Tight embouchure in flute playingTight embouchure in flute playing results in a pinched, thin sound, and it's difficult to play in tune. Relax your embouchure.Here's the difference between a tight and a relaxed embouchure... Relaxed... Tight... Why is there the tendency to tighten the lips when we learn to play the flute? I believe because it's an easier physical response. The facial muscles are easier to control than the abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles. Try pulling the corners of your lips back. Easy, right? Now inhale deeply and push the air out forcefully with strong abdominal muscles. Be sure the tightness is in the abdominal muscles. Push the diaphragm down as you inhale. Also, keep your neck, shoulders and face relaxed at the same time. A little harder, right? That's where practice comes in. Long tones are great for working on a relaxed embouchure because there isn't much else to think about, not fingerings, scales, etc. Just think about the breathing. Think about the analogies for a relaxed embouchure... -- Yawning with your lips closed The idea for these techniques is that the throat is open and the lips are relaxed. Another thought is pouting. You can't pull the corners of the lips back when you're pouting. Also try rolling the bottom lip down so that you can hold a pencil in the rolled bottom lip. Get rid of that tight embouchure and you'll open up a great flute tone!
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