eFlute Fundamentals

Body alignment

With your feet at hip width, make sure your hips are over your heels, and your shoulders are over your hips. There should be no twist in the body. Your head should be sitting lightly on your neck – a feeling like it's being pulled lightly upwards on a string. Now turn your face to gaze at about 45° to the left, i.e. about halfway towards your left shoulder. This is the ideal angle to play the flute at – NOT to the side as is commonly thought. So the flute is now sort of protruding out in front of you as a recorder does (with a slight change of angle). Your music stand should be to your left, where you are facing. The flute should be parallel with the music stand.

Left hand

If you tilt your left hand backwards with relaxed fingers, your fingers will curl into a nice flute-playing shape. Slide your flute into the gap and rest the flute on the knuckle of the index finger. Your wrist should be slightly bent under the flute, so that the little finger (pinkie) naturally hovers over the G# key. The knuckle that holds the flute up should also be slightly pushing the flute towards you.

Right hand

The fingers should be at 90° to the flute, not resting on any of the mechanism apart from the actual keys. Ideally curve all fingers including the little finger, for optimum action. The thumb holds the flute up. Make sure it is underneath the index finger or even slightly to the left of it. I have started using a Thumbport; I find it helpful for relaxing the right hand. The little finger should be pressing slightly away from you as well as downwards