Something to extend the mouthpiece end to fit better over th

selkie · Post by **selkie** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 5:06 pm

I'm learning the flute. Problem is that dues to a childhood injury my left shoulder is lower than right which is frozen. I need to somehow get a U shaped sort of tube? to lengthen the mouthpiece end so it goes further off my shoulder and also be able to reach the embouchure. I envisage sitting the flute into this piece and resting it on my shoulder to counter balance it a bit. My right shoulder is permanently frozen so I play at an awkward angle. I've been playing a week and have got several tunes but find the flute rolls down my shoulder. Any suggestions please. TIA.

mrosenlof · Post by **mrosenlof** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 1:52 pm

I'm having a hard time envisioning what you describe here. Do you want your left shoulder to offer some support to that end of the flute? I've never seen such a thing, but you might be able to construct something with some PVC pipe that would slip over the crown end of the flute (a little foam to hold it without rattling maybe), a right angle joint pointing down at your shoulder then a Tee or something to rest on your left shoulder. I'm sure this would take a bit of trial and error, probably a lot of trial and error, to get all to fit and be comfortable. PVC pipe is pretty cheap and easy to cut. You wouldn't have to glue anything until you were happy with the fit.

Sandy Drelinger makes a headjoint for the Bohm flute that lets the player hold it in front like a clarinet. It's awfully expensive from what I hear.

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 1:58 pm

Try this site:
http://www.flutelab.com/

selkie · Post by **selkie** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 3:54 pm

That site is good. Some interesting adaptations but nothing that extends the length of the mouthpiece over the left shoulder. As I'm a beginner the cost of a swan neck or a headjoint that allows me to play like a whistle is out of the question so I'll have to think on. I have a sort of idea of getting some pvc tubing and getting it cut to a U shape to rest the mouthpiece end in and then maybe blue tack the tube to the flute. The flute I have was a cheap second hand one but I don't want to damage it.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:31 pm

Buy a Giorgi flute .The Wallis ones come up from time to time.

selkie · Post by **selkie** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 6:20 am

andrew Posted: 04 Sep 2003 23:31 Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buy a Giorgi flute .The Wallis ones come up from time to time.

Not possible. I'm 3rd age and disabled and UK benefits wouldn't cough up. That's why I'm trying to adapt a very cheap second hand one. :roll:

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 8:31 am

selkie wrote:That site is good. Some interesting adaptations but nothing that extends the length of the mouthpiece over the left shoulder.

Maybe if you get in touch with them they would have suggestions, or could recommend a specialist in your area? Asking is cheap.

selkie · Post by **selkie** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 4:05 am

Messing around with anything tubular we could find last night we demolished a bicycle pump and found that the plastic tube pushed onto the mouthpiece end of the flute and this helped to reach my left shoulder. It made holding the flute more copmfortable. The flute site was Netherlands and I live in UK. We've tried many outlets here to no avail. Goint to a boot sale today so going to take the head to see if we can find anything metalish tubular there.