*Pulls flute out of box.* *Assrmbles flute.* *Stares at flute for 10 minutes pushing random keys and playing random tunes.* "Maaan, this is the coolest thing I own."
I'm 62, I haven't touched my Yamaha flute for years. I was so discouraged Through Jr. and Senior High school because I had so much tension and just could not play fast. My tone was excellent but no speed at all. Now I know why. My hands are exactly like yours!!!! Now I may dig my flute out and try the cork and the ports. Maybe I can regain my love for the instrument. Thank you!!!
Hi, late reply here. You could also think about not having tension in your hand and just checking every few minutes/whenever you can the tension in your hand. I think that, in this video, there is a lot of psychology: she probably could have good grip on her flute without the cork and hand holder if she believe she could without them. Also, there is no rational way in which having your index finger pulled back more will elongate a back muscle. Tendons for the fingers and the wrists go through the forearm and stop at the elbow. This means that there was artificial tension created by a phsychological factor. Here, it might be a case study of "I don't think I can do it without this accessory", so buying it will fix the problem. But it is psychological in nature, so there are other ways to fix the problem. I really don't want to put myself above these problems as they affect me frequently, and they are almost innate things so they are incredibly hard to fend off. Having a clear image of your sound is a lot more important than having an instrument "corresponding" to your sound in my opinion, and it also applies to your technique. Imagine your hands and how they are placed on the instrument, but in your head. Inspect them. Where is the tension? What doesn't "feel" right (not what you semantically think/have been told isn't)? Just bringing these into consciousness will most likely fix at least a few things. If you have a few hours and 20$, I would highly recommend you read Timothy Gallwey's "The Inner Game of Tennis". It is beyond incredibly helpful, and may save you a lot of trouble and make you progress faster.
I think you should. Don't give up on your love for the flute. I'm 48 and started playing December 2019 Christmas day. I'm a long time musician having played guitar for over 36 years.
Ravi V thank you Ravi. I have played the Shakuhachi Japanese flute. John Neptune Kizune gave me a beginner lesson in Japan many years ago. Is a beautiful instrument as is the Indian flute.
Luis Donado thank you Luis, I looked at my flute in the case just yesterday but alas life has changed dramatically. Just no time at all now. Health and peace to you.
I love the tone of your rose gold flute! I honestly refuse to pick up a gold flute at festivals or flute events, because I already love how gold sounds when other people play it. I know I'll want one, and I just can't afford it 😕. The scary thing is, if I really wanted it, I'd kill myself with overtime to make it happen. I play an Altus and I love it. I don't want anything to destroy my love for my flute or I'll destroy myself trying to get a gold one! But your flute is basically my dream flute .... just with in line!
It definitely sounds like the gold really supports your tone! For me I feel like I have a naturally bright tone on flute so when I played on a gold flute I felt like it was slightly dampening my tone and projection which I hated therefore I only look to silver flutes and I found silver really works for my sound.
+Gamer of the Winds That's great! That's exactly what I mean when I say that no one type of flute fits everyone. I'm so glad you found the one for you!
Gamer of the Winds Same here! When I was in high school, I fantasized about playing on a gold flute but it wasn't until three years ago that I realized that I really like the combination of a silver body with a gold headjoint. It's all a matter of preference. For my sound, I actually prefer silver over gold even though in the future, I might consider getting a gold headjoint
I think you have to reach a certain level in musical discernment to appreciate the differences in sound you described between the gold and silver flute. I probably comes with having heard a lot of flute music and training your ear. The beginner, like myself, is going to find it hard to pick up on and appreciate the differences. I purchased a thumb port based on your recommendation and it has been a big help in relieving stress in my right hand.
I want to customize my clarinet but so much money 😵 it'll be worth it in the future though. So in a few years, probably. I'm saving up money for a tenor sax
same, i’ve been playing alto, bari, soprano, and tenor recently. if you know alto you can learn tenor very easy! it’s been two months, and i’ve gotten really good to tenor!
If you know clarinet, you know the basis for almost every woodwind (except probably the reeds - I have no idea though - never tried them!) It’s amazing how many clarinetists are encouraged to play tenor! Obviously not only is it the same key but 80% the same fingerings... also. If you have the embouchure for clarinet you can DEFINITELY play the tenor.... just loosen. EVERYTHING Lol. I played the clarinet through high school and continued on with the tenor... (that’s 10 years on clarinet... haven’t played for almost 20... been playing tenor for 22 years). Now I’m trying to get back to the clarinet and it’s RIDICULOUS how weak my embouchure and lungs have gotten. But dang it, I’ll get there!
Ik this reply is late, but Tenor is amazing. I recently asked my teacher if I could play tenor for jazz [switching from flute] and playing it is very fun. I also really want to play alto flute and clarinet... tenor be noicenoice
Being an old timer, I have to giggle in amazement at the current technological advancements. I learned how on an Armstrong offset-g, plateau-keyed silver plate instrument, then as soon as I could afford it, bought a used 1965 solid silver Haynes with C foot, in-line open keys, and soldered tone holes. Best flute I ever played in my life, and none of the extra frillies of today, lol! But if I start testing out gold, and B foots, and high E facilitators and C# trill keys, I might go insane with envy! You're right...as times change, instruments change too. Love your videos!!😃
When you said that you had short thumbs I looked at my hands and realized I had the same issue!!! For a long time I would get a lot of pain in my right thumb and my teacher was considered about conditions surrounding that. So she had me order a Bo pep thumb guide. I should have listened to the reviews because while it helps me it is just a hunk of plastic that slides around on my flute. Also when you mentioned that you had the problem of your fingers going to the side when you play I have that same issue. I will be definitely ordering the thumbport because I believe it will help me a lot as a flutist and also no scratch up my flute as much as my Bo Pep does (still angry about it 😐) Thank you so much for your video this was really informational!!!
Personally, I adore the tone of wood flutes, as they fit my style best. Silver is very bright and projects, but as a bassoonist, my playing style is best suited by a mellow sound with lots of overtones. I prefer to blend and be a lot more submissive in playing. Not so much a bad way, but simply more blended. It makes solos that much more special, and while I may not sound in a manner that stands out, when I play with small groups or unaccompanied. Unfortunately I don't own my own wood flute, but the chances I've gotten to play then have been magical
Exactly! As I mentioned in a previous post, flutes have already been altered from a flute in the 60s and a flute in the 90s. So about every 30 years a new flute is manufactured.
9:29 When trilling between B and C#, you don’t have to lift both the B key and the C key, you only have to lift the C key because usually the B key has no affect On the notes unless the the C key is down (with the exception of middle D and Eb and upper register notes). It’s kind of the same when trilling between Bb and C, you don’t have use the Bb key, all you have to do is lift your thumb key, your right index finger being down on the F key has no affect when playing C.
A little story- I was at the Florida Flute Convention and I went up to the Brannen flute "booth" and the sales associate there had lipstick on her tooth and I kept talking to her wondering if I should tell her. I ended up not telling her, because that would have been awkward. Let me explain why- I'm a 13 year old girl and the sales associate was some very well accomplished flute player. Well..... That would have been awkward. Love your channel!❤️
I've just bought myself a Fingerport and Thumbport after watching your video! Great advice for a fellow small-handed flautist! I'm already amazed at the difference its made, I've suffered a lot from pains and spasms in my arm if I play for a long time! I'm looking forward to seeing the long term benefits!! :) Thank you!! :)
Hi, thanks for all your great videos! What do you think of the Tornado tone booster? Dropped one in my head joint few years ago, Seems to help third octave notes especially.
It doesn't happen all the time, but I do occasionally get pain in my right thumb if I've been playing for a long time. I have also noticed that I do have to over-extend my pinkey to hit the B flat key but it's ok with the C key. Would a thumb port help or could it be I have my right hand just slightly out of proper position? (If you need to see, I do have a couple flute videos on my channel to look at).
This video is very helpful. I was feeling tension in my right hand and pinky and I ordered a thumb port. I tried my teacher's thumb port and I could reach the pinky keys so easily. Thanks for mentioning that!
I just got a thumbport, you were my inspiration for getting it. I have smallish hands, but also have the same issue with my thumb not reaching the first knuckle of my index finger. I've only played with it once since I got it, but I can feel it helping.
What kind of "cement glue" would be safe for my flute? I'm looking into adding a cork to the index finger key on the left hand (because I struggle with having very small hands as well) and I would like to use a type of glue that won't destroy my instrument..
Thank you so much for doing these videos. I never had a private lesson teacher until college and even then she never really suggested any ways I could get my flute to work for me not the other way around. I have small hands too, and your suggestions and explanations of your experiences have been invaluable to my flute search and improvement on my flute! Thank you!!!!!
Hi! Do you know what type of cork your technician used? I have the exact same issues as you with small hands and the associated pain and I'm considering trying the cork and finger ports.
I love gold flutes! I want to buy one for my mom one day as a gift. She used to play flute in high school, all she has is her ancient student flute. I would so love to surprise her with a beautiful rose or yellow gold flute. They are so beautiful and smooth and clear in sound, so warm. Its a whole other world when playing on a gold flute
I just purchased a thumbport a few months ago and it has changed my life. I put so much pressure on my right thumb that it would hurt and my pinky would flatten when using it. My hands are not small by any means, but I never realized most peoples thumbs go to the first joint of the index finger. Mine most definitely do not, which is interesting. I might do some research on the cork for the left index finger.
i have real long fingers, and as soon as i see the cork cemented on the C key, i knew i needed to do that, as soon as i put it on, i feel so much more comftble, you said not to copy you, but this i knew i needed, thank you ever so much for the idea.
Hey Joanna! This video was very helpful! I've been thinking into getting a fingerport and after hearing this video, I analyzed the size of my hands and how they're shaped when holding the flute. I even looked up a hand diagram of proportions and I realized a lave a long palm with short fingers 😂 I know feel like a fingerport would help. Also, I have a video suggestion. I've been playing the flute for about three and a half years and in the books I've studied in band, we've practiced lots of technique exercises as you mentioned in your 'I hated practicing technique' video. In that video, you also mentioned natural, harmonic, and melodic "forms" of music. I don't know if I am just too inexperienced so far or if those "forms" are not taught. If/when I continue music I'll probably learn more about those forms, but I would love a video about it and to hear what you have to say on them. :)
Omg when you said you had backpain from playing and having tension on your left index, my life made so much more sense! I am so tense playing the flute that my hands cramp and my back hurts so bad after an hour of practice! Gonna try this hack with my student flute!
Man, you inspired me to pick up my trumpet... haven't played it in two months... been depressed. Thanks for making great vids :) it's nice to see that you thought hard about your flute and just didn't buy it for looks. It's nice that you make others think and to not just follow the famous people... i know everything is differ for everyone but what flute would you recomend for a noob flute player but that has been playing music and flute ever so often? Man, I wish you did more vids where you play more like cover or something. I know there are many that do this type of stuff but you're sound is awesome. In band or orchestra or any ensemble do you ever find yourself switching flutes to acomódate easier? Like blend or lead easier? Great vids like always!! I think i might play with some of those things you use... not because I have small hands but I think I have too big hands ... hm.... haha!
Interesting... I play an older Haynes, open hole, in line G, low B. My hands are fairly large, so it's fine for me. But I've always found the gizmo key a bit of a stretch, and not really necessary (my Haynes doesn't have it). For me, it's really pretty easy to push down only the B key (if C/C# close a little too, it doesn't hurt anything).
Hello! Just sharing Joanna's end question. I own a Sankyo Silver flute with the specs of B foot, split E mech with offset G, C# trill key and heavy wall(.42mm wall)! And I absolutely love it. :)
I am thinking the fingerport for sure would help me out a lot. One of the reasons I've played less after college is because there is so much tension in my left pointer finger to the point that I get an indentation in my finger from playing. Will need to assess my right hand position to see if the thumbport would be needed. I'm currently saving up for an offset G flute as I know 100% I need that. I definitely struggle to reach the G key with ring finger. Thank you for making this video!
Thanks for the video. I also have small hands and short fingers, so I ordered the finger and thumb port. I think holding and reaching adds tension to my playing and the Bopep did not work. I could never afford a gold or rose gold flute (and I am an amateur), but perhaps a rose gold headjoint. Do you think that makes a significant difference in sound? Thanks.
Great video Joanna! My hands are also very small and I always experience tension in my hands when I play :/ at first I thought it was just a problem with my playing and that my technique was lacking which made me very upset, but now I know it's because of the tension in my hands (specifically right hand). I really want a thumbport, but I've heard people saying that it makes people seem less professional, and that a flute player should play the flute without the need of those added specs, which is such a silly opinion but yet makes me hesitant to buy it :( I'm also worried that I might come across a situation where i lose the thumbport or have to play on a different flute, and that it will feel very unnatural and difficult to play without it once I get used to the thumport. Should I still get a thumbport?
Ty you finally explained why I had so many issues playing when I was in high school. I gave it up, but will be getting some of those customizations and try returning to playing. Ty
Question from a 'returning flautist' (I played 20 years ago, and am self-teaching again). Do you notice any tonal difference when using a gold head joint with a silver body?
My situation is very similar to yours. I have not added any extensions to my flute yet but my hands are quite small. My right hand holds my flute so unnaturally that even substitute band teachers have pointed it out to me. Do you think adding a thumb port will help? I especially have an issue with my pinky being so straight all the time it locks up and I am unable to bend it...so should I get one?
Thank you SO much for making this video. I played flute for years, but have hands almost identical to yours: the same thumb size, everything. (In fact, now in my 30's, I've yet to meet a grown adult who has hands smaller than mine.) This was a huge problem for me, and I was never able to once play low B since I also had open keys. I am just getting another flute after 20 years away and I am so excited to try out some of these extensions.
Omg! I used to play flute but gave it up after about 7 years never liking the high register. Anyway, was about to shut you off when at 7:30 you showed us the cork on the left hand first finger and you said Paul Horn had that too, wow. But I actually had a reaction after a few years on that finger and it would swell up to twice the size and was related to the tendons in the palm being too tight (or something like that doctors said) and I had to get a four hour operation on that finger. Took about a year to be normal again. I play trumpet now, and like it better for the fatter sound. When I first learned about flutes, had I known about alto flute maybe that would have been better. Anyway, that's my story. ciao.
I got a fingerport after watching your video about it! My left hand was getting the weirdest pains when I played high notes (I was gripping on for dear life, too, which didn't help), and ever since I've barely gotten any pains. So thank goodness for your video! I bought a flute several years ago without a B foot because I said to my foolish 14 year old self, "A flute's not supposed to play B! It's not like I'll ever need it! Maybe once or twice in my life!" Oh, little Jemima. You fool. I've just now bought a professional silver b-foot, c-sharp-trill, gizmo Altus with a fancy head joint. It has killed my bank account, but oh am I happy!!!
Oh my flute I have customized it with a hand crutch, like the solexa fingerport, but it's a Bo-Pep hand rest with a bassoon crutch bracket attached to it, and my onyx bassoon handrest. It's pretty large, but it means I don't have to the cork installed on my C key. I have a split F# on my picc, and I am hoping for a Brossa F# someday. Same goes for the C# trill. I have a silver headjoint as well as a wood covered nickel-silver headjoint with an ONYX lip plate and blow-edge. As for my piccolo, I've got an antique ivory headjoint (a pain to travel with; I have to get sneaky), to go with my ebonite one, I got cork pads installed, and on my marching piccolo I have chrome pads installed; they definitely help projection.
Trumpet player here! I play in my school's band, and I've always wanted to play the flute (my flute player friend has always wanted to play the trumpet😂) and I've been wanting to purchase one, but don't have the money for a great one. Any suggestions on a "cheap-ish" flute that still plays well, but isn't so cheap to where it had an outright terrible sound? I'm trying to convince my mom to get me one for Christmas in a few years but I know that she won't spend the money on an expensive one because she thinks that I won't stick to it.
What is the left hand support (brand) you use. I have BoPep and it doesn't seem to help. Also my left hand Thumbport keeps slipping. Is there a better one or what do you think of gels? I too have small hands.
Funny I should watch this just as I'm learning the same LOTR tune you played here. I'm a newbie, I've only played for 5 weeks but I'm very allergic to my student flute. My flute teacher reckons I've managed to learn in a month what most people learn in 6 months, and he was very happy to hear I'm getting ready to get step-up flute, as he feels it'll help me progress even faster. The flute I'm looking at has a rose gold lip plate. It won't sound as beautiful as your solid rose gold flute, but I'm confident it will have some of the mellow sound. Can't wait for my next paycheck to arrive so I can get my new flute!
Hi! I've been playing flute for about five years. I'm in tenth grade. I also have tiny hands and a short thumb like you and I get a lot of tension in my hands especially my right hand so much that my wrist hurts like its a normal thing now. Should I get the thumb extension??
oh. my. god. I never thought that i'd find someone with the same hand position problems as me!!!! my hands are literally the exact same size as yours (my thumbs are so short) and fast playing is my biggest downfall as a flute player because my fingers get so tired and so strained. thank you SO much for telling me about the finger/thumb ports!! i'm excited to order these items and try them out!
Okay so I have really really small hands ( like so small that I see yours and they seem long) and I'm playing on an inline G, I honestly feel like I don't need a thumb port but do you recommend me getting one to prevent any injuries? I mean I'm not in pain and I play just fine but I could be causing some damage that I'm not aware of that will come back to bite me when I get older😂
I have been playing the flute for years now and the first time I touched a flute was when this person came to my fifth grade class so we can try different instruments but I was attracted to the flute most of all. As I came up to the lady I asked her if I could try it and she said yes and cave me the head joint only. I put my lips up to it and blew the most beautiful sound. Then she gave me another flute to try and showed me some fingerlings and I did them all perfectly so that encouraged me to try band the next year in sixth grade and now here I am a professional seventh grade flute player. If anyone wants to try the flute, don't hold back you'll be able to do it as well as I'm doing it right now. Courage is what brought me to this point Bye guys be strong and never give up on your dreams!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
I am currently learning on the Irish penny/tin whistle, it's rare and hard, but would like to try other flutes, which one do u recommend for beginners?
Thank you SO much for showing the bopep and thumb extension! I have the little Asian hands (thanks mom!) and have always had major hand cramps after long practices. I found piccolo during marching season to be a relief because there weren’t any finger strains going on. Going to look into buying these two mods and get back to my Gemeinhardt silver headed open holed extended B foot flute ❤️❤️❤️
Hello! My teacher suggested I got a cork for my left index finger because I have short fingers. I was wondering where you might have gotten this, or any suggestions in getting the cork.Thank you!
Not sure if you remember (you probably don’t) by I commented a while ago about me switching from clarinet from flute and I finally did it! Flute is so fun. 😂 Anybody got tips for making a great sound on high notes?
So would you recommend a fingerport and a thumbport for me? I build up a lot of tension in my hands when I play,it gets really difficult to play fast passages because of this,my hands are quite small but I've never looked into customizing my flute I've learned to just go with the flow.
I tried both the thumbport and the finger port and for me it's more comfortable to play without them because I have long fingers. I chose offset g because it's more comfortable for my hands and when I've tried inline I always have to strain my ring finger. I did not try a gold flute until I was 20 ( I outgrew my intermediate flute pretty quickly) and that was because my first teacher from my undergrad played on a 14k rose gold Jack Moore flute with silver keys and my last teacher, she would have me play on her flute ( She had a silver Powell body with a 14k yellow gold Nagahara headjoint)for some things because she would frustrated with the mechanism on my old flute ( I currently play on an Altus but at that time I was still playing on my Gemeinhardt.) I got that Gemeinhardt in 2010 which was the summer before my senior year of high school which was also before they overhauled the whole Gemeinhardt line in 2012. I dreamed of having a gold flute in high school but now I actually like the combination of gold and silver. In the future, I might consider getting a gold headjoint.😃❤️🎼🎹
+Kiara Eijo That is awesome! I really love that companies have come out with gold/silver alloys, since that offers more color/warmth/depth varieties. So glad you found the flute for you! 😊
My thumb on my left hand has the same issue of being very short but my right thumb doesn't. In general my fingers are long ( more so on my right hand) but I feel like it causes my right fingers to fall flat over my flute. Should I get a thumb port?
Your youthful enthusiasm warmed my old heart. Your hands are just fine, by the way. They are well proportioned and very nice. I got a callus on the side of my left first finger, sort of a biological "rest"! I noticed some notes on your rose gold Brannen Brothers flute had greater resonance, that can just happen, but I wondered if all the ergonomic aids might be damping? Remember those the old left-hand knob things on old flutes, forgot what they're called, a rest? People took them all off because somebody said that they damped the tone. Does it sound better naked, done up, or does it even matter? Did you ever get an ulcer below your lower lip? I did, from the tarnish, perhaps. Oh well, keep up the good work!
Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for this input. That's was excactly what I was looking for - how to improve sound and handling. Good job. And I like your channel. You are funny. Keep up that good work :)
I love my Yamaha. I have a Julius Baker signature model and i don't see myself playing anything else, ever. Funny enough. I'd rather play a Yamaha piano over Steinway, Any day. So much easier to play for those of us with really short fingers.
Shelly W I actually bought a Yamaha flute a few months after I commented that and I must agree with you:it is a lot easier for my short fingers to play. It’s also is a much higher quality flute than my previous Gemeinhardt. I love it.
I´m thinking about putting some rubber cover in both thumb and 1st finger places, but only for more friction purposes, making the flute less slipery and more stable in my hands. I´m a beginner, and have to struggle with enough stuff. I watched a video of a Nuvo plastic flute that have those rubber supports. And the woman of the video (a great flutist) said it felt real good.
