Blowing and Breathing

[CooKieLord]

Hello everybody, as you may have guessed, I'm quite new here, so before proceeding with my questions I will introduce myself.

I'm a flute player, in 11th grade. I live in Canada. I haven't taken any official music classes in school, but I'm a part of the school band. I'm also in the Air Cadets and I'm the lead flutist there (and the only one). I started playing the flute two years ago. I went to two Band Clinics (with cadets) so that's where I picked up most of the theory and how-to's.


Going with my questions:

As a flute player with no official theory classes, I find that my breathing and blowing techniques might be poor. I just bought a Boss TU-80 Tuner/Metronome to see if when I blow, that I stay the same pitch.

Sadly it always varies. Upon researching on the internet, I've determined that I most likely have poor air support. Now I know I'm suppost to use my diaphragm, but how do I know when I am?

As for breathing, I read that when you breathe, your stomach is supost to expand, and this gives you more air. However, once I do so and am at max, I find that if I breather with my lungs (Shoulders elevating) I get more air.

What am I doing wrong?
(Sorry for long text )

Much appreciated,

CooKieLord

[Claiken]

As far as the tuner, i have the same problem, im not 100% sure how to tell you to fix that, but the breathing, youre supposed to breathe with your stomach expanding first, and then with your lungs, to get maximum amounts of air. at least, thats how ive always been taught.