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General flute support
Supposing your flute uses the Böhm system !!!
Your flute is almost full of the Böhm-key system.
This system requires both hands, but only 9 fingers. Your
tenth finger, your right thumb, is used as general flute
support. Since you have two hands and 9 fingers we will
divide this subject in :
Points of support
There are three points of support to hold your flute
properly : your chin dimple, the base of your left index and
right thumb !
These points will support your flute even if no keys are
pressed. When your flute is properly supported, the
headjoint and its tone hole lies firmly right below to your
lower lip.
Think about a horizontal seesaw when you think of the
points of support. The left is pushed backward through the
pressure of the right thumb, where the base of your left
index acts as the hinge.
1/ Chin dimple
This is the point where all other points of
support should arrive. This dimple of your chin, wherein the
headjoint plate should be put , keeps your tone hole firmly
right below your lower lip. It has to be firm, because a
good tone requires an incredible precision. A flute player
must be able to find a tiny spot of less than 1 millimetre
without looking. This requires constant practice. Every
instability, shake, .... that moves your tone hole more than
one tenth of a millimetre is very undesirable. Even bigger
motions of the tone hole result in drastic sound changes.
Keep your flute firm against your lips ! Also be sure of
your posture !
2/ Left
The base of the left
index is responsible for withstanding the pressure of
the right thumb. It counteracts the outward pressure of the
right thumb with an equal pressure towards your body.
3/ Right
Your right
thumb pushes forward against the flute tube.
Since this chapter deals with general flute support, we
must ask you to see about general
posture.
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