Some new questions (condensed repost)

[Godsflautist]

I included some questions in a reply under "how to improve tone and pitch" and wanted to condense the post to just the questions and so the posts can stay on topic.

I bought a couple of Trevor Wye's books to work on my intonation. But I am having a hard time distinguishing harmonics from overtones. Are harmonics and overtones the same? if not what is their differences?

Because I am starting back in seriously playing the flute (vs, just fiddling with it hear and there) I'm realizing that I have lost a lot of skills in the 15 years that i stopped playing. The worship leader mentioned that it would eventually come back to me but I would have to create new muscle memory. Not to mention improving my breath control and stamina during long phrasings. Any ideas that would help me reestablish muscle memory and breath control?

I still can't seem to soften my uuper register tones especially when I get into notes including and above Eb6 but I recognize a definite change in quality in tones after C6. I have solo pieces that go as high as G6 and one I think that goes to A6. So far I have tried to avoid these pieces, or drop the passages in these numbers down an octave, but then it makes the whole song sound off. I'm beginning to think that my tone is going to be on the shrill side no matter what I do. I'm trying to recognize what it is that I'm doing with notes B5 and lower that makes it sound warmer, but I am not able to detect what I'm doing differently. Can you share with me what helps you all achieve or maintain consistent tone quality through different octaves?

Thanks! Emi

[Mark]

could be a few different things here, ma'am. up to and including the
flute itself not being a good match. I know that for me.. my son's Pearl
is a better fit than the flutes I usually use. That is being rivaled though
by a gold Yamaha head joint that a friend of mine is letting me borrow
for a while.
Other than that, it takes patience and perseverance to get the tones soft
in the high registers so I would encourage you to keep working at it.

Mark