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Simple flute question

Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2004-06-08 15:13

I've been playing the flute for about a month now. Suddenly, whenever I hold the flute ready to play, there is a slight tingling pain up my left index finger, and it feels like there is a pinched nerve where the flute rests against my finger. I thought I was now holding it right because I no longer have joint pain, but I must not be holding it right because I can't imagine this being normal discomfort. I also get the tingling feeling when I just rub my right hand up and down that spot of my finger, even when I haven't played for about 12 hours.

Edited: I tried rubbing that spot again, and there's not really any tingling anymore, though it is slightly sore at that spot.

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"You have to play just right to make dissonant music sound wrong in the right way"

Post Edited (2004-06-08 15:35)

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Re: Simple flute question

Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-06-08 15:23

Joel Clifton wrote:

> Suddenly,
> whenever I hold the flute ready to play, there is a slight
> tingling pain up my left index finger, and it feels like there
> is a pinched nerve where the flute rests against my finger.

As we say every time joint pain, numbness, or other discomfort arises when playing an instrument:

See a doctor - right away. After you get a diagnosis (or diagnoses - by all means see more than one doctor if you can since very few doctors specialize in musician's injuries - a doctor well-versed in sports medicine can be of help, though) then perhaps we can offer some exercises or other things that you can discuss with your doctor.

Let us know what your doctor says.

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Re: Simple flute question

Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-06-08 18:26

I think they may have finger supports that you can stick on the flute for just that position. Do a search for "Bo Pep Finger Saddle"

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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Re: Simple flute question

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-06-08 19:45

Joel -

Flute is notorious for causing hand pain, because you have to hold your hand off to the side and reach for the keys. I have a flute with openholes and a non-offet G key, and I pretty quickly had to put a plug in the open key for the left ring finger and press that key only with my fingertip. Jeanne Baxtresser, the former principal flutist of the New York Philharmonic, had extensions made for both that key and the G# key.

There have been several discussions of hand pain here. See, for example, http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=10575&t=10477.

Don't play in pain. There are physical therapists who specialize in musicians, and repair shops that alter keys to relieve the stress. See http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=142168&t=142154 and http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=51931&t=51868

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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Re: Simple flute question

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-06-08 21:43

There should be very little pressure on that finger. Are you creating high pressure by pressing the flute hard against your chin?

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Re: Simple flute question

Author: Pam H.
Date: 2004-06-09 01:21

I agree with Mark - see a doctor.

Maybe check into a few lessons on the flute to be sure that you're getting the basics correctly. It's much easier to fix a bad habit early on.

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