How to hold the flute

Are you wondering if you're holding the flute correctly?  First of all, think differently.  The flute is not held, it is balanced.  Balancing the flute gives your fingers freedom to move so they can press down and lift off keys easily with no awkward movements. 

The four balance points on the flute

Check to see if you're balancing and not holding the flute.  Put the flute up to your lips.  That's the first balance point. (Later you'll notice that your right hand pushes outward and it secures the flute against your chin/lip area.)

In this photo three of the four balance points are circled.  The missing balance point is the chin/lip area.

The flute should be resting at the base of your index finger of your left hand and your index finger should be free to go up and down.  Don't hold the flute with any of your left hand fingers.  When it rests at the base of your left index finger, you're using the second balance point.  

Now concentrate on your right hand.  The flute should be resting on your thumb, probably between the tip and the first joint.  (I say probably because each flutist has unique hands and fingers.)  The thumb should be slightly bent and balancing the flute near the area under the index and middle fingers.

That's the third balance point.

Your left hand baby finger (finger #4 in flutespeak) should be on or depressing the Eb key. That's the fourth balance point and this is where you will notice that the gentle pushing of the right arm toward the front is important.  There are times when you play notes that do not use the Eb key.   (D , C#, C, (& B if you have the B key) below the staff,  D on the 4th line of the staff, and the notes starting with Bb on the 5th line above the staff and ascending.) If you are not balancing the flute, it may roll around as you attempt to play those notes.

Experiment with holding balancing the flute now. 

Prepare to play your flute and pretend to play a note.  Look in a mirror to see what's going on.  Think about the four balance points (1.  lips/chin, 2.  base of left hand index finger, 3.  right hand thumb, and 4. right hand baby finger).  Now let's experiment and perhaps tweak your flute balance a bit:

     1.  Move your right hand thumb to the left, then to the right, bend it, straighten it, find a spot where it's comfortable and slightly bent.

     2.  Raise and lower your left elbow.  What happens to the shape of your left hand fingers when you adjust your elbow position? They should be slightly arched.   Where is the most comfortable spot for your elbow?  (Your elbow should not be resting against your body.)

     3.  Hold the flute parallel to the floor, then experiment by tilting the foot end slightly down then up.  Look in the mirror.  What happens to the flute position on your lips when you move the flute?  Basically the center of the hole in your lips should match with the center of the hole in the flute.  The imaginary line formed where your lips meet together should be parallel with an imaginary line that runs along the hole of the flute.

     4.  Raise all your fingers up except your right hand baby finger, letting the flute balance. Put them all onto their assigned keys.  Raise them again.  What happens?  Your goal is to prevent the flute from rolling.

     5.  Balance the flute and prepare to play.  (Remember the four balance points.)  Depress the Eb key (right hand baby finger), lift other fingers off of their keys, and play that note (it's probably a C#).  While playing that note, wiggle your raised fingers to make sure it's balanced.  

Check your flute balance carefully while looking in a mirror:

     1.  Head and Right Arm
Balance your flute.  Play a note with all but your right hand baby finger lifted off the keys.  Is your head turned slightly to the left in comparison with your body? It should be.  This allows your right arm to be in a more natural, comfortable position.  Your right arm can push forward a bit to help your flute balance.  Listen to the sound you make.

     2.  Left Elbow and Left Index finger
Play a note with all but your right hand baby finger lifted off the keys.  Move your left elbow up and down.  Remember to keep the balance point at the base of your left index finger which might move as you raise/lower your left elbow.  Your left elbow should be away from your body, slightly raised, but comfortable.  Listen to any changes in the sound you make.

     3.  Fingers
Try balancing the flute and playing that same note (C#, only the right hand baby finger down).  Concentrate on gently curving your fingers over their assigned keys, ready to play, but not depressed.  Try to keep them relaxed. 

     4.  Right Hand, Right Elbow, Right Arm
When you play the C# (no fingers down except the right hand baby finger), the flute is balancing on your slightly bent right hand thumb and your right hand baby finger is depressing the Eb key.  Your three other fingers should be gently curved, the pads (not the tips) of those fingers should be ready and able to press down and lift off the keys. 

Check your right hand carefully.  If your fingers lean against or touch the key rod (that long tubey thing), as shown in this photo, work on changing your hand position.  

   
Your right elbow should be comfortable but away from your body. Experiment by pushing your right arm forward and back, finding a comfortable position where the flute remains balanced.

Look closely in the mirror and see what happens to your mouth and lips when you move your right arm forward and backward.

Now listen carefully.  When you play the C# (no fingers except the right hand baby down) and you move your right arm forward and backward, at what position do you get the biggest sound?  At what point does the sound come out the easiest?  At what point is the sound the most pure?  That may be your ideal position.

     5.  Upper Body and Head
Don't slump or bend your neck.  This could affect your breathing and the quality of your flute tone.  Now experiment with your posture while standing, then while sitting.  If you bend your neck forward can you inhale enough air quickly?  If not, your tone may be weak, and you may not be able to play for very long without taking another breath.
  
Try the same thing, but slump by bending your back forward.  Breathing in and out will be difficult.  Supporting the air as you exhale will be difficult.  Your back and neck may get tired quickly.

This takes some concentration doesn't it?  When you finish these experiments, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.  A lot of this will come back to you as you play your flute for work or fun and you'll be on your way to evolving your flute practice and abilities!  Good job!