flute sound not improving?

[Zevang]

Did you ever take you flute for a revision? Did your teacher tried playing your flute so any problems with the instrument could be detected?

[flutego12]

My teacher says the same of me.
In fact I got told off (very professionally and diplomatically that I almost missed it) that day. My problem was I was providing puff within my mouth (with my tongue and lips) whilst I was supposed to kick from the diaphragm and merely direct the air stream with my embouchure. I think I'm sorted now but still need to remember to breath for support. The kickstart has to come from the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Still building the right muscle memory so it becomes second nature.

check
-flute alignment (mine was wrong)
-posture & hand position
-position lips
- chin up, air column clear
- deep breath with feigned yawn, tongue back
- form embouchure
- brief pause for lip resistance ready
- and "doh" let the air stream out.

It was easier when i wasn't so conscious of the steps. =(
I thought I had a really good tone.
But told otherwise. Partly because I tend to fumble when playing for another.
=(

[evrmre]

My teacher says the same of me.
In fact I got told off (very professionally and diplomatically that I almost missed it) that day. My problem was I was providing puff within my mouth (with my tongue and lips) whilst I was supposed to kick from the diaphragm and merely direct the air stream with my embouchure. I think I'm sorted now but still need to remember to breath for support. The kickstart has to come from the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Still building the right muscle memory so it becomes second nature.

check
-flute alignment (mine was wrong)
-posture & hand position
-position lips
- chin up, air column clear
- deep breath with feigned yawn, tongue back
- form embouchure
- brief pause for lip resistance ready
- and "doh" let the air stream out.

It was easier when i wasn't so conscious of the steps. =(
I thought I had a really good tone.
But told otherwise. Partly because I tend to fumble when playing for another.
=(

Interesting... I've had vocal training, and that is exactly what a good vocal coach will teach. I had thought it crossed over (Roger Mather's book suggested as much), but that is the first real confirmation I've had...
If that is so, then the basic theory is that the diaphragm supports the sound/ breath, with a clear passage straight to the lips, which only supply that final direction to the airstream/ sound. If the support is elsewhere, then the mouth shape distorts the sound/ airshape, and the tone/ voice sounds wrong. Is that about what your teacher said?

And if this is so, then the easy way to know if you're guilty of this is simple: tension in the throat and mouth. If you are supporting the voice/tone correctly, it will feel almost effortless, as if your breath barely touches anywhere between the diaphragm and the flute itself, with a gentle shaping at the lips to provide a good even airstream.

[flutego12]

My teacher says the same of me.
In fact I got told off (very professionally and diplomatically that I almost missed it) that day. My problem was I was providing puff within my mouth (with my tongue and lips) whilst I was supposed to kick from the diaphragm and merely direct the air stream with my embouchure. I think I'm sorted now but still need to remember to breath for support. The kickstart has to come from the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Still building the right muscle memory so it becomes second nature.

check
-flute alignment (mine was wrong)
-posture & hand position
-position lips
- chin up, air column clear
- deep breath with feigned yawn, tongue back
- form embouchure
- brief pause for lip resistance ready
- and "doh" let the air stream out.

It was easier when i wasn't so conscious of the steps. =(
I thought I had a really good tone.
But told otherwise. Partly because I tend to fumble when playing for another.
=(

Interesting... I've had vocal training, and that is exactly what a good vocal coach will teach. I had thought it crossed over (Roger Mather's book suggested as much), but that is the first real confirmation I've had...
If that is so, then the basic theory is that the diaphragm supports the sound/ breath, with a clear passage straight to the lips, which only supply that final direction to the airstream/ sound. If the support is elsewhere, then the mouth shape distorts the sound/ airshape, and the tone/ voice sounds wrong. Is that about what your teacher said?SPOT ON. I too am halfway through Mather's book which I recently bought from Jen Cluff. Great stuff but crawling through it. In the upshot aircolumn should be uninterrupted, the kick comes from diaphragm and intercostals, embouchure merely directs air stream and some resistance for color. Like you said.

And if this is so, then the easy way to know if you're guilty of this is simple: tension in the throat and mouth.Caught out quite a bit here when doing tougher pieces. She has officially banned me from the interesting stuff, till I get through the baby drills - w/o saying so. She's goooode. I just dont manage to play well in front of her so I feel like I'm backtracking old ground - I suppose that is a symptom in itself If you are supporting the voice/tone correctly, it will feel almost effortless, as if your breath barely touches anywhere between the diaphragm and the flute itself, with a gentle shaping at the lips to provide a good even airstream.

??? not sure what you mean?

[MissyHPhoenix]

Exactly!