Does anyone have any experience with Terry McGee’s Rounded Rectangle Embouchure? I ordered the Grey Larsen Preferred model with this embouchure and should have it in a month or two.
I ordered it because I have embouchure problems in the winter months, with humidity is low (see my other post on this topic if you’re interested).
Thanks.
Jeff Zajac
Highland Park, NJ
I’ve had one (Pratten model) for a week. It was the easiest wooden flute to play i’ve ever tried. I think it’s a good flute for someone who’s coming from metal flute, because the feel is similar. If i have one complaint is that the sound was a little too even, didn’t have much “personality”. But it cut through session noise like a warm knife through butter. Wonderful to play.
Jeff – I faced this decision when I ordered my GLP from Terry several months ago. I wanted a flute that was easy to play, but I didn’t want to give up all of the distinct sound that a true Irish flute has. I originally ordered my GLP with a rounded rectangle embochure, but after talking with Terry, I changed my order to a “two semicircle” style. Terry said, if I didn’t like it, he could change it to a rounded rectangle as a rework operation. I don’t believe he can go the other way however, (i.e. can’t put wood back in to create a 2-semi from a round. rec. hole).
Anyway. I love the flute and don’t have problems with the two semicircle hole. I don’t know what the rounded rec. would have sounded like - but heck, I don’t care, I like this flute they way it is.
At the end of the day, every flute was it’s quirks and we have to spend some time getting use to them. Some folks says it takes years to really learn a flute. For me, it is kind of like surfboards. Given enough time to get used to it, I can ride just about any kind of surfboard out there - it just takes time to train your body to have the right muscle responses, etc to the particular board. I think any musical instrument (within reason, of course) you have to learn to adapt to.
Eventually, we should be one with our flutes — like a samurai is with his sword. : )
wolvy - we should have a session in Rincon (half way SB-Ojai), I think that’s a great advice, start with the smaller embouchure.
I have a Pratten with the rounded rectangle embouchure, but I usually play a deferent flute which has an oval embouchure and is a bit touchy, every time I switch to the McGee I’m blown away by how easy and clear the tone is - it’s by far the best player I have ever played, but I still prefer a small round embouchure.
it’s an easy blower, but it misses some tone colors and nuances (which
are important in irish flute playing)
that you can obtain with a traditional embochoure.and you can’t blow
as hard as in other flutes without breaking the tone,ecc..my personal
opinion is that the traditional oval embochoure is still the best choice.
m
Jeff,
I’ve played both for extensive periods of time. Get the rounded rectangle embouchure. It’s very easy to play, great tone and wonderfully responsive. There are no downsides to it, IMO.
bruce boysen