How to relax your flute embouchure

Is your flute embouchure too tight? Not sure? Then check this out! This is a bit longer than usual so I am given you a break down so you can jump around in the video to what you need:
0:24 - identifying a tight embouchure
1:35 - Let it go and experiment
2:26 - Thinking forward: kissing or pouting
5:03 - Using the 'puh'
6:22 - Unusual approach: whistle tones
8:23 - Note-bending
11:05 - Sad 'clown' face
11:42 - Guiding with the upper lip
12:35 - Throat and jaw tension
13:16 - Quick fix: Using your imagination!
Happy practicing :)
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[@TheBoop2u]

Hi I am a professional and have been playing the flute for many years. I have always had a tight embouchure but none of my teachers ever corrected it. In trying to find help online I ran across your video. Thank you so much for making this one!! You have included lots of helpful tips to overcome this problem. I already feel like I’m doing better! BTW I have subscribed to your scale challenge on Patreon. Keep up the great work of making fun, informative and helpful videos!! ❤️

[@macwhirterj]

I was taught the smiling embouchure and played that way all through my band "career." Now that I'm trying to correct it I find I can't even get a sound out at times. SO frustrating. This is helping a lot. My default position (I mean in life, not just in flute playing) is smiling, and I actually have a very difficult time frowning. At best I can manage sortof a neutral face. Who knew that would be such a problem! These exercises are helping far more than just "trying to frown" which is what I was attempting before.

[@TheFlutePractice]

I like that and can totally relate to the default smiling ;P I have become really good at smiling through my eyes when I play (yes, that is a thing!) because sometimes when I play I just cannot help but smile when the music is beautiful or funny :) Good luck with releasing the embouchure. It really will bring you so much more joy even if it feels like you are smiling less right now. Change is always so frustrating at first :(

[@trentevans8487]

I really surprised myself with the concert hall trick, couldn’t believe that sound came from me! Thanks for sharing.

[@TheFlutePractice]

Awesome to hear it ! Yay. Glad it worked 😄

[@noraheronen4698]

All her videos are always such a vibe 🤠🥳

[@broodybastard3617]

oh my god! I've been struggling with getting a clear sound with my flute for a week, never knowing when I'm going to 'hit the right position' with my lips to make a good sound. now, I've tried the technique with making kissing lips and the sound comes over instantly. since I'm a beginner, only ever played clarinet, I searched through youtube to find some good advices and yours truly did help. thanks!

[@TheFlutePractice]

I am so glad to hear this and so glad that the video could help :D Hope your sound just keeps getting better and better!

[@jordyndowdy565]

Ikr

[@dwetethisowowo4443]

Still playing the flute?

[@mustafamanuel6899]

I realize Im kinda off topic but do anyone know a good place to stream new tv shows online ?

[@juanjedidiah5250]

@Mustafa Manuel Flixportal xD

[@RosssRoyce]

I close my eyes and I know that inside I am a rather large concert hall which is within a very large concert hall, then at this point I know that I’m a surrealist.

[@ajaybeharry1535]

When she said "stupid flute'' I was like wait, hold up I sound like that!!!

[@CK-wd4ez]

Closing my eyes, imagining I'm in an empty concert hall, and my only audience member is Jesus seems to work :)

[@TheFlutePractice]

I LOVE this. shared a similar approach with a friend recently and it really transformed her nerves for a big concert! Powerful stuff :D

[@ronaldeng3454]

Love the end of this video on imagination. Between imagination and experimentation, it leads us to new places, new sounds. Thanks you!

[@mikisaito8190]

Imagining the exact sound I want in my head before playing, then when I am playing, really listening to the sound to match the imagination and reality really works!!

[@yumbuttertoast]

i tried this and it helped instantly! thank you so much!!!!!!!!!

[@MikiShinobue]

@@yumbuttertoast Hello! I am so glad to hear that it worked for you too!!! "Imagining the exact sound" technique is something I use for shinobue flute, singing, piano... all the instruments I play and teach!! If you are interested in my shinobue youtube channel, please check it out@MikiShinobue!!

[@sophiagao4297]

Oh my god, using the kissing technique and especially the empty hall one actually helps me so much. I’m in a school band and I always thought you were supposed to squeeze your mouth and make that two lines appear, but after watching the video, I realize that pushing my mouth forward actually makes my sound sound crisp and clear. Thanks so much!!!

[@gayga10]

I just got a flute because I’d wanted one for SO long but didn’t realise there was so much prep work. At the moment I’ve got a mouth like Mick Jagger. You are so awesome! Looking forward to discovering my own embouchere x

[@kapuluangophir7470]

Using basic fluid mechanics, achieving a perfect, streamlined pin-hole (center of the embouchure) depends on the air velocity required. Low notes need bigger holes whereas high notes need tinier holes. The issue then revolves around using the least tension by utilizing the minimum number of muscles. The "smiling" embouchure involves a lot of muscles. The "duck pout" also uses many. I find the most efficient is to relax the face and outer lips and produce the tension in the inner-mouth muscles and training the immediate muscles surrounding the pin-hole to do all the work. As long as the lungs and throat provide enough air pressure required, the pin-hole should remain steady with the least tension. I call it smiling inside, not outside. Hope this helps.

[@Semor-bn1lh]

I try to do the "stupid flute" but I can't make a sound at all unless I smile. Edit: Ah just figured it out. It's cause I have pretty bad overbite. Probably why I developed such an embrochure with so much tension in the first place. Update! : I've figured out how to do a more relaxed embrochure. Completely by chance too! I was playing during rehearsal and we were practicing playing a march for a long time. My mouth started to get really tired and I started to lose my embrochure and it relaxed. I somehow found a way to make it relaxed and sound sort of good when playing, and after looking at it in the mirror when I got home, I found that I had somehow figured out how to do it. Still doesn't sound the best, but at least its a start.

[@siriusputsch1842]

Thank you so much! This is a wonderful presentation, and your flute students are lucky to have your knowledge, experience, creativity, and humor!!

[@TheFlutePractice]

I think on some days they may wish they had a 'normal' teacher...hahaha...but I love doing it and learn so much from my students!

[@Card-vt7yl]

Hi, thank you so much for your video! It helped me realize that I was doing it wrong all those years! (I've been playing for thirty years!)--now my sound is just like I ever wanted...Thank you so so much!

[@TheFlutePractice]

This is so wonderful to hear! Not that you didn't find the sound you wanted for so long...but that you have found it! So exciting :D if you have any questions let me know!

[@Card-vt7yl]

Too bad that we do not know your name...

[@kkelson7048]

Thank you so much “stupid flute” and kissy face! Helped me so much. I didn’t realize how wrong my embrocher was but I kept cracking and falling down to the low register. I’ve only been playing five months and am self taught so I really don’t know what I’m doing. Really appreciate that you make these videos so I can get free advice from a professional.

[@saxman14214]

Everything you say is right on!!! I’ve been using the kissing technique for a while and sharing it with students and here you are saying the same thing!!!! Great minds think alike???😜 You are doing a great service for many!! Can’t wait to try the pitch bending and esp the tone imagination !!!! Dynamite!!! PS lovely lips!!!!! LC

[@carolinafluteman6598]

So far, I'm getting the puh part down, and now I'm working on bending the notes and using the sad clown face. I want to get to the point where I can eventually play the songs I grew up listening to, so I'm going to put them to very good use.

[@3rdEyeEvolutionaries]

Thank you for the lesson, this is exactly what I needed! I've been playing for almost two weeks, and I can say the "imagination" method works. I was doing some improvisation on a slow jazz track last night, and once I imagined myself playing in front of a crowd, my sound improved!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Wonderful! I remember how this blew my mind the first time I did it. Really helped! Good luck with your wonderful new adventure and looking forward to seeing how your playing develops :D

[@jennierosenbaum]

I just want to say thank you! I could not work out why my playing was always sharp! today I started some of the things you recommended here and my tone and dynamics improved instantly and my face doesn't hurt! I was taught to smile while playing and just starting to unlearn that and to blow over a bit more has richened my tone and helped me relax. thank you for explaining things so clearly.

[@liraa535]

It's very useful. I feel often tired after playing for a while, maybe one hour. My lip or my jaw couldn't do easily the movement, they become stiff. These exercises can also improve the sounds of my flute, because they are very often airy, I hope to have a clear sound. Thank you for this video :)

[@TheFlutePractice]

Thank you for your feedback...that is really great to hear!

[@brunoarfors2699]

Maybe, maybe you have helped me with a fifty year old problem. I'll go on trying this new approach! And I love your special sense of humour! :-)

[@TheFlutePractice]

that would be so exciting! Let me know how it goes! :D

[@dyssakis]

I can't believe the imagination trick actually worked, incredible..

[@MsBluehedgehog]

You are a gift!!! Thank you!!

[@AquashiiMusic]

Hey, I just want to say I love your teaching style and thank you! Also I want to give you a quick heads up that you can do something pretty cool in your video description with time stamps. If you use type your times in like this 00:24 it will allow people to jump to that part of the video. So if you changed all the times in your description to this it will link for the viewers. Hope that helps! 00:24 - identifying a tight embouchure 01:35 - Let it go and experiment 02:26 - Thinking forward: kissing or pouting 05:03 - Using the 'puh' 06:22 - Unusual approach: whistle tones 08:23 - Note-bending 11:05 - Sad 'clown' face 11:42 - Guiding with the upper lip 12:35 - Throat and jaw tension 13:16 - Quick fix: Using your imagination!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Hey! Thanks so much, that really did help and just updated them all. I think I was trying to do that but didn't get it right😂😂😂🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@AquashiiMusic]

@@TheFlutePractice Pleasure! Thanks for all your lessons :)

[@jellsxoxo]

I feel like one of the main reasons that younger flutists have a tight embouchure is because of the higher octaves, the notes require more air to produce a good sound (or rather any sound for that note at all) so they just tighten their embouchure to get the air pointed into the hole easier An easy fix for this is keeping a relaxed embouchure while just blowing faster air It's really so simple but requires a lot of air, using breathing exercises definitely helps with keeping a good amount of air to play the flute

[@justanotherclaire7402]

Hey I'm from South Africa, been struggling with this for awhile, thank you so much

[@TheFlutePractice]

I am so glad to hear that. Great to have a fellow South African!

[@justanotherclaire7402]

@@TheFlutePractice yes😁 I don't know many other south Africans who play flute so this is really nice surprise 😊

[@patricemccormack4785]

thankyou for your advice. I am getting back into playing the flute after a long break and found my embouture had changed, i was getting jaw ache and also some nerve twitching on left side, its still there but i am going to follow your advice, many thanks,

[@TheFlutePractice]

I have so often heard this from people starting again. I think it is particularly difficult because you used to be able to play and the frustration of not being able to play like you once could creates more tension and this just perpetuates the cycle. I really recommend slow, patient and inquisitive work! Keep experimenting and if you have any questions or need some more input let me know!

[@andyroberts3741]

Thank you so much for this excellent video. You have explained this so well, some great exercises here. Much appreciated!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Pleasure :)

[@joemagnets9940]

I know you had a lesson on how to hold the flute and what the hands and finger are supposed to do, but if you include that lesson with this one, it would help a lot of people understand why that there are different positions for different people and that they must try them until they find what's correct for their hand size and mouth and lip structure. For instance, the 1st or pointer finger of the left-hand does more than just hold down the key to allow the C note to be played, it also holds the flute lip plate against the chin where the little 'shelf' is formed where the chin meets the jaw bone and how the wight of that hand also holds the lower lip down to keep the passage of air from the lips to the blowhole, then guided by the upper lip, into the blowhole that will allow the flute to sing its note. Using a mirror will eliminate the imagination of what it looks like, to what it actually looks like because the musician really can't see most of the flute when it's being played. Just a suggestion.

[@emmanuelwynkoop5332]

excellent thorough teaching

[@willcassell9688]

Thank you this has helped me so much! I've been tonging between my teeth with a smiley embechure. Can you do a video on how to help position the tongue correctly?

[@TheFlutePractice]

I will think about how I can do this. In the meantime have you seen my videos on articulation. I do speak a bit about the position of the tongue. This may help!

[@NormalLunk]

Coming into flute with 6 years of clarinet experience. Clarinet needs a super tight embesure in order to vibrate the reed and to keep the pitch from going flat. This might be a long journey for me.

[@joaquinsalcedo81]

great tips .. help my a lot cleaning my sound .youre a good teacher and also preaty ;).

[@TheFlutePractice]

Thank you :) glad to hear it is helping!

[@melania239]

you are amazing! thank you so much for all your videos and the dedication you put on it. I am improving all the time thanks to you :)

[@TheFlutePractice]

Pleasure and wonderful to hear you are improving !

[@pnkcloud]

So helpful!!! I can't wait to use these techniques. Thanks a bunch

[@ronaldbrech1531]

Thank you , your wonderful!

[@dermord00]

3:59 hahahaha she is so cute!

[@stephentaylor7490]

Thanks

[@777leviandades]

Very Appropriate, :{ thanks for the lesson !

[@cherryjeanlabajo228]

thank you for making this video :)

[@TheFlutePractice]

Pleaure!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Pleasure :P

[@goshdangit4503]

I've been playing flute in (middle school) band for 2 years now, and because I for some reason haven't looked in the mirror when I play, I just not realized my "normal" embrochure is the 'stupid flute' look. Im trying to correct it now, but it's hard because no matter what I do it always goes back to the wrong way :,)

[@didopoken]

Thanks for this this is what I needed 😭

[@jaslynherrera3349]

this helped thank you so much you're so adorable!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Yay! Glad to hear it :)

[@camilaaugustomalves]

I'm loving the videos! Thanks a lot and keep up the good work! :)

[@TheFlutePractice]

Thank you :) Will keep them coming!

[@LaMerleNoir216]

This was hilarious to watch. But omg it’s helpful for me! Thank you.

[@acidforblood]

Can Galway's embouchure headjoint exercise on KZbin be used with the headjoint attached to the flute? I believe he said that it can. Not sure. What I mean is can I use his method for the whole flute and not just the headjoint going forward?

[@raph009]

Doing these exercises, I realized that I was not doing it quite right... :( The good thing is, I can now work on my embouchure!

[@adamwepener9579]

That helped alot thks

[@ruslanboldareff7676]

please show how it works in practice. whis child or student (if its posible)

[@mgoksoy]

Fixing the embouchure can bet be explained like this I guess. However, a good music ear is equally important to be able to produce the best notes.

[@dautinjeancharles]

très bons conseils

[@RahuGod108]

Mam I have underbite issue with teeth & jaw l have to blow role inside compare to normal flutist, So Please give me your valuable advice

[@GeorgeSKLeong]

Hi Tatiana, I have a learnt a great deal from you videos, thanks a lot! I am able to produce a decent tone based on the ‘pouting’ embouchure which you had taught. However, I have an almost consistent tendency to tighten my embouchure subconsciously in the middle of a song and things just go downhill from there on. What can I do to fix this?

[@dollimoe]

When I play my Bb scale, I am fine/ totally relaxed with some tension, but not much. When I play A, my face literally just relaxes so much that I can't play it in 2nd octave. It is horrible. It's a problem that I can't seem to fix. It isn't just with A, it's with all of my high notes. I keep totally relaxing my ombouchure, and it really sucks

[@cherylcacciatore59]

I still can't do it. Someone help!!!

[@ashamatheth6368]

wow thanks so much this really helped1

[@TheFlutePractice]

Yay! So glad :)

[@ariel4kees]

Hi from the Netherlands! Been watching your vids, love them. Can't help smiling watching them and that's just what you don't want as a flute-player :-) Anyway, on the part of "using your imagination" I always find it helpful to watch a youtube vid, or just the telly, and play or play along. It's really funny that when your mind is occupied by watching, your embouchure just like out of the blue is there....And since I'm into irish traditional music I most of the time use this vid : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWfJoJaQqtiKd8k The singer is singing in Gaelic language, and she is so intense that it uses everything to equal her emotion on the flute. the song crosses the octave, and at the end playing along with the Uillean pipes is some good practice in long tone, I mean some 15 secs or so :-) Thanks for the vids, keep up the good work :-) Cheers, Kees, the Netherlands

[@TheFlutePractice]

Thank you for sharing you feedback and I am sorry (not really!) for making you smile :P Thank you for sharing the vid! Wow....absolutely stunning. I think I want to make it one of my new year's resolutions (if I have any!) to learn more about different flute traditions. There is so much out there and it can only benefit us as you have pointed out!

[@connielee8290]

Hi, thanks for your free lesson. I am new for learning flute. Please let me know if the flute can sound any key signature ? Thanks

[@TheFlutePractice]

Hi! The flute can play in all major and minor keys yes :) some are more tricky than others but all are possible!

[@willcassell9688]

How long do you think it would take to get a good sound after working on this?

[@saxman14214]

Ps tatiana are you in GB or S Africa??

[@hsiffert]

Hi there, are you around CapeTown? Do you play Brazilian 'chorinho' music style ? We are looking for flute player for a weeding around CapeTown in October. Let me know if you are interested, we want 'Brazilian chorinho' to be played.Thanks!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Hi. I don't have a huge amount of experience a playing Chorinho but I have done a little. Perhaps send me a message on fb or youtube and we can discuss it more there :)

[@alexish6262]

lol 3:58

[@alhdgysz]

0:25 you mean Galwayish

[@Kride-1954]

good explanation Ksaxman.com