I’d like to start a thread on my experience of learning the flute. To record my experiences, and because I am bound to have lots of questions. Hope nobody minds!
Day 1
My flute arrived yesterday (Dixon 3 piece polymer). It is nice and substantial. Now comes the long task of discovery my flute embouchure. I have to help me, the whistle/flute book by Grey Larsan and plenty of YouTube videos.
I have begun practising with just the headpiece. I can get sound, but naturally it varies in strength and quality. I can also get an octave jump, which is easier with my hand covering the end (why is that?).
I have also tried with the flute assembled. I can get sound, but it seems to be mainly in the second octave. When I start with just B I can get down to G, but below that the sound disintegrates and then goes up an octave. I cannot seem to get F, E and especially D in the low octave. Nevertheless I am pleased with my day 1 progress as I can get a sound which is not entirely unmusical.
My question is, what do I need to do to my mouth to get the low octave? The beginner videos I have seen seem to assume that the low octave is easy but that would struggle with the higher one. For me it seems the other way.
Also, what is the range of the flute? Is it just 2 octaves (like the whistle)? I have seen some mention of 3rd and 4th octave.
The first few cover exactly what you want to know.
A more open relaxed embouchure will allow you to get the lower notes … as you tighten it you get the second octave notes.
I work on a lot of flipping between octaves and reducing the amount of air I need to hit the second octave from the lower one.
Hi Wayne, the Grey Larsen book is very comprehensive, but I think the June McCormack Fliuit is much better. and more traditional in its approach.
Welcome to the journey!
tintin has some truth, I started with Timber when I got my first flute , a Hammy 20 years ago, and I still refer to it, however, use your ears to listen to great players: Jack Coen, Mike Rafferty, Conal O’Grada, Patsy Hanly Louise Mulcahy, among many to hear their tone, and with time and perseverance you’ll get there!
If you haven’t seen it already, the Embouchure helpsheet in my Resources documents linked in my signature below may be some use.
To answer one of your questions, a keyless flute like your Dixon will have a usable range up to at least A in the 3rd 8ve. However, if you are playing traditional material (rather than classical) you will rarely need to go above high D (1st note in 3rd 8ve). The third octave is not something you should be worrying about or giving any time to at this stage, with the possible exception of doing some harmonics/overblowing exercises as a means to improve your embouchure focus and control of the registers.
The fact you are struggling to hit the fundamental notes (1st 8ve scale) suggests to me you may be blowing too hard with too unfocussed an embouchure aperture - blowing hard in order to get a sound at all, that is; then, when you try to ease off the pressure to go down the scale, your lack of focus means the sound drops out, or if you push harder again you inevitably overblow and get the 2nd 8ve. The start-up exercises in my helpsheet should address that problem.
It has been rather a manic week in all sorts of ways, so I haven’t found much time for practice.
What I have been doing is leaving the head piece out and practicing my embouchure when I have a spare few minutes. I think it has helped because when I practiced this evening with the full flute I could hear the difference. The notes are stronger and I am starting to hit the lower notes as well. It seems I need to relax my embouchure and blow more gently. The low D is not strong, but it has been less than a week!
Looking in the mirror it seems my lips have a tendency to smile when I form an embouchure, rather than be more frowny (which is I think supposed to be better). Relaxing helps to do that.
Overall I am pleased and enjoying it. I have also started with the free OAIM lessons. I might sign up for while if I get on well with them.