And it was firmly established that it was his flute posture that caused the injury? Or did the posture simply exacerbate a preexisting condition?
I had neck problems for years playing flute the “normal way” or without even playing the flute at all. I found out by just dumb luck that changing my pillow to an ergonomic one (the one with a speed bump along the edge) made all the difference and now I rarely feel neck strain or pain.
The posture required for a Bb is even more challenging (shouldered or not), particularly if you have short arms. Yet no one is calling for a ban on those flutes.
Denny, you always seem to be searching for things to get your teeth into! I must say, lixnaw’s slip ( underwear too, geddit?) did conjure up the prospect of some curious contortions even if not trying to tootle a flootle simultaneously! It’d crack you up. Sufficient to cause one to sing The Knicker-elastic Blues, or Thong Thung Blue if lisping too…
I knew a woman who tried to play with the
tip of her thong touching her lower teeth.
Not only was she horribly contorted (you can
hardly imagine!) but she
slipped and was maimed for life.
See what playing
with the flute on your shoulder leads to?
Ban it! Ban it I say!
I hadn’t really taken much notice of the shoulder thing until this thread,
trust me if there is any easy hold option i’ll be at the front of the queue,
I had ago for an hour this morning with rests in between practice, and like all things there is a sweet spot that feels comfortable, for a little while, but not for a long period, but interesting all the same.
this is a link to a previous post on the shoulder/grip issue.
some really good advice, I will admit to not reading all five pages though.
I did a week class with Catherine McEvoy in 2007 at Willie Week. Don’t recall her playing on the shoulder - in fact, she would wander around and tip this person’s flute this way or that and advise on hold. She was standing most of the time as she played and as always with these sort of classes - the value of them is the abiding memory of the power and tone in her playing.
Ah! .. do as I say, not as I do!! She must have one hold for the ‘classroom’ and another for ‘real’ playing. It clearly works well for her both ways. BTW, I got a copy of Catherine’s new CD, ‘Home Ruler’ there recently. I wonder if this is recorded differently as her tone doesn’t seem as vibrant and strong on this recording?? Anyone else notice this?
It’s a very dry recording, production-wise, and she uses some different flutes on it too. The playing is fantastic, though.
I believe that she’d rather not play on her shoulder, but old habits die hard. She tries to set a good example in class but when it’s performance time, you kinda just have to go with what’s most familiar.
Thanks, I thought it was Paddy Fahey but I couldn’t
make it out. I’m not hearing the video so well.
Yes, the reels are The Drunken Landlady and
the Rookery.
OK that’s not the Paddy Fahey’s jig I know.
Nor am I finding it online.
Is there anyway I can identify it more precisely?
I learn these things via midis, mostly.
I can probably get it from Catherine M’s
performance, needs be.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but these tunes
are lovely…
innit