Flute Repair - Pressing too hard on key mechanism

[KaiteBelle]

I feel like I have to walk the walk of shame when I admit to this but I broke my flute... I know exactly what I did to. I have pretty small hands (about 5 1/2" too to tip) and so when I play my flute I normally use finger saddles for the right and the left tumbs. I found that this helped with posture and my grip on the instrument. However one of the saddles broke when I tried taking it off to clean my flute and so I was just using the one for my left thumb because I didn't want to buy another. It got to the point where I was getting Tendonitis and Carpal tunnel in my left hand and so I thought I would experiment by taking the other thumb guard off as well (to see if it got better or worse.) I ended up never replacing or putting either of them back on. Because of the way I am used to holding my flute I was putting way too much pressure on the key mechanism with my right hand and it ended up popping out. Has anyone else experienced this? And is their a solution that you have found works? I really can't afford to break my flute like this anymore and would appreciate any advice!

[pied_piper]

First, it sounds like you are just not holding the flute properly. Far too often, I see players using saddles because they simply were never taught the proper way to hold a flute. I'd suggest taking a few lessons from a flute teacher who can help you adjust your hand position. That may also help with your tendonitis and carpal tunnel issues.

Second, take the flute to a repair shop. It sounds like a screw may have been a bit loose or perhaps a post is slightly bent out of alignment. In normal use, the mechanism sound not pop out of place unless you have a grip like Iron Man.

[KaiteBelle]

I have taken it to my local shop and it was a quick fix. I use the sadles because my teacher recommend I use them however I think I will really just work on the proper way to hold my flute. Thanks.