I have a flute key related dilemma. Well, several really.
Due to an injury some years back, and related ongoing issues, I had to change the way I hold the flute. I now use what is essentially the piper’s grip - left hand on the side of the flute, more or less opposite my chin. Not super uncommon. I also rotate the left hand section away from the embouchure and right hand sections, in order to keep from having to hold my left elbow way up in the air.
Problems:
1. Obviously I have no thumb access to the standard Bb key.
2. With a standard key lever placement rotating the left and right hand sections significantly out of line the way I need to have them causes issues with keys not being where I can reach them or interfering with one another.
I’m going to need custom keywork, including an alternate Bb key. There’s the usual option of a RH Bb that runs more or less parallel to the Cnat key, but Maurice Reviol does a LH clarinet style Bb lever which is interesting. Photos can be seen here :
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=110703Question, anyone have experience with this sort of set-up that they can share? Pro’s and cons to the RH set-up vs. the LH set-up? I can imagine it’s sort of like the Long F/Short F situation where it depends on what note one is transition to/from, but perhaps there are other considerations I am not thinking of?
I should mention that while I’d expect to play mostly ITM on a keyed flute, I do have other musical interests outside trad, so facility beyond the usual ITM keys and modes is a consideration for me.
With regards to my second problem, I’d be interested in the key mounting and touch locations of those who significantly rotate the LH section away from the RH section - for me this would be having the LH section nearly at the 10 o’clock position relative to the RH section being at 12 o’clock.
Any experiences you can share regarding either of these issues would be greatly appreciated, thanks!