Managing Tension for a Resonant Flute Sound - Don't Just Relax!

Learn how to improve flute tone and ease of playing by managing tension in your body, balancing three zones of engagement (lips, throat and core). Excess tension in one of these zones often results from underworking of another. Balancing a healthy, neutral engagement across the body leads to efficient sound production and a beautiful, resonant flute sound. These concepts are useful for beginner flutists as well as advanced students.
🎥 VIDEO CHAPTERS:
0:39 - TENSION vs. ENGAGEMENT
When practicing the flute, train yourself to make shapes with your body (engagement) in the lips, fingers, arms, etc., without clenching (tension). Be mindful that tension can travel between different parts of your body.
1:58 - ZONES of ENGAGEMENT
Balancing engagement between the lips, throat and core is a useful starting point for thinking about how tension and engagement can affect your flute tone.
3:41 - THE LIPS
If your flute embouchure is overly clenched, it can lead to a raspy tone. Instead of adding more tension to the lips to "focus" the sound, work to make a round shape at the front of the embouchure which is both strong and supple.
5:27 - THE THROAT
Avoid overly compressing your throat as you play. This can indicate that better engagement is required from the lips and/or core. If you force your throat open, it will subsequently force your lips and core to work harder in order to maintain proper air pressure.
6:56 - THE CORE
Is more "support" always better? Maximum core engagement 100% of the time can inhibit your ability to breathe and shape the sound with core emphasis.
8:40 - FINDING a BALANCE
As you practice the flute, rate each of your three zones (lips, throat and core) on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being totally relaxed and 10 being maximum engagement. If everything is below 5, consider putting more energy into your playing. Often, your zones will be imbalanced with some close to 10 and others below 5. Balancing everything near 5-6 will lead to an easier approach to playing as well as a natural, resonant flute tone.
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[@alyseceleste]

The air guides the lips. Love!❤️

[@suzanneprior3251]

I think this is the best explanation I've ever heard about relaxing. I've been told so many times to just relax, which only makes me more tense. Balancing engagement is a much better way of conceptualizing what I need to do. I think this will be a game changer! Thank you!

[@buddycollier5056]

I have a lot of tension issues. It happens in my lips and in my jaw sometimes in my throat. Your video has helped me to focus my attention on these areas. I haven’t fixed them yet but at least now I have an awareness. I appreciate that.

[@jbravenscroft]

wonderfully informative and enlidhtening. Thank you so much.

[@kaandis7457]

OMG TYSM, This is literally what I just started working on and have talked to my teacher about doing. You’re a lifesaver.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Awesome! I hope this video helps you!

[@PLeonTube]

Having been a music instrument teacher myself for decades now, I can recognize a good one at first sight, and Lance is outstanding in that department! Thx for this lesson.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks a lot! Much appreciated and glad you enjoyed!

[@jeang7647]

Unbelievable recommendations. Can’t wait to pick up the flute today.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Awesome! Happy practicing!

[@nyatan]

Thank you for your excellent tutorial. This is the most balance explanation regarding tension so far. I've seen videos on relaxing, but also recognized there's some tense on flautists' face but didn't know the moderation of such tense, now there's a word for what I was wondered. Engagement it is.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Wonderful. Thanks so much for watching and for your comment!

[@SleekMouse]

wow! This guy is actually amazing in the middle its so profound with the advice

[@Pokabyss]

I really found the explanation of the 3 zones to be very insightful!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great! Thanks so much!

[@isabelleharle8162]

THANK YOU, Lance, I love your way of helping us so simply, like an evidence, to let the tone be free and resonant and beautiful...out of all the complicated techniques. Thanks a lot !

[@ren6140]

Demonstrating how the flute sounds depending on where the tension is building is so helpful. Since my early days, Ive had trouble with tensing too much, I would fix say, my fingers but would instead tense my shoulders. I had somewhat fixed it but recently have been relaxing my embouchure too much. TYSM this video is just what I needed

[@TheEppi3]

Blessings! 🙏🏼

[@sofied_9972]

Great, great, thank you Lance!

[@KlaRa474]

Very helpful! Thanks so much for this lesson!

[@aspenx1304]

Amazing post 💪🎶

[@suesmall5595]

This is one of the most helpful videos I've watched!! I have recently started playing again after 30 years of not touching my flute, and I realize there is so much I didn't pay attention to in h.s. or college that seemed to come naturally at the time but isn't anymore! This all makes so much sense!! THANK YOU!!!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much! This is a very common sentiment I hear from people coming back to the flute. What I always say is that yes, things may have been easier, but it's also possible your sensibilities and tastes were less honed as a teenager. As an adult, you probably have a stronger idea of how you'd like to sound and a better sense of when you are achieving that (or not). The solution: be patient with yourself and go slowly! Happy practicing!

[@jimlally8152]

Really good advice, thank you

[@LemmyEmz]

Very very helpful, thank you so much! And your voice is calming so I didn’t feel stressed out at all watching this video ❤️

[@livfico6521]

I can’t tell you how helpful this was! I am in an advanced band and have been sounding SUPER airy and so tense in my hands and core. This helped so so much! Thanks!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great! I’m so glad it helped! Happy practicing!

[@terenceglover4071]

Thanks so much

[@joanb1857]

Thank you so much for helping me improve my tone quality. You are an excellent instructor Lance!

[@kevinchoy5961]

Love how you explain it!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great! Thanks, Kevin!

[@pubgtravis1727]

Good video

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks!

[@yvonneburdine670]

Really good suggestions! Had no idea opening my throat too much was causing a problem. Thank you.

[@johneconomou246]

What a wonderful teacher you are!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Wow! Thanks so much, John!

[@phillipcoulson6865]

Lol gee so much writing

[@leejoycechung2162]

Great points Lance...thanks for sharing!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks, Lee!

[@bschaub8860]

Love your explanation of support! Thank you, Lance.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great! I'm so glad! ❤️

[@katehunt8029]

I agree with all the positive comments. Such an interesting and useful video! I join in with all the thanks......

[@rafdegroote]

Great explanation, bravo!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much, Raf!

[@shangjiang3320]

For anyone wondering, the intro song was the very ending of Godard’s allegretto (3 suite flute movement)

[@eastmarvista3267]

Again, another ultimate great fantastic video with incredible advice. Thank you!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed!

[@yvonneburdine670]

Excellent tips! THANK YOU!!!!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great! Thanks for watching, Yvonne!

[@FluteLoops59]

Very helpful...thank you Lance... will try to retain this info and practice it :)

[@LanceSuzuki]

👍👍

[@johnskfung]

thank you very much for sharing the tips!! it is very useful!!!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great!

[@kathy794]

Such excellent tips! You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Great! Thanks, Kathy! ❤️

[@TheFlutePractice]

This is a really awesome video! Will share with my community! Thank you 🙏

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much! ❤️ I love your concept of the "boot camp." Great idea, and great videos!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

I absolute love this. I would love to make a review video of this for my shakuhachi students. Could I make a review video of this for my channel?

[@LanceSuzuki]

Absolutely! 👍❤️

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@LanceSuzuki Thank you! 🙏 I hope to do a collaboration too. Incredible teaching. Your students must sound wonderful

[@aspenx1304]

I'm a returning self learner. This is great information.

[@witneyskye5556]

Absolutely, the most effective video I have seen on the subject. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aubriedionne]

This is an excellent video - I shared it with many of my students. You have a natural calm about the way you speak which I really enjoy. And you have a beautiful sound!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much!

[@jacobianchen4753]

Thank you very much! I think you offer us the most systematic way of practicing long note. I found more balance between notes in a scale using your method.

[@LanceSuzuki]

That’s fantastic!

[@peterfinlay7213]

Wow! I'm new to your canel,you are very calming, which is really good for me !!!thanks for some great tips and tricks 😊

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much! Happy practicing...sending some calming energy your way! 🎶💆‍♂️

[@SM-xl7vs]

Thank you Thank you🙏🙏🙏🙏 I have had these problems and your tips will help my playing so much🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@LanceSuzuki]

Wonderful! Happy practicing!! 🎵🎵

[@raynegoins]

I have had a very long history of pain related to my flute-playing. Specifically, I've played with poor posture for so long that I've actually caused nerve damage in my neck, shoulder, and hands. This nerve damage causes lots of pain when I play, which is very discouraging because I love to play the flute. To fix this "poor posture", I often find myself overcorrecting my posture, like arching my back when I'm sitting, which causes even more pain! I loved your explanations of engaging vs clenching, and I really think it is going to help me on my journey to pain-free playing. Thank you!!

[@LanceSuzuki]

Wow. I’m so sorry to hear about your pain issues. Yes, be very careful of over correcting. It’s possible that your goal should be to have your body do less in general rather than over-engage the opposite motion. I hope you will be able to find a way to play with ease and enjoy it!

[@PhilipBuckmaster]

Thanks for the video, Lance. I actually found something completely different from the video that really helps me - when you played the short Dm scale, I thought that (when descending) you raised the little finger off the Eb key slightly BEFORE you press down the D key. So I slowed the vid down to 1/4 speed to check! I've been wondering about this, as I'm always catching an Eb when going from E to D at speed, even though I'm trying to make the fingers work at the same time. So, seeing you move one slightly before the other is reassuring that it's ok to do this and hopefully I can now get rid of this annoying problem! Thanks also for your very carefully thought out and logical explanations.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Hi Philip! This is very interesting, although I would never want to watch myself back at 1/4 speed. I think the most important thing is to make it sound good. RH pinky is so important for the pitch on E in low/middle reg. However, we definitely don't want to hear Eb between E-D. Finding that middle ground where you don't hear an audible transition is the best solution. Thanks for the comment! Lance

[@heidifluteatl]

Fantastic. I have been really working this summer on keeping my throat open. The tension in my throat is usually unbelievable. How I managed to get a sound I don't know. But thank you for this this was a great instruction and helped me to visualize more what I need to do

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks so much, Heidi! ❤️ Happy practicing!

[@galvao4913]

Boa noite tudo bem. Meus parabéns pelo vídeo. Gostaria muito de sua ajuda.

[@lolasaysyes]

Thanks for making this video! I hope you can do a follow up to explain ways to approach bodily tension. I have been playing a long time and have no problems with tone production, breathing, support, vibrato, etc., but since I picked up the flute again as an adult, my main struggle is proper posture and hand positioning. My neck and shoulders always hurt after playing, and I’m struggling to get the right balance in my left hand in the “shelf” area. Could you do this kind of thorough explanation to help us figure out how to work through bodily tension related to posture and positioning?

[@LanceSuzuki]

Thanks for this question. I will think about a video for this.

[@lolasaysyes]

@@LanceSuzuki thanks Lance! I’ve made a ton of progress by watching a lot of professional advice, ultimately changing my right thumb position for better balance, removing tension from the neck and shoulders by pushing back the shoulder blades, and adding stretches. Also, keeping the embouchure as relaxed and small as possible, so that the lip plate doesn’t have too much pressure against the lips. However, there’s still more progress to be made in the left hand index finger... so I’m sure any additional tips would help. In my case, not sure than an offset G makes that much difference but I’ll keep my options open. I’m sure this would help others too, since we could all use less tension in our lives!

[@ivansarkany314]

Greetings. Do you have pre recorded classes???? Very interested.

[@jacobianchen4753]

Could you possibly record another video about finger tension? Also with this kind of physical analysis? Tension is always around and troubles me.

[@LanceSuzuki]

Ok. I’ll think about that. Having a consistent scale practice is a great way to work on releasing tension in the fingers.

[@lellflute3745]

thank you very much, i have a problems with the sound, but my teacher does not give detalied advice on how to make mu sound better☺️🌸

[@LanceSuzuki]

I'm so glad it helped! Thanks for watching and happy practicing!

[@rvilleg95]

I get my left shoulder really tense when playing. Any sugestion on this?

[@tiffany3255]

i have trouble knowing where to line up the head joint with the flute, where to direct my airstream, and how the keys should line up (like facing the ceiling or rolled in or out)

[@LanceSuzuki]

I think that lining up the embouchure hole of the headjoint with the main line of keys and trying to keep the keys parallel to the ceiling is a good place to start for most people. You can adjust from there as needed. Also, check out my video on flute angles which is a related topic. Thanks for watching!

[@SlinkyzZz]

So my muscles inside the cheeks hurt so I think that means I am tight somewhere right? It hurts if I play for a long time so I want to balance it. I need help. Any tips?

[@christinaschramm-n.3156]

I make all the mistakes you talk about it 😭 Will i ever learn the „balance“??

[@LanceSuzuki]

If you think about the balance in your practice, I wonder what happens? Let me know how it goes!! ❤️

[@jondishmonmusicandstuff2753]

It's very tense when I have to play the Concertino opus 107. I have a tendency to put pressure on my hands when playing those fast passages and my fingers go number by 3/4 through the song. It's so annoying.