So, I get to change my emboucher completely...

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:07 pm

I recently had a lesson with the flute prof at school (she isnt my private teacher yet). Well, apparently i need a flatter emboucher. my Middle register sounds good with the new emboucher, but i like the low low notes better with my old emboucher. High notes are iffy on either one right now.

Any thoughts/advice? I feel like a retard only practising long tones all day.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 5:09 pm

Probably what you are expieriancing is just a lack of control associated with forming a new embouchure. Eventually, after changing it, you will develop better control, and you will be able to modify it slightly to make it the best it can be for you as a player. I myself have changed my embouchure about 3 times now. The embouchure I use now, is a hybrid of two of them. It is flexible with controlled tension using various muscles when appropriate. Be patient.... it will get better.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:31 pm

practising more with it, it is getting a little better. Its still far from perfect. I think i am also sort of combining 2 embouchers. If I use only the one I was instructed, my very low notes dont sound hardly at all, when they do its airy, flat, and gross. lol. I think im getting better though. slowly.

flautists_r_us · Post by **flautists_r_us** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:24 pm

How do you know when you change your embochoure?????I must've changed mine and not noticed it? because I get most octives pretty good

Hmmmm........Yeah, how do you know??? I would give you advice, but I've never had a private teacher and just went along as I pleased (and somehow I still ended up with no competition in my grade at school. Erggghhhhhh:evil:)

remnantpark · Post by **remnantpark** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:48 pm

Well, I had to change my embochure before and basically, everyday I would spend time looking at the mirror playing rather than doing anything else for practice. I just had to play like a particular scale really slowly with the new embochure, looking at the mirror at the same time. It was very painful for me since all I had to do is practice one particular song or scale everyday~
Just relating/connecting.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:58 pm

remnantpark wrote:Well, I had to change my embochure before and basically, everyday I would spend time looking at the mirror playing rather than doing anything else for practice. I just had to play like a particular scale really slowly with the new embochure, looking at the mirror at the same time. It was very painful for me since all I had to do is practice one particular song or scale everyday~
Just relating/connecting.

Yeah, thats what ive been doing. long tones & simple scales in the mirror. The only thing is I know that I do have to work on my pieces, but ive kinda been scared to, because in that lesson the teacher said "Whats the point in practising if youre going to practise it wrong?" So ever since then (1 week ago exactly) i havent practised my pieces. Just tone tone and more tone. i feel retarted doing that but im really nervous about playing a piece & thinking about the piece & having the old emboucher come back without my realizing.

avins · Post by **avins** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:40 am

Well , just to add on to this topic Id like a little advise ,
Someone over here gave a very good suggestion , you keep the bottome jaw quite back and the lips slightly drawn back lips , a "slight" smile all along the first octave . from C 2 you start pushing the bottom jaw forward , naturally the top lip are getting more pointy , well ever so slightly. It works very well and in fact I can play upto C3 quite easilly even D3 , but here starts the problem , that is E3 to C4 ,
The question is , do you continue pushing the jaw forward, as you go itto the 3rd and 4th octave or, like Ive read a comment here , you return to the lower register embochure practice, Thanks for any feedback on this one .

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:48 am

Really, you should only be making very slight changes to your mouth/embouchure anywhere in the range. The whole point of bringing your jaw forward is to raise the airstream, which will allow to produce the upper octaves, but many people take the advise too literally, and overcompensate as a result. Focus more on bringing your airstream up, and focusing it than on where your jaw should be. Using a block embouchure for one set of notes, and then another for another set is not likely to get you too far, so don't think about the embouchure....Think about placing the air where and how you want it (listening to find the spot where the results are best), and your embouchure will take care of itself.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:03 am

^I think i may be trying to over-do it, like you said. im headed back to the practise room now, ill give what you said to think of a shot.

avins · Post by **avins** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:49 am

Thaks flutepicc06 , good point , I mean , aiming of air stream at the right focal point, youll be surprised at what a difference these comments make , I think ive got it right, this time ,

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:29 am

avins wrote:Thaks flutepicc06 , good point , I mean , aiming of air stream at the right focal point, youll be surprised at what a difference these comments make , I think ive got it right, this time ,

oh yeah. Very helpful, and i think its working.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:40 am

Claiken wrote:
avins wrote:Thaks flutepicc06 , good point , I mean , aiming of air stream at the right focal point, youll be surprised at what a difference these comments make , I think ive got it right, this time ,
oh yeah. Very helpful, and i think its working.

I'm glad I good help both of you!

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:11 pm

im also trying this. I used to have my mouth hole quite large for lowest notes, then it would like, almost scare me when i had to play a high note & id squeeze right up. Now im trying starting out with a smaller hole, so that its not so much movement from octave to octave, now its almost none! i think this is working better for me.