Flutes in left-hand version

Left handed flutes have always existed, but only as custom made and therefore very expensive instruments, made by individual flute makers. In 2011 VIENTO introduced the first series of affordable left flutes, produced in serial production, in particular for:

• flutists (right handed) who suffer from back, neck or shoulder pain.
  Playing occasionally with a left-handed concert flute can relief such discomfort. The whole body is turned in the opposite direction which brings the muscles in balance again. A new interesting alternative to physiotherapy.
   
• flute teachers (right handed)
  If the teacher plays a left hand flute, then teacher and student face each other, i.e. both see the fingers of their counterpart. Mistakes are immediately seen and corrected. Besides, teaching flute this way is much more fun!
   
• and of course – for left handed students/flutists!
  Finally left handed students can play a silver flute in a way and posture they feel most comfortable with.
   

A few more remarks to our left hand concert flutes:

• Right handed flutists can learn to play a left hand flute. They just need a little more practice compared to left handed flutists. For motivation, just check out the Youtube videos at the end of this page.
• Advanced right handed flutists, after practicing with a left hand flute, often realize that their ability with the “normal” flute has actually improved and that it feels more easy.
• Practicing with right and left hand flutes is not only good for the body, but for the brain as well!
   

There are now some interesting publications and Youtube videos on the subject of the left concert flute:

Dr. Petra Music teaches flute and flute pedagogy at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. She has published an article about her experiences with the left hand flute in the December 2014 issue of PAN, the journal of the British Flute Society.

You can read this article here: PAN 12-2014: The left-handed flute as a tool for teaching and learning, by Dr. Petra Music

Karoline Renner, flautist at the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Germany, and deputy chairwoman of the working group on health and prophylaxis of the German orchestral association, deals with the left flute topic in her article

"Verkehrte Flöten im Orchester? Ein Plädoyer für die andere Hälfte am Beispiel der Querflöte"
"Wrong flutes in the orchestra? A plea for the other half using the example of the transverse flute"

published in the German magazine "das Orchester", issue November 2020.

Since 2021 an interesting website is online, that deals exclusively with the topic of “playing left instruments”: www.en.linksgespielt.de.

The site also offers a forum where left-handers and those interested can exchange views on the subject.

Youtube videos on the subject of the left flute you find at the end of this page. 

VIENTO flute FL 208 L

The VIENTO FL 208 L flute, a left-handed version, is technically and from its sound characteristics equivalent to our FL 208 models. The “L”-versions have mirrored mechanics, lip plate and tone holes. It allows left handed flutists to play a flute in a way and posture they feel most comfortable with.

Material: nickel silver, silver plated. Silver riser, E mechanism, offset G, wooden case, carry bag. 5 year warranty.

Left flute VIENTO FL 258 LR

The left-handed version of the VIENTO FL 258 LR concert flute is technically and in sound characteristics equivalent to our FL 258 model. The “L”-version has mirrored mechanics, lip plate and tone holes.

Material: Sterling silver headjoint, body and footjoint silver plated. E mechanism, offset G, wooden case, carry bag. 5 year warranty.

Left flute VIENTO FL 308 LRH

The new VIENTO FL 308 LRH concert left flute is technically and in sound characteristics equivalent to our FL 308 R version. The premium model of our left flutes come exclusively with open holes and B-foot. Like all VIENTO flutes for left-handers, also the FL 308 LRH has mirrored mechanics, lip plate and tone holes.

Material: Headjoint, body and B-foot in sterling silver. E mechanism, offset G and french keys. Headjoint and open keys with engravings. Elegant wooden case with carry bag. 5 year warranty.