Embrochure

xNomadGirlx · Post by **xNomadGirlx** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:16 pm

I know how the correct embrochure is...lips into a tiny hole, not a line or a huge hole. My problem is that I can't make my lips form a tiny hole-I play with a line AND a huge hole. Can anybody please offer any advice on how I can improve on that?

Zevang · Post by **Zevang** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:40 pm

For how much time have you been playing the flute?

Zevang

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:50 pm

There is no such thing as a "correct" embouchure. Everyone is different and will play differently. The tiny hole concept will work for some, but some will play with a larger hole. As long as you are happy with the cound you are producing, don't worry about what your embouchure looks like. Visually matching what you're told an embouchure should be is not the way to learn how to play. Practice, focusing on tone exercises (from the Wye books or elsewhere), and over time you may notice that your embouchure changes without you realizing it, in an effort to produce the sound you desire.

xNomadGirlx · Post by **xNomadGirlx** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:33 pm

I've been playing for four years, this year being my fifth. I sound too airy whenever I play, and according to others, my lips cover to much of the hole and I have a huge line AND hole. Whenever I pull my lips back, my lips automatically form a line.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:43 pm

xNomadGirlx wrote:I've been playing for four years, this year being my fifth. I sound too airy whenever I play, and according to others, my lips cover to much of the hole and I have a huge line AND hole. Whenever I pull my lips back, my lips automatically form a line.

If you feel you can trust the analyses you've recieved, then roll the headjoint out slightly to help you uncover the hole, and work on keeping your mouth and throat open, and then do tone exercises. Without being able to observe your playing, it's very difficult to offer any better advice than this. Don't feel you have to do things the way others think you should, though. The embouchure they think you need may be completely different from what actually works best for you. This huge line and hole business doesn't really mean a whole lot, as some people will play with such an embouchure, while others will not. Everyone is different, and must find their ideal embouchure. As I said before, I would stop focusing on the visual aspects of your embouchure, and start playing with it to see what produces the sound you want. Try changing the opening from top to bottom (without changing anything else), side to side, try different tongue positions, and jaw angles. Any small changes in the embouchure can have big effects on the sound. Tone exercises (done regularly) will make a big difference.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:53 am

I agree with flutepicc. although I would avoid pulling too much with your lips. you want to avoid having a "smile" sort of embouchure becuase the tension in the lips doesnt typically mesh well with the flute. I used to have a smiley embouchure, but have with the help of several teachers created a very flexible and loose embouchure, and my tone quality went from good to my ideal tone quality for my playing style.