I have been reading the post regrding AIRY TONE with much interest. I would LOVE to have some of that airiness compared to what I sound like. Let me try to explain. I'm an older lady who plays the picc and the flute. I love the picc (I'm told I play it very well) and struggle with the flute. I say struggle because I've always felt that my tone stinks!! It has an almost too clear sound to it (I'm in tune with others, but always on the "bright" side--I hate it!.) I've paid two teachers to figure out what's wrong and while there has been some improvement it still sounds harsh to me. They don't see as much of a problem as I do (or mayble they're just being nice to an older lady) and we've worked through Trevor Wye's book on Tone but I know it is way too clear. (I don't know if clear is the right word-harsh-biting, not diffused). I want the sweet and very soft soundwhen I need it. It's never there. I can play softly but it's too CLEAR> How do I get that lovely, sweet sound? I've had three different flutes and I know the problem does not lie with the instrument. I play on a Muramatsu DS (the darkest sounding flute I could find) and a Burkett picc which sounds lovely. In fact, I prefer playing solos on the picc over the flute. I think they sound sweeter! Go figure!! On the flute I'd choose an airy sound over my overly clear, biting edge sound. Any suggestions? I beginning to think it has to be an embrouchure (sp?) issue. Help! Bilbo or others with a lot of experience.

OK, Put the Piccolo DOWN. Swab it, polish the silver keys, and put it in its case and leave it there. If you have to, leave it at your flute teachers' house.

Go back to Trevor Wye's Tone book. Practice looong tones, and practice changing the sound of your flute within each tone. Even if you don't like the sound you change to, you will learn how to change BACK to a better one. Stay in the low range, trying for as many different sounds as you can get. DO NOT play your piccolo. I am sure it sounds great, but since it does, you need to put it away for a couple of weeks and get used to the flute sound.

You could possibly borrow an alto flute and play it in its low range. What you want ultimately is a flexible embouchure that will adapt to the sound, and depth of sound, that you want to play. Without that flexibility, you cannot go between flute and picc, and sound good on both. Most people have the opposite problem, and need to spend more time in the low register on their picc.

I have a wood Powell headjoint, it sounds delightfully lush (although it took me a while to learn to play it well!). Changing headjoints is also a good exercise in developing embouchure flexibility. Ask anyone who trusts you if you can play on their (fine)flute for a practice session or two.

It will take a while to change your flute embouchure. Keep going, it WILL get better.

Tibbie