I finally managed to find a private flute teacher that isn't awefully far away. My first lesson was fairly interesting.
The first thing I asked him was if I was setting up the flute correctly. He mentioned that he saw I had my head joint turned in quite a bit and that by doing that I lose tone colour. So, he helped me set it up properly. We mostly spent it doing that.
Later I adjusted the head joint a little bit from where he recommended. It was impossible to keep the flute balanced and have the edge of my lip on the edge of the tone hole.
Anyway, I think that the changes he made, even though my tone is very airy now, will help me in the long run - it's VERY frustrating that now I'm back to the beginning. Oh well ... that's how things are sometimes.
Finally Started With a Private Teacher
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Your new teacher is right. Thing is that you are indeed back to the beginning, but now to the RIGHT beginning 
Think of that and this might help you pass through this frustration you've experienced lately. Just a matter of time to regaining your confidence and you'll see how improved your tone will become.
good luck
Think of that and this might help you pass through this frustration you've experienced lately. Just a matter of time to regaining your confidence and you'll see how improved your tone will become.
good luck
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Going back to the beginning is ALWAYS rough. I've done it twice. I went back and redid my embouchure when I first started taking lessons. Then after I took my auditions for universities (a few months later), we rebuilt my hand technique. I was literally reduced to whole notes and half notes, standing in front of a mirror to watch my hands, and observe the new position and posture.
It was awful. However, I now only have pain in my hands when I over-practice or am on the computer too much, and my technique is fluid and relaxed. My embouchure gave way to a bigger and better sound, and eventually this became my trademark. Whenever I play, the first thing that people comment about is my "hauntingly beautiful" tone.
So be patient for now, and in the end... it will pay off. I promise. We've ALL been there at some point or another.
It was awful. However, I now only have pain in my hands when I over-practice or am on the computer too much, and my technique is fluid and relaxed. My embouchure gave way to a bigger and better sound, and eventually this became my trademark. Whenever I play, the first thing that people comment about is my "hauntingly beautiful" tone.
So be patient for now, and in the end... it will pay off. I promise. We've ALL been there at some point or another.
Thanks guys.
I Emailed the teacher and told him that instead of practicing tone, scales, and new music that I was going to just practice on my tone and scales on just the low register. I don't see the sense in spending time doing new music until I can get a good tone.
Interestingly enough, I feel that I'm progressing faster than I did the first time around which is inspiring! It seems that I'll quickly catch up to where I was.
I Emailed the teacher and told him that instead of practicing tone, scales, and new music that I was going to just practice on my tone and scales on just the low register. I don't see the sense in spending time doing new music until I can get a good tone.
Interestingly enough, I feel that I'm progressing faster than I did the first time around which is inspiring! It seems that I'll quickly catch up to where I was.
Update
Well, things are going well with this new teacher. I was skeptical about all the changes he wanted me to make, but my tone is really getting much better.
This last lesson he mentioned that it's true the way I'm doing it will get me a tone really quick but in the long run it's more limited and less flexible.
He made a couple more changes this time and it made the flute more stable. The biggest one was that I was not holding the flute against my chin; I was holding it loose in the air touching my lips. I can already feel the stability with this new way.
Still got a long way to go, but I'm getting there.
This last lesson he mentioned that it's true the way I'm doing it will get me a tone really quick but in the long run it's more limited and less flexible.
He made a couple more changes this time and it made the flute more stable. The biggest one was that I was not holding the flute against my chin; I was holding it loose in the air touching my lips. I can already feel the stability with this new way.
Still got a long way to go, but I'm getting there.
Zevang,
In my last lesson I told him that I was stuck in the second octave. I could only get to G. So he looks and analyzes while I play ... made a single adjustment and now I'm all the way up to B!!
In a million years I would have never thought to fix what was wrong: my left arm pushing the flute upwards.
In my last lesson I told him that I was stuck in the second octave. I could only get to G. So he looks and analyzes while I play ... made a single adjustment and now I'm all the way up to B!!
In a million years I would have never thought to fix what was wrong: my left arm pushing the flute upwards.