Teaching Lessons

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kaitlin on June 3, 2009 at 4:47am

The way my flute lesson teacher worked with me was establishing an embochure first. She had me put my index fingerbelow my lower lip and puff up my cheeks and then blow out all the air until my lips were completely relaxed. Once I got the feel of what it's supposed to feel like, she added the head joint, using the same method. Puff up my cheeks and then blow out all excess air until my lips are totally relaxed. From there, it just took practice and rolling the head joint to find that spot that worked for me. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of practice, but it pays off. ;)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jenna on June 3, 2009 at 11:22am

Thanks!! That's very helpful! I will try it!! :)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vicky on June 4, 2009 at 11:26pm

Remember to make her line up the middle joint and foot joint correctly and have her hand in the correct position. Bad habits are hard to break. Make her use her diaphragm.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Belle Weaver on June 8, 2009 at 10:30am

These are really good suggestions, but here is my odd one: I was teaching my cousin to play when we were young, and she just couldn't make a sound! Finally I got a pop bottle (back then glass bottles were easier to find) and taught her to blow over that pop bottle! Once she mastered that, she got right on the flute. Strange, eh?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Belle Weaver on June 8, 2009 at 10:33am

Also, I remember when I was first learning to play, my flute instructor had me place the hole of the plate directly and evenly over my lips, then roll the head out and blow over. I watched her embochure as she played and followed that. Seems like I was playing in no time.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carol Petry on August 10, 2009 at 12:10pm

I was taught by useing an glass pop bottle myself

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krysten Williams on December 23, 2009 at 8:21am

Give her a closed hole flute and teach her the basic notes like B flat, C, and G.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krysten Williams on February 13, 2010 at 5:11pm

Also I would let her make some noise the first week and then start teaching her the notes, depending on what kind of flute that she has and this is just good for me I don't know if it works for other people I teach them the high notes first then the low notes. But ALWAYS at the beginning teach her or him the correct embousure some students do an embousure like the clarinet or saxphone. But do what you like that is just my thing I do.

Hope it works out!!!

▶ Reply to This