Trumpet player learning flute...

[TheMaskedTrumpeter]

Hey guys, I'm a music education major, and I a play the trumpet. I am currently learning flute for woodwinds methods class. I have two issues: 1) Anything below a G in the staff does not come out. This I have been working on and is getting better. 2) Anything above a top space E, my embouchure begins to buzz as if I am playing trumpet. If I loosen up the embouchure, I get just air. My embouchure will buzz, but sometimes a note will still come out on the flute. Does anyone have any ideas that I could do to fix this?

Thanks!

[pied_piper]

The first thing I would suggest is to practice blowing with the headjoint only so that you can concentrate on the embouchure and not worry about fingerings. Here are two good analogies for the flute embouchure:

1 - Imagine that you have an uncooked grain of rice in your mouth. Now imagine gently spitting it out. The lip position for spitting rice is very similar to a proper flute embouchure. Practice that without the flute and remember what that feels like. Then put the headjoint to your lips and do the same thing. Try that until you can get a good solid tone.
2 - Get a plastic coffee stirrer from your local coffee shop. Place one end of it between your lips. Move your lips to make the far end of the coffee stirrer move up and down. Remember what that feels like and then try the same movement when blowing into the headjoint. Adjust the up-down angle slightly for the best sound and the note you want to play.

Next, using only the headjoint, try to play the overtone series just as you do on trumpet. Practice playing the fundamental, then increase the air speed slightly as you make the lip opening just a little bit smaller. That should produce the next harmonic. If you continue you should eventually be able to play several different notes. Try this exercise with the end of the headjoint open and then try it with your right hand covering the open end. You'll get another series of notes. Alternate notes with open, closed, open, closed, going higher each time. You may be surprised at how many different notes you can play with just the headjoint!

Many good flute teachers use the headjoint only "trick" to help beginners start to focus their embouchure. It's an excellent way to learn to form the embouchure. Try it and let us know how that works for you.

BTW - Don't feel bad. I had the reverse of your problem. I was a woodwind guy trying to learn the trumpet in brass methods class.