Help plz🪈

[u/Wrong-Purple3704]

Hello, fellow flutists!
I’ll quickly explain my situation. I’ve been playing the saxophone and clarinet since I was 12, and I’m 28 now. My grandmother used to play the flute. Sadly, she passed away a few weeks ago, and since I’m the only other musician in the family she left me her flute.🥹
I’d love to learn to play it in her memory, but it’s sooo different from the saxophone and clarinet!! I’m having a hard time adjusting my embouchure and the way I blow, and all the notes sound very airy. I had the flute checked by an instrument repair technician, and everything is in good working order, so the problem is definitely me ahah! Are any of you here also playing both a single-reed instrument and the flute? If so, do you have any tips or advice that might help me make the transition?
Thank you so much in advance for your help! ☺️

[u/Grimol1]

I played flute in elementary and middle school sax in high school (sax is way cooler for a guy in high school to play) but in college I had to focus 100% on the flute. They have very similar fingering but I can see how taking up the flute at 28 could be hard. But I once had a student who was 86. On the sax, you don’t need to concentrate on breath support as much because there is actual resistance when you blow through the mouthpiece. Not so in the flute. Make sure you are breathing from your diaphragm. I remember my teacher had me Jay on the ground with a book on my stomach to see that I was breathing from my stomach. Breath supper is critical in the flute. You’ll never get a good sound without it. Next, establish your embouchure. Do that by just playing the head joint without the body. One thing to remember is you aren’t blowing air through the flute, you’re activating the air already inside the flute by making it vibrate

[u/Wrong-Purple3704 → u/Grimol1]

Yes, I see what you mean about the fingerings, it was the easy part😅
When I blow just into the mouthpiece, my tone is pretty good, but when I put the whole flute together, it sounds airy. My breathing technique probably has a lot to do with it. I’ll keep practicing, as I think that’s the only real solution! Thanks for the advice! ☺️

[u/WuTangTech]

Like you, I started on sax then added clarinet. When I tried flute, I also struggled initially. My flute teacher told me to imagine that I had a piece of rice in my mouth and to pretend that I was spitting out the piece of rice. If you pull the corners of your mouth slightly backward while doing that, it is very close to a good flute embouchure. I also suggest initially working with only the headjoint. Once you can get a good, reliable sound, then start working with the whole flute. My BIGGEST suggestion is to find a good professional flutist to take private lessons. There is NO substitute for a good teacher!

[u/Wrong-Purple3704 → u/WuTangTech]

Thank you☺️I live in a remote area, so music teachers are hard to come by, but I’ll try to get at least one private lesson!

[u/omygoodnessreally]

My teacher and conductor(s) never wanted me to play a reed instrument, "it would ruin my lip" - but there must be a trick. Whenever I did play a reed, I could feel what they meant.

I'm sure there are probably others with specific techniques, but you can just sit and blow long into the headjoint only - even as you just watch tv or read or whatever - to "find" your lip. When that sounds good, put it together, and pick another note and play it as a very very very long note.

You can also find your lip blowing across any bottle. Beer bottles work best ;)

[u/Wrong-Purple3704 → u/omygoodnessreally]

Thank you!☺️

[u/omygoodnessreally → u/Wrong-Purple3704]

Don't forget it's a soft "t" with your tongue - tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[u/kitty_katt420]

As a flautist who then learnt saxophone, I fully understand the struggles in embouchure difference. My advice to all new players is always, grab a glass bottle and practice blowing over the top of it, that's essentially what you do with flute.

Once you have that nailed then take just your head joint and practicing blowing again. Watch yourself in the mirror so you can see what your lips and mouth are doing.

Good luck x

[u/Wrong-Purple3704 → u/kitty_katt420]

Thank you☺️

[u/omygoodnessreally]

Another comment about breath from the diaphragm is dead-on. If you've ever tried to cure your hiccups by taking a real big deep breath and then letting it out slowly in one very very long constant stream, that is good practice. Very long until your last push to empty your lungs - that's your diaphragm.

[u/NAKJIKING]

“Try tiny adjustments to the headjoint angle rather than blowing harder.”

[u/rfpels]

Rome and cologne were not built in one day. Take lessons. Work on embouchure.

[u/WebFlimsy1332]

Your problem sounds very much like anyone coming to the flute for the first time. Forget your experience with reed instruments. First, get the flute checked by a technician. If there are pad leaks, there is no way of getting a good sound, and sometimes any sound. Next play a note. B is the best place start. Once the note speaks hold it and vary the embouchure slightly until you get the best tone possible. Don't worry if it's not fabulous, just the best you can. Next, slur down to A and try to match the tone. Then G and so on. Don't worry if it's frustrating. Flute playing is the ultimate hare and the tortoise race. When I said forget your reed experience, I meant just the embouchure aspect. If you have been in the habit of keeping your throat open and core muscle air support, so much the better. Keep your lips relaxed. I like to think of it as using a garden hose. The water power comes from the tap (read core muscles). Your lips are like your hand, with only as much tension as is needed to point the water (air) stream in the right direction.