Great video! Thanks, Jane. You've given me a glimmer of hope. Don Burrows told me I wouldn't be able to play flute with a teardrop lip so for years I didn't bother trying. I'm going to have a go at your suggestions. Cheers! Andy
Hi Andy!! 😀 Thank you so much for watching one of my videos! I actually have a great Doublers Course inside The Flute Academy in case you're interested in learning further. www.flute.school/academy P.S. Gone Troppo! in Grade 2 Flute AMEB is definitely one of my favourite pieces in the syllabus!
wonderful video. thank you jane! i am sure this will help so many people who begin to play the flute. as a young student i tried a lot to keep a proper emboucher and standard position because i was taught that would bring out the best sound from me, i tried hard but without good results. two decades later i had lesuire of mind and poked things just for fun, and suddenly the teachings illuminated all differently. i mean the teacher was right in what he taught, but i had taken it so concretely, i tried for perfection but perfection was not the answer because nobody is perfect. it is just the best guidance. and ever since i took some freedom state of mind, the old teachings of my teacher is even more helpful. what a fun to re- learn it again. ( and my teddybears are still in chaos at their picnic😂 picnic became a practice war now😂😂😂)
Haha about the teddy bears picnicking! And yes - you are spot on with perfection. It is guidance like you said. As an actually goal, it can drive you insane! Jane
I found this very helpful and clear to understand. Thanks for your advice, I'm actually getting some notes now, after having my flute for one week ;0))
I have a beginning flute player with a "tear drop" lip. I haven't encountered this before. When she is blowing into the flute, you can see openings on both sides of her mouth where the air is coming from. Her top lip splits this opening. When she "flattens" her top lip there is a better sound. Should she be working to "close" one of the openings, to be able to then move the flute to one opening? Or something else? We are going to stay on the headjoint for a while until we can lock in a better sound.
Hi Alexis, yes you are thinking the right things - you sound like a great teacher! If flattening her top lip gets a small enough hole (and not too wide) then that can work! But if the hole is still too flat and long (or if there are 2 holes) yes closing up one of the holes is definitely a good idea!
I seem to get a better sound on the right side but it is very tiring to hold my flute the right side. Almost impossible! Your arms also ends up being in an awkward position. So what do you do?
I've been practicing an hour a day for over 10 years (with several teachers) and still can't produce a stable sound due to a teardrop. Any suggestions? If I close my mouth and blow there are 2 holes, but lining up with one hole doesn't work because half of the air is wasted out of the other hole. If I open my jaw I get 3 airstreams with the middle one under the teardrop pointing the air straight down onto my lower lip and the outside ones more normal - this creates a lot of turbulence. The only thing that works is to lift the teardrop a tiny bit with my finger - then the sound comes out effortlessly - of course this can't possibly work since I need both hands but it demonstrates how easy it is to play the flute when there is a single, smooth hole! I'm experimenting now with puffing my upper lip so that the air flows under the teardrop... but that seems to introduce other problem. Any ideas out there? Jane, do you do Zoom lessons? Thanks.
Hi Steve, Good on you for being so creative and focused with trying to improve your teardrop embouchure. I think you're doing the right thing - experimenting, googling. I don't do Zoom lessons I'm afraid, but I would point you in the direction that you seem to be on anyway. Good luck!
This is so helpful, bc i have teardrop lip and nobody didn't ever told me how should i play. Thank you🥰
Glad it was helpful Anetta!
Great video! Thanks, Jane. You've given me a glimmer of hope. Don Burrows told me I wouldn't be able to play flute with a teardrop lip so for years I didn't bother trying. I'm going to have a go at your suggestions. Cheers! Andy
Hi Andy!! 😀 Thank you so much for watching one of my videos! I actually have a great Doublers Course inside The Flute Academy in case you're interested in learning further. www.flute.school/academy
P.S. Gone Troppo! in Grade 2 Flute AMEB is definitely one of my favourite pieces in the syllabus!
wonderful video. thank you jane!
i am sure this will help so many people who begin to play the flute.
as a young student i tried a lot to keep a proper emboucher and standard position because i was taught that would bring out the best sound from me, i tried hard but without good results.
two decades later i had lesuire of mind and poked things just for fun, and suddenly the teachings illuminated all differently.
i mean the teacher was right in what he taught, but i had taken it so concretely, i tried for perfection but perfection was not the answer because nobody is perfect. it is just the best guidance.
and ever since i took some freedom state of mind, the old teachings of my teacher is even more helpful. what a fun to re- learn it again.
( and my teddybears are still in chaos at their picnic😂 picnic became a practice war now😂😂😂)
Haha about the teddy bears picnicking! And yes - you are spot on with perfection. It is guidance like you said. As an actually goal, it can drive you insane! Jane
I found this very helpful and clear to understand. Thanks for your advice, I'm actually getting some notes now, after having my flute for one week ;0))
Great to hear you're getting a few notes. That's pretty good for one week!
I have a beginning flute player with a "tear drop" lip. I haven't encountered this before. When she is blowing into the flute, you can see openings on both sides of her mouth where the air is coming from. Her top lip splits this opening. When she "flattens" her top lip there is a better sound. Should she be working to "close" one of the openings, to be able to then move the flute to one opening? Or something else? We are going to stay on the headjoint for a while until we can lock in a better sound.
Hi Alexis, yes you are thinking the right things - you sound like a great teacher! If flattening her top lip gets a small enough hole (and not too wide) then that can work! But if the hole is still too flat and long (or if there are 2 holes) yes closing up one of the holes is definitely a good idea!
So interesting, thank you for sharing.
I seem to get a better sound on the right side but it is very tiring to hold my flute the right side. Almost impossible! Your arms also ends up being in an awkward position. So what do you do?
Sounds like you need to adjust where your headjoint is in line with the flute. Have it in a position that is comfortable for you. 😀
For awhile I’ve been making sorta a kissing lip position, and I was wondering if that’s ok to do.
Yes, corners of your mouth come forward to create the small embouchure on the flute. 😊
I've been practicing an hour a day for over 10 years (with several teachers) and still can't produce a stable sound due to a teardrop. Any suggestions? If I close my mouth and blow there are 2 holes, but lining up with one hole doesn't work because half of the air is wasted out of the other hole. If I open my jaw I get 3 airstreams with the middle one under the teardrop pointing the air straight down onto my lower lip and the outside ones more normal - this creates a lot of turbulence. The only thing that works is to lift the teardrop a tiny bit with my finger - then the sound comes out effortlessly - of course this can't possibly work since I need both hands but it demonstrates how easy it is to play the flute when there is a single, smooth hole! I'm experimenting now with puffing my upper lip so that the air flows under the teardrop... but that seems to introduce other problem. Any ideas out there? Jane, do you do Zoom lessons? Thanks.
Hi Steve, Good on you for being so creative and focused with trying to improve your teardrop embouchure. I think you're doing the right thing - experimenting, googling. I don't do Zoom lessons I'm afraid, but I would point you in the direction that you seem to be on anyway. Good luck!
That would be me! ;-(
Hope my tips help you play better with a tear drop lip! 😀
Teardrop lip is caused by Cupid crying after losing his bow :(
Ha. That's cute!