Posted on 12th Dec 2010 @ 1:44 PM

Thumbport to the Rescue!

by Karen Moratz

You may have recently seen a flutist you know using a little device in the right hand area of his or her instrument. It might be especially noticeable if said flutist has the green, purple, or pink version of the gadget. “What is that thing?” You may ask. “Is it just the latest designer fashion accessory for flutes? Or is there a more practical purpose to it? I’m not having any problems playing the flute without it. Why should I try it?”

Balancing the flute is a challenge for beginning and professional flutists, and for every level in between, whether or not we are aware of it. The challenge begins with the horizontal position of the instrument, and is exacerbated by the fact that the rods, by necessity, are placed to one side of the keys. The rods weigh down the instrument on one side so that gravity encourages it to rotate toward the player.

The traditional way to deal with this issue is to use four leverage points: The chin, the side of the left hand index finger, the right hand thumb, and the right hand little finger, which also operates the Eb key on the footjoint. It is helpful to keep these points in mind to keep the flute stable, and many students learn this method early on. In spite of this, many flutists still face problems related to instability: a tendency to “roll in,” i.e. cover too much of the embouchure hole, inconsistent sound due to too much movement, and even hand problems due to gripping the flute in an attempt to stabilize it. Using the right hand little finger for stabilization also keeps the right hand from relaxing sufficiently to develop a truly fluid technique.

The Thumbport is a clever solution to this seemingly never-ending problem. The genius of it is in the lever. The flutist’s right hand thumb rests just under the lever, but also makes contact with the part of the device that is flush with the flute tube. The lever keeps the flute from rolling back toward the player, and is adjustable—one can move it around without scratching the flute.

When the Thumbport is in place, the right hand thumb can help balance the flute more efficiently. The flutist now no longer needs the right hand little finger for balance, so that its only task becomes operating the Eb key. This setup allows the right hand fingers to relax, and for most people, the overall balance and feel of the instrument becomes much more comfortable. So the benefits of using the Thumbport go beyond the right hand: if the overall balance is improved, the left hand position will be optimized as well, and technique becomes less labored. The tendency to “roll in” is virtually eliminated, and the instrument is more stable, so the flutist’s sound is often improved as well.

Personally, I tried the Thumbport because the idea made sense to me. I found that my right hand, which for the past few years had been experiencing intermittent tingling and numbness, was suddenly completely back to normal. The worrisome symptoms disappeared and have not resurfaced since I began using the device. So, very simply put, I’m sold! And this is why I decided to become a Thumbport distributor.

Piccolo and Alto Flute Thumbports have recently been added to the product line.