Bottom lip swelling

[sinebar]

I think my bottom lip becomes swollen after practicing high notes because after a while I start having trouble getting the high notes to sound. Is this normal and is there a remidy for the swelling?

[flutepicc06]

It's not normal for your lip to swell because of high notes. How high are we talking, though? Perhaps you're pushing the flute into your lip harder than necessary in an effort to force out those high notes, in which case I would suggest that you return to a lower octave, and very gradually work your way into the upper registers, being sure not to force anything. If you go up chromatically and find a note that just won't work for you, consider that the top of your range for now (after all, it's only been 7 months), and over time work higher and higher. Odds are the muscles controlling your embouchure aren't developed enough yet to be producing notes at the top of the range. It may also be that you have some allergy to the metal of the lip plate that is doing this. I would suggest consulting a teacher, as it is very difficult to know what might be causing that swelling without being able to observe you and your playing firsthand.

[sinebar]

It's not normal for your lip to swell because of high notes. How high are we talking, though? Perhaps you're pushing the flute into your lip harder than necessary in an effort to force out those high notes, in which case I would suggest that you return to a lower octave, and very gradually work your way into the upper registers, being sure not to force anything. If you go up chromatically and find a note that just won't work for you, consider that the top of your range for now (after all, it's only been 7 months), and over time work higher and higher. Odds are the muscles controlling your embouchure aren't developed enough yet to be producing notes at the top of the range. It may also be that you have some allergy to the metal of the lip plate that is doing this. I would suggest consulting a teacher, as it is very difficult to know what might be causing that swelling without being able to observe you and your playing firsthand.

Well my teacher has me working out of the E. Wagner book and it jumps right into the high range very fast. Just barley into the book and already up to the highest B. These notes are brutal and I don't have much endurance which is most of the problem I think. I can get a clear tone on them for a short time but it goes down hill from there. I really don't know if my lip is actually swelling because its not visably noticable but it feels like it is.

[flutepicc06]

That's certainly not in the range I would suggest a relative beginner try to play in. Your teacher must have different ideas, though. I certainly wouldn't expect someone who's only been playing a matter of months to have much endurance or control in that register...Odds are it's still outside your physical boundaries. I would suggest you discuss this, as well as the swelling issue with your teacher at your next lesson....Depending on what you're having to do to produce these notes, you could be forming some nasty habits that will be difficult to reverse later. There's also the potential for injury if you're really forcing things, which is easily avoidable by waiting until your embouchure is more developed to tackle the top of the range.

[sinebar]

That's certainly not in the range I would suggest a relative beginner try to play in. Your teacher must have different ideas, though. I certainly wouldn't expect someone who's only been playing a matter of months to have much endurance or control in that register...Odds are it's still outside your physical boundaries. I would suggest you discuss this, as well as the swelling issue with your teacher at your next lesson....Depending on what you're having to do to produce these notes, you could be forming some nasty habits that will be difficult to reverse later. There's also the potential for injury if you're really forcing things, which is easily avoidable by waiting until your embouchure is more developed to tackle the top of the range.

Yeah bad habits and particularly enjury is what I'm really concerned about. So what is a normal or safe range for someone playing 8 months. I know everyone is different though.

[flutepicc06]

That's certainly not in the range I would suggest a relative beginner try to play in. Your teacher must have different ideas, though. I certainly wouldn't expect someone who's only been playing a matter of months to have much endurance or control in that register...Odds are it's still outside your physical boundaries. I would suggest you discuss this, as well as the swelling issue with your teacher at your next lesson....Depending on what you're having to do to produce these notes, you could be forming some nasty habits that will be difficult to reverse later. There's also the potential for injury if you're really forcing things, which is easily avoidable by waiting until your embouchure is more developed to tackle the top of the range.

Yeah bad habits and particularly enjury is what I'm really concerned about. So what is a normal or safe range for someone playing 8 months. I know everyone is different though.

Everyone is different, and I couldn't give you an exact answer for your situation, so please excuse me for generalizing. In the early months, it's my philosophy that it is most important to teach good habits (proper breathing and air control, relaxed but firm embouchure, good hand position, some basic tonguing, the basics of a good, full tone, etc.) rather than for a beginner to jump right in to learning the full range of the instrument. Let's face it....Most people aren't ready to have that many notes thrown at them that fast, and even if they learn the technical side of playing, they're still a long way from being able to use the upper register and make it sound musical. Personally, I would expect no more than perhaps F3 after 8 months, and mind you that that's with an extremely quick learner who is putting in tons of practice. When I first learned, I MIGHT have gotten up to C3 or D3 in 8 months of playing.