First flute - Embouchure?

Basics of Flute Playing, Tone Production and Fingerings

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ShadowPlay
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:59 pm

First flute - Embouchure?

Post by ShadowPlay »

Hi guys,

I picked up my first flute (Yamaha 211) yesterday from a teacher who's moving soon and not taking new students. She gave me a brief intro and told me to practise embouchure for a week on just the head.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the position that yields the best, most consistent results. Is practising like this (with the flute rolled back and the airstream directed down with the top lip out) going to screw me up? I'd appreciate any pointers/tweaks from those who'd know ;)

It's a bit hard to see with the lighting, but the hole is tilted so that the edge is just visible when looking horizontally.

Image

Image

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Zevang
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:28 pm

Re: First flute - Embouchure?

Post by Zevang »

Seems to me it's OK. But to be certain, it would be good if you take a picture from a little higher point of view, so we can see how much of the embouchure hole you manage to cover.
In terms of embouchure format, it's fine. You have absolutely no tension on the sides of your mouth and the lower lip seems to be completely relaxed, which is very good.
Take other shots and come back.
BTW, the airstream going out off center of the lips is very common and many, many great flutists play this way (J.P. Rampal for example...)

leafblower
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:13 pm

Re: First flute - Embouchure?

Post by leafblower »

Newbie here but I'm confused. I read a topic in this forum where some guy got told off by his teacher because his upper lip extended farther than his bottom lip, but that's what OP is doing.

ShadowPlay
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:59 pm

Re: First flute - Embouchure?

Post by ShadowPlay »

Thanks Zevang,

I'll see what I can do (it's hard as hell keeping an instinctive position with one hand while trying to hold/point a DSLR with the other :oops: )

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pied_piper
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Location: Virginia

Re: First flute - Embouchure?

Post by pied_piper »

There really is no ideal embouchure. Everyone's embouchure is somewhat different due to the physical differences between people. Yes, there are basics that are common to everyone, but if you take a look at this page, you will see examples of what I have described.

http://www.larrykrantz.com/embpic.htm
"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--

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Zevang
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:28 pm

Re: First flute - Embouchure?

Post by Zevang »

Understood ShadowPlay. I think it will be better if you use a tripod in this case :-)

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