www.flutesatthebarns.com | info@flutesatthebarns.com | Last updated September 2011

Flutes at the Barns is a division of Zocopoco Limited, registered in England and Wales no. 7287733

Registered office: 30 Whitecroft, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 1UU

Playing Tips for Flute Players by Zoë Booth

September 2011

This month: Posture Check-Up

More of Zoë’s hints and tips can be found in her book:

Warm-Ups for Flute Players - Improve Your Playing by Exercises by Zoë Booth

RRP £8.95 + postage and packing

Published by Pipeblower Publishing and available from good music stockists

Click here to read more about Warm-Ups for Flute Players

Alternatively, join one of Zoë’s Flutes at the Barns courses for much more!

Next month, October 2011: Warming Up With Long Notes

• Feet - are they planted shoulder width apart as they should be? Any closer and you could overbalance... and make sure both feet are on the floor otherwise your breathing is compromised!  Also, if you have your feet pointing at the mirror/music stand you could be setting up a need to ‘twist’ your shoulders; instead point your feet towards the right hand side of the mirror or music stand.
• Legs and Hips - because you may now be thinking too hard you may have ‘locked out’ your knees, so just relax. Make sure that your hips are above your knees, and your knees are above your feet - no twisting through your lower body please.
• Shoulders - are they level  with one another, and in a relaxed position?  Make sure that you don’t lift your right shoulder to ‘hold the flute up’ - instead, imagine your flute is the washing line, and your arms are the imaginary washing hanging from it.  As before, ensure that your shoulders are above your hips, knees and feet.
• Neck - so many of us push our heads forward unnecessarily to eat, drink, read... and play our flutes.  If you move your head forward even half a centimetre as you bring your flute up you may set up throat tensions which affect your sound, and you can also give yourself a neck/head-ache.  Carefully observe yourself slowly lifting your flute to your lips several times, and notice if your head stays in its neutral position.
• Arms - keep your left elbow low and tucked in to your body.  The right arm should have more space underneath it, created by pushing the flute further away from your right shoulder (but keeping your shoulder still and level).
• Angle of the flute - it’s ok for the flute to be below the horizontal (but not above), but check that you don’t look too droopy!

Once you’ve checked all these things you’ve probably made several changes so relaxing isn’t always easy; try to allow your muscles to feel comfortable within the new position. Perhaps get a friend to take before-and-after photos of you, so that you can keep keep a visual reminder on hand for a week or so? Finally, remember to adapt if you feel discomfort - there are lots of ways to be right, you just need to find the position that’s ‘right’ for you.

Keep upright and relaxed, and visit here next month for a good warm-up! Happy flute-ing!

Zoë

PS Please send your questions or comments to me at info@flutesatthebarns.com.

Welcome to my flute-playing free Hints and Tips Page; a new page is posted here on the first day of each month. This month it’s back to school time for children, parents and teachers, so it’s the perfect time for a ‘new start’ by checking up on your posture as you play your flute.  

Most of us understand how important it is for musicians to observe good body position as they play, and for some instruments this is harder than others. However, despite the observation that the flute is ‘played on one side’, it is uniquely designed to be one of the most ergonomic of all orchestral instruments, fitting neatly into our hand and body position with little need for postural tension. Once you’re positioned comfortably, not only will you avoid little niggling aches and pains which can follow your practice, rehearsals or performances, but you will also be able to breathe and blow with more freedom, allowing you to get closer to achieving that well-projected and expressive sound we all seek.

So, the first thing to do is to play your flute in front of a mirror - not something many of us like to do, but an essential step - a musician needs full awareness of what his/her body is doing.  Check the following:

Residential Flute Courses for Adult Musicians