Taking up another instrument

[becca and her flute x x]

Hey, I have just taken my grade 8 flute exam and now its the summer holidays, I was considering having a go on the trumpet but will this totally ruin my embachure?

[kodalyflutist]

Hey, I have just taken my grade 8 flute exam and now its the summer holidays, I was considering having a go on the trumpet but will this totally ruin my embachure?

IMHO, as a former middle school band director - yes. When I was teaching brasses, I had to be careful not to overdo it because I sounded pretty bad on flute afterwards. That's my experience, anyhow.

Best, Ann

[fluteguy18]

I agree. It would [IMO] damage your embouchure. If I am correct [although I don't play a brass instrument on a regular basis], the "buzz" to play a brass instrument causes blood to rush to your lips rendering them slightly puffy/ swollen in comparison to what they were before you started playing. And the fact that a flute embouchure requires flexibility, and a brass embouchure requires firmness, and lack of the sort of flexibility the flute requires.

If you are looking at other instruments.... I would maybe give other woodwinds or strings a look at. They are less detrimental to flute playing.

[becca and her flute x x]

Thanks for your advice, I might have a little play about but nothing much as flute is my life!! Considering having a go on a stringed intrument now, or concentrating more by practising on a wooden flute!

Thanks for advice!

[pied_piper]

I agree with kodalyflutist. I, too, am a former band director and found that demonstrating any of the brass instruments caused me problems with my flute embouchure. Sax and clarinet are somewhat natural doubles for flutists. If you think you might enjoy playing shows, flute, sax, and clarinet are commonly doubled.

I started on sax, then added clarinet and flute. These days, I play flute most off all, but I certainly have not abandoned the reeds. Even still, I find some minor interference between the reed embouchure and the flute embouchure, but it's nothing that can't be compensated for.

Piano, strings, or percussion won't disturb your embouchure either.

So, pick one and go for it!