ok, so i practice almost non stop and i have made alot of progress since i first got it two months ago, but i still feel like i could be doing so much better. i plan on getting a few lessons soon just to stop any bad habits but according to all these study materials im doing everything right. i just have the biggest problem staying in the second octave and when i do its SO airy. my lows sound good. i can actually control and project. but the 2nd octave is completly different. my third (octave) is a thousand times better than that (the 2nd) and its just getting frustrating. any help would really be appreciated. THANKS

Don't worry, I've been playing for years and I have more trouble with the mid- range than anything else. Make sure you aren't getting lazy with your embouchure, keep it nice and tight and use a fast air stream. Imagine just pushing the note up and out. Also, I don't know how much you know about using vibrato... practice making your sound waver by kind of contracting your diaphragm repeatedly... instead of "ooooooo" think "oo oo oo oo". Sorry, I don't know really how to explain it, I'm sure you can look it up somewhere. Anyway, a good vibrato will help keep your note in tune, make it easier to hold without it cracking, and really just improve the quality of your sound (because no one likes sounding airy). Sounds like you've been practicing a lot... keep it up and I promise you'll be amazing before you know it!!

thankssss. and yeh i am using vibrato, its definetly a plus. any tips on gettin the notes out consistently (in the 2nnd octave) i always have this hesistating problem with those. thanks again

Melanie, please don't advise anyone to play with a "tight" embouchure, and also don't try to explain vibrato with a fluctuation of the diaphragm, doesnt work that way

I just love it when kids try to give advice like they are such experts. *Rolls eyes*

i love how this forum is so damn immature that instead of correcting advice from someone that is trying their best you just sit there and roll your eyes. i would much rather get incorrect advice that i could verify myself than snide comments and remarks from "professionals" that seem to dominate this forum.

Rex, this is extremely common with beginners, so please don't be too discouraged. You're in the majority, not the minority. I find that jaw placement and embourchure irregularities are the primary culprits for octave problems. I wish I could explain the exact position where you'd achieve a better result, but everyone is different.

You say when you're able to make the middle register speak, it is airy. I would suggest playing through the middle register slowy and allowing each note to speak as best as you can. Try to memorize the exact feeling that produces your best result, and take a break. Come back and try to duplicate it. It probably won't be easy at first, but your muscle memory will soon learn the correct position. Once you can get each note to speak easily, you can experiment with your embouchure and jaw to produce a clearer and stronger sound.

Hang in there, it will come to you when you least expect it. Sometimes it just takes a while to click.

I have that same problem too..well it's mostly the low notes..first octave. Help? How do you get a nice dark low sound. I've been getting really bad flute days..when i sound airy. It's so annoying. My low notes..are really soft and not strong like my high notes. My high notes are great but low? Any advice?

Rex, I was not being snide, just pointing out the problem with poor advice, listen to Tim

For those nice resonate low notes you need to work with your embouchure.

Focus on what you are doing with your embouchure. It shouldn't be smiley at all. Work on making it more pouty, by bringing your lips inward and more relaxed.

Practice with that relaxed embouchure starting on a comfortable note and work your way down a chormatic scale and try to keep all notes nice and full, but keep your lips drawn in, but relaxed.

Your tone in your lower range should improve so long as you keep working on it (though don't neglect the rest of your range too!).

<Added>

bringing your lips inward

Eeek! I meant bringing the "corners" of your lips inward. Don't want to use an oboists embouchure. :)

After listening to your recordings, it sound like you should be taking your own advice. Good advice by the way.

Reenie that was uncalled for.

Hey, sorry for being honest, I don't sugar coat everything.

do u sugar coat anything? he was just doing his best and it helped me a ton my lows are already more resonate. thanks by the way :D