Got a flute!
My Richard Cox, 2 piece, black walnut D flute arrived this afternoon.
Came home from Uni, tore open the package, took the two pieces out of the box, shoved them together, blew… and my dad said “Sounds… like wind.”
I couldn’t understand why I kept hearing that making any sorta note would be difficult, I mean there are only so many ways you can blow right? Well I’m dizzy from blowing so bleedin’ much, this has to be the ultimate in frustration. You know it should make a sound… blowing should make the sound… but nothing comes out other than… breath.
I’m kind of nervous that I’ll jump out of my skin the second a sound comes out of it.
Anyway, great to be aboard!
i’m sure you’ll have many years of pleasure with it. although mine is mingled with vexation at times 
i couldn’t wait to get a sound out of mine ~ it’s 2 years down the line and i can’t wait to play properly!
Yeah, trying to make a sound is almost as frustrating as trying to make a GOOD sound, which is almost as frustrating as trying to make music, which is almost as frustrating as trying to make good music. . .
It’s really the most frustrating, rewarding hobby I’ve ever had. Just replace frustrating with cool in the above, and it’s equally true, but it don’t come easy (sorry for quoting Ringo).
You might start with just the headpiece. Blow like you’re blowing across the top of a bottle to make it sing. Just hold the headpiece in one hand, experiment moving the headpiece back and forth across the front of your mouth, move it up and down, rotate it in and out. When you find a good position, move it so that it’s pressing into your lower lip, then start experimenting with different shapes of your mouth (embouchures).
Something else you might try is spitting rice. Put a grain of rice in your mouth and see how far you can spit it. When you get to 8-10 feet, that’s about the size of the opening in your mouth you need. Sounds weird, but it helps.
Best of luck.
… who on earth figured that out? 
Well, I’m actually making notes after looking over this
http://www.woodenflute.com/playing/paul_mulvaney_essay
which I found to be very useful. I didn’t follow it exactly, but my flute is making some notes in the first two octaves, now and again I nail the sweet spot and am able to make some really clear notes (for a couple seconds). I’m able to play The Eagle’s Whistle and Trallee Gaol (not well, but you can pick up the tune).
At the moment I’m working on hitting the lower three notes, especially the D and playing without whistling at the same time.
Oh… and I’m constantly adjusting my hand position, having trouble covering and uncovering the far hole and closest hole, not too mention some pain in the closest thumb.
I feel and obsession coming on.
The coolest thing so far - picking up one of my whistles after blowing on my flute for about three hours. It felt so much smaller than usual, almost delicate and seemed soooooo much easier to play! I’m enjoying myself.
I just got my first one today too. I ordered a Tipple. Amazing what that man can do with a piece of pvc.
Brian - great to have you aboard! One of my teachers of the past said, “just play the darn thing! and quit movin’ it around”. I finally learned to do just that. I’m the Virgo type who wanted everything to be done “by the book” so to speak. I read article after article, looked up close and personal at different embouchures and . . . finally I just picked up the flute and played. WOW! Was that fun – and still is. No doubt there is much great information written on how to play, how to form, how to . . . Pick it up, slide it to your lips, squeez out some rice (imaginary) and have a ball!
BillG
The rice is imaginary? Awwww crap…