establish good habits in the beginning.

again, Chris is correct, one has to observe this problem, but I have seen this a lot in 20 + years of private teaching. Just remember that one should balance the flute and not grip it...

Thank you all for your advice. I will look into getting a few lessons just to set me on the right track.