I've just noticed that if I move my lower jaw forward, that unblocks my throat. I haven't tested the inhaler before playing the flute yet.

Well, I have VERY severe asthma (COPD,Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), so I use inhalers daily, (sometimes hourly)!! I also have numerous other daily breathing medications.

IF you have asthma, it is a good idea to use your rescue inhaler (albuterol) prior to playing, just as you would prior to excercising. I'm sure your doctor told you how often to use the inhaler (so if you are on a schedule, be sure not to overuse). If you are NOT on a med schedule, (only use if you are wheezy or tight----this is the majority of people), then puffing before playing is a great idea.

Optimumly you should only need albuterol inhalers as a rescue or prior to exertion. If you need to use it very often, then you should have an additional medication regime (i.e. Advair, Singulair, Xolair etc), talk to your doctor!
Back to the original issue. I do not get a sore throat from playing, nor do I grunt (but I have in the past, especially when very congested). It may be because I've played for so verrrrry long. I think you may have solved your problem by changing your position/technique.

schoolgirl0125,
"HEEHEE! at least i'm getting better at it!.."
now all you have to do is hum along while playing and throw on some flutter tonguing occasionally and you're going to sound like Ian Andersen. Actually it may not be a bad idea to tryro produce the grunts to better learn how to eliminate them.


vert_jaune_rouge,
You can move your jaw but be careful about getting jaw pain of you move your jaw too much.

~Bilbo
N.E. Ohio

Like Bilbo said, be careful about your jaw! (Don't I sound like a parrot!)

A flutist in my section a few years back had to move her jaw around to get a tone that didn't sound strangled. She ended up developing an underbite and had to go in for some dental work on fixing that. Be careful about practicing long hours like that, too, because you never know how your jaw is going to form if you are still growing. (Not like an hour or two practicing like that is going to do anything severe, but if you consistantly practice with an odd jaw position for a long time, that could be bad.)

OMG!! i DO NOT like it when you have a sore throat during a solo. Something gets stuck in your throat, and then you can't really open up and play pretty...that happened to me in my solo i played. YIKES!! now i know to bring water!! heehee, i thought i did good though. ya guys remember the mozart piece i told you guys? YUP, i had my recital already.it was amazing..music is so pretty^_^HAHA!

Actually, I've noticed something. I'm not a huge talker. Live on my own and work for myself.
I spent 1h30 on the phone with a client yesterday. Guess what, my throat hurt too.

I'm really confused now!

Ooh, i'm not much of a powerful singer. BUt i had to change that in choir. OH did my voice hurt after rehearsal! I guess i wasn't ready for that...So, i guess i just need time! maybe like you?..i DUNNO!:0..heehee

I'm getting a bit worried now. I really can't work out what the pain is due to, but it's the same when I talk as when I play the flute.

Maybe it's because I really don't talk much and there must be some muscle I don't use. Maybe, it's asthma.

It has happened a few times that after a very quiet week I had a 'wild' weekend, and then, I would just literally lose my voice for 7 to 10 days.