Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • September 2013
11
Flute is Not a Four Letter Word
Tips for instruction in the classroom setting and beyond
Whether you are an experienced band director or a young teacher, you will benefit from reading these tips
on flute pedagogy from
Helen Blackburn
. To print the compete handout from her TBA clinic, which includes
several exercises and music examples, go to
www.texasbandmasters.org,
click on the
Resources tab/Publication
Archives/Convention Handouts.
FLUTE ASSEMBLY/ALIGNMENT
1. Align the outside edge of the embouchure hole
with the outside edge of the first key on the body of
the flute.
2. Align the rod of the foot joint with the middle of
the last key on the body of the flute.
3. Be sure to pull the headjoint out a bit. (A nickel’s
thickness is a good starting point. Teach this to
beginners from Day 1!)
4. Mark with FINGERNAIL POLISH!!!! (I promise
this won’t hurt your flute—this is one of the best
things you can do for development of good tone and
hand position!
Consistency
is a beautiful thing!)
HAND POSITION
Left Hand:
Rest the flute against the “fleshy”
part of the first finger (between
the base of the finger and the 1st
knuckle.) Curve the remaining
fingers and keep them hovering just
above their respective keys (pinky,
too!) Finally, push the wrist (or
palm) gently towards the footjoint.
(This will enable the ring finger to
curve.)
Right Hand:
Shake your arm to relax, and then let the hand relax
naturally at side of body. Raise hand so thumb and first
finger form a natural “C” (as if holding a big orange.)
Place thumb under the first finger or the 1st trill key.
Curve fingers up and over the rods (so they form three
“T”s with the rods.) Finally, align pads of fingers in
center of keys.
GOOD HAND POSITION = GOOD TECHNIQUE
(Therefore, bad hand position = bad technique and
often
bad tone/intonation!)
Watch Out For the Following:
• Don’t let fingers lop off over the edges of the keys.
• Don’t let RH fingers rest on the rods.
• Keep fingers relaxed and curved (watch out for
fingers bending backwards like “Bambi legs”.)
• Keep pinkies hovering just above their keys (don’t
let them stick up toward the ceiling.)
Highly recommended to reinforce good hand position:
Runyon Non-Slip Flute Cushion ($2.99 for two at www.
fluteworld.com)
POSTURE
Lift from ribcage (chest stays
expanded on inhale and exhale.)
Keep head balanced (balance a bean
bag on top of head.) Turn head
slightly to the left— point chin
toward left elbow. Shoulders should
be relaxed and down (watch out for
left shoulder)…shrug shoulders to
the ears, and then let them drop.
Easy Posture Exercise: Squat down,
put elbows on knees, bring flute into position without
moving elbows, then stand up and VOILA! Perfect flute
position!
When seated, “stand while seated.”
Marching band position (with the flute parallel to
the ground and right arm pulled back/left arm pulled
across the body) is NOT a viable flute playing position!
It’s OK for the flute to droop a bit...and it should be a
slightly “forward” instrument.
Teach the ful l range
of the f lute as
early as posible.
Pract ice wi th a
tuner, but be sure
to play a good sound,
in tune—not an
in-tune, bad sound.