How to Develop a Flute Embouchure
The flute embouchure is the position of the lips and the muscles around the mouth. The embouchure is very important for the production of a great flute tone and playing with good intonation.
It's very important to keep the lips relaxed. Don't stretch them back or smile when you're playing.
A great flute embouchure requires relaxed lips to prevent a thin, pinched sound.
The corners of the mouth should curve downward. Imagine you are pouting as you play.
Second, yawn and feel how relaxed your mouth is. You should feel like your lower jaw is about to fall onto the floor.
When forming the opening in the lips to actually blow across the flute, keep it small. Try these things...
Now that you have relaxed lips, how are you going to get that great flute sound you want?
Deep breathing is the equal partner of the flute embouchure. Inhale deeply and breathe in a huge amount of air. Blow that air out very fast and feel it going up from your diaphragm and out the lips.
Since you have a relaxed embouchure, the air isn't restricted and you can get a fast air stream. That translates into a big, full sound.
If you're just getting started, try practicing your embouchure with only the headjoint of the flute. Then you won't have to worry about holding the entire flute or where to place your hands and fingers.
Hold the headjoint with both hands and blow across the tone hole. Remember to keep the lips relaxed. Pout, turn the corners of the mouth downward, and feel the jaw falling onto the floor.
Practice taking a big breath and blowing a fast air stream.
Soon you'll be getting a beautiful flute sound.
It's very important to keep the lips relaxed. Don't stretch them back or smile when you're playing.
A great flute embouchure requires relaxed lips to prevent a thin, pinched sound.
The corners of the mouth should curve downward. Imagine you are pouting as you play.
Second, yawn and feel how relaxed your mouth is. You should feel like your lower jaw is about to fall onto the floor.
When forming the opening in the lips to actually blow across the flute, keep it small. Try these things...
- Blow through a straw. The opening in your lips should be very small and concentrated into the small diameter of the straw.
- Spit a piece of rice or a watermelon seed through your lips. The dimensions of the rice or seed should be the size of the hole in your lips.
- Blow across a pop bottle until you get a hollow sound.
Now that you have relaxed lips, how are you going to get that great flute sound you want?
Deep breathing is the equal partner of the flute embouchure. Inhale deeply and breathe in a huge amount of air. Blow that air out very fast and feel it going up from your diaphragm and out the lips.
Since you have a relaxed embouchure, the air isn't restricted and you can get a fast air stream. That translates into a big, full sound.
If you're just getting started, try practicing your embouchure with only the headjoint of the flute. Then you won't have to worry about holding the entire flute or where to place your hands and fingers.
Hold the headjoint with both hands and blow across the tone hole. Remember to keep the lips relaxed. Pout, turn the corners of the mouth downward, and feel the jaw falling onto the floor.
Practice taking a big breath and blowing a fast air stream.
Soon you'll be getting a beautiful flute sound.
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