Hi guys!! I'm 15 and I'm playing flute for 6 years and this past 2 years I started having pain in my right shooulder and arm...
I've done a lot of exams and at last doctors told us that my muscles are inflammed, infact now I can't even play flute for 5 min without feeling anything
My teacher is too worried because he told me that I'm still young and I musn't have pain anywhere!!!
My mom and I went to the physiotherapist, and a month ago she suggested me to stop playing flute until she will finished to cure me!!!
But the problem now is that I'm sooo sad...
My parents recently bought me a new muramatsu flute... and everytime I saw it on my table I feel bad... there's a part of myself who wants to open the flute bag and play...
Is there anybody of you stop playing flute without meaning to?

I've known teenagers to stop playing an instrument for months due to athletic injuries or simply teeth braces (which impacts playing brass instruments much more than woodwind). When they return to playing, it does take a while (perhaps weeks) to return to form.

If flute playing has been the cause of the problem then you and your teacher need to review your posture - especially when sharing music stands. Do you angle the flute too far back? etc. You will need to address a posture issue to avoid the problem reoccuring.

While taking a break from playing flute you might like to consider learning a little keyboard (if you don't already do so) or saxophone. If you do so, then especially at the outset play for short amounts of time and STOP if you have any pain.

I'm also a flutist and i have had a whole lot of shoulder spazms lately or how ever you spell it (spazms)and I just turned 14 the first of december Lucky for me it was my left shoulder and it only hurt when I moved it outward. I wish it didn't happen to you though. That is awefully sad R u ok though, sounds like it's complete torture playing the flute Mine went away for after about 3 or 4 weeks. How long have you had it because it doesn't sound like you've had it for long. I'm sorry about your shoulder and hope you get well soon.


always,

schoolbandgeek1

Yes! flute playing has been the cause of the problem.
But my teacher and I in this past 2 years reviewed my posture.
Actually I don't do sport... I'm a music lover, so I practically forgot sport... hihihi!!!
So the physiotherapist told us that the problem is about that: My muscels are not that strong for the flute position... so after playing for 4 years my ahoulder and arm(right) muscels gave up!!
About the flute angle I don't angle the flute too far back... when I started playing flute my teacher told me not to do it, and correct me everytime...

I also play piano as a second instrument, but I miss playing flute...
Flute is the way to express my feelings... with piano I can say the same thing... but I love flute...
I can stop playing piano for years... but for flute it's different...
Like for exmaple now, I'm feeling tired, usually I just need to play flute and it will disappear...

I'm still having treatments with the physiotherapist, for now it's not improving... and I don't know when can I start again playing flute...

Hi schoolbandgeek1, my left shoulder started aching when I was 13. First I thought that it was normal to have pain after playing... let's say... for 1.30 hours, but it WASN'T!!!
I continued playing the flute, and last year I opened my problem to my teacher!!!
So for the whole year my teacher started to correct my position, he was very worried for me... he too has pain while he play... but he's 50, and for him it's normal!!!
So the time of my resistant (is that right) about playing flute was continuesly reducing...
And now I can't even play flute for 5 min without feeling anything!!! And my shoulder really feel bad even though I'm not playing thr flute... I mean it's like I have the pain permanently...
I'm glad for you that it went away

la_flautista
I'm glad for you that

I just hope you'll be able to play the flute again but without pain. will there have to be any surgery involved? I really wish you well. Really pains me to hear stories like that. I still get spazzes once in a while and i know a kid that broke his coller bone and he played the baritone saxophone and he got transfered to alto sax. are you taking private lessons or are you playing in a full band class cause if you are in a band class you could possibly convence your teacher to transfer you to oboe because my friend plays oboe and they have the same exact notes as flute and the fingering is almost the same as a flute. Oboe should be easier on your shoulder because you don't have to raise your arm at all. Just an oboe lookes more complicated to take care of because of the reed. It splits in half sometimes. I may be wrong about the oboe though. I only play flute,melody on piano, and voice so i could be wrong but i know their F is the same.

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are normally associated with poor posture, constant muscle tension and/or keeping still. When they occur its normally best to stop the activity which causes the problem and seek specialist advice if the problem persists. I'd not heard of such injuries being associated with poor muscle strength or development. They are most common with computer users - buy rarely with those who don't sit still when the type!

I fear that even if the physiotherapy solves the current problem the pain will return unless you change how you play. Your posture and music stand height etc have probably changed in the years that you've played because you've grown! You may also have been encouraged to keep the flute still, have the music slightly low and the little finger almost constantly on the Eb key. All of these have the potential for RSI pain and despite what some teachers believe it doesn't make good intonation much more difficult if you relax more, move more and keep the little finger off except for E, Eb and in the top octave as per fingering charts. (I'll probably get flammed for that comment but what matters is playing well not conforming).

I went through this about 15 yrs ago so I sympathize. I wound up studying Feldenkreis technique which is a type of physical therapy. My problems were due to tension in the shoulders and arms and the therapy cured it and also helped me increase my breath control and playing stamina dramatically. Now I can practice 2-3 hrs each morning and I don't even feel it.

message me if you want more details

good luck!

Wow patrick. It is amazing what doctors can do. I think your idea will really help her with her sore shoulder. She might be able to play her new flute again. Real good advice

Hi Patrick... I think my problem too is due to tension in the shoulders and arms!
I hope also that the terapy can cure me completely
Can I ask you what's Feldenkreis technique means? I never heard anything about that before!


schoolbandgeek1,there will not be any surgery involved... I just only need to have some terapy... but it takes a lot
I'm taking a private lesson... we'll it's not exactly a private lesson.
I live in Italy... and I go to a school of music... like conservatory!
My teacher is Raffaele Trevisani, and I take flute lessons with him...
We don't have any bands for school here in Italy

Hope to hear you soon
la_flautista!

Feldenkreis technique is somewhat like Alexander technique and yoga, except that you lie on your back on a massage table and to movement exercises and breathing exercises. It helps free up the tension in your shoulders and arms and loosens up the muscles that keep you from breathing properly. All I can tell you is that any of these techniques are good and require no pills or surgery, find the one that works for you.

keep me posted

I think that is what I'm doing now with the physioterapist!!

Thanks a lot...

I'm glad there's no surgury involved and maybe you could try patricks advice.

I think she said that she's doing that already with a physical therapist.

I think she said that she's doing that already with a physical therapist.

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Sorry for the double post!