Well, we’re at the halfway point of 2020 and all I can say is…whew. It’s been a doozy! Whether you’re back to a normal working and playing schedule, working from home, or still waiting to go back to work, a lot of us are starting to feel the effects of this different routine. Gyms are closed or at lower capacity, group exercise is a no-no, and let’s face it–maybe you just haven’t felt like being active. I definitely apply to all of these. Thankfully, the National Flute Association, along with their Performance Health Care Committee Chair Angela McCuiston, put together a great resource for some stretches and exercises to relieve tense areas that tend to plague flute players.
A 2017 study found that up to 93% of musicians experience playing-related pain at some point in their lives, and flute players are certainly no exception to this because of the asymmetrical nature of holding the instrument. Corrective exercises and strength training, both in the areas of pain and other areas such as the core, can help alleviate and prevent injury and pain. This link provides a wealth of information, a series of simple, no equipment exercises, and a helpful video at the bottom.
https://www.nfaonline.org/publications/fq-plus/stretches
Information gathered from the Spring 2020 Issue of The Flutist Quarterly. Exercises by Angela McCuiston, Performance Health Care Committee Chair of the NFA
