This is related to the current flute holding thread, but I'm interested to hear your views specifically on the Rosckstro alignment so am posting a separate question.

I feel that I haven't yet developed a wobble free flute holding position and am still bothered by my flute rolling in when pinky finger is involved. Reading around I read about the Rockstro alignment first on Jen Cluff's site and found also a past thread here. (If you don't know it, it basically involves aligning your flute headjoint so that the far side of the embouchure hole lines up with the centre of the keys.) If I understand correctly, this alignment then helps you to keep the key tops facing the ceiling, or a little out, and consequently the heavy key rods in a higher position, thus making it less likely that the flute rolls in.

Trying it out, I felt there was some improvement but by no means a cure, and I'm aware that I may be doing other things detrimental to a steady position; jaw movments, too-heavy fingers etc and am trying to isolate all the possibilities. When I played with it in my last lesson, my teacher was not impressed and said the headjoint was far too rolled in, although he's happy for me to play around with a small amount on the tradtional centred position. Now, most likely I am not doing the position justice as it still feels like an effort to keep the flute in the recommended position and I suppose I must just carry on experimenting, but was just wondering what most of you do?

I don't put my headjoint in the Rockstro position, but I do keep my RH thumb in the position it would be were I using modifed Rockstro (if that makes sense). This prevents the rolling motion when most fingers are off the keys, but makes sure that my elbow is not too high.

The position of your headjoint relative to the body should not affect the amount you cover the embouchure hole.

I tried the Rockstro alignment for a while, and found that if you do not force yourself to roll the flute outwards so that the rods are above the flute, the embouchure hole remains turned in relatively to the flute, so when playing, it is covered up a lot which doesnt help the tone greatly.

Thank you both.

I tried the Rockstro alignment for a while, and found that if you do not force yourself to roll the flute outwards so that the rods are above the flute, the embouchure hole remains turned in relatively to the flute, so when playing, it is covered up a lot which doesnt help the tone greatly.

I think this is the problem; I feel a real effort to roll the flute outwards and I'm still covering too much of the hole.

I don't put my headjoint in the Rockstro position, but I do keep my RH thumb in the position it would be were I using modifed Rockstro (if that makes sense). This prevents the rolling motion when most fingers are off the keys, but makes sure that my elbow is not too high.

I'm beginning to think the RH thumb is the key to it. Yesterday after all my moaning, it all went a lot better when I recentred the hole, and turned it just a little bit in. But I think my RH thumb was in a better position, slightly behind the flute and kind of pointing up the instrument, rather than trying to balance on it from underneath, if that makes sense! I think it may be worth trying that thumb gadget mentioned on the other thread too.

Also what kind of flute do you play?

When i was trying out the Azumi flutes, with only a solid headjoint, I found that the flute was very top heavy and the mechanism provided the majority of weight in the body which I am not used to, so with my usual hand positioning the flute rolled back very easily.

My current flute is extremely heavy (we weighed them in comparison to other flutes in just flutes, and was only 50g less than a fully fitted 14k aurumite powell flute with all the extra keys possible). The heavy tubing compensates for the weight of the mechanism, so I'm able to line the middle of the embouchure with the middle of the keys.

Sags, it's an Azumi 2000, solid headjoint. But I don't think I can blame it; I had the same problem with the three previous and heavier flutes that I had on hire!
Practice today went quite well, here's hoping!

But I'm still wondering; Jen says that more than 70% of professionals use the Rostro as their preferred position, is that what you experienced flautists find?

The reason I tried the Rockstro alignment was from seeing photos of famous flute players, as well as those more advanced than me using that alignment.
I guess I just fall into that other 25-30% where the middle of embouchure is lined up with the middle of the keys. Reasons for this: uncomfortable right hand position when having to roll the flute out and the embouchure hole being covered up too much due to my comparatively thicker lower lip.