Hello

I'm worried about my tone: it's very 'little' ('silent') compared to the tone of other flutists I play with in an orchestra.
How can I make my tone sound bigger? I exercise a lot, even more then my colleagues, but it doesn't change! Blowing harder just makes me jump to another note, but doesn't make my tone sound louder.
One thing I discovered already is that drinking water helps a bit to create 'more' tone...

Who can help me please?
Thanks a lot,
Steve

Does your flute compare to your colleagues' instruments in the orchestra?

I play a 'Gemeinhardt'. The hole in my headjoint is also smaller than the holes of the flutes of my colleagues.
Nevertheless, when I let someone else play my flute, it also sounds louder than when I play it myself.
But indeed, my flute in general doesn't sound very good: when I play another flute, my tone is bigger and brighter, but still not big enough compared to others.

Thanks for the information.

Of course I still hope my flute is one of the 'exceptions' on Gemeinhardt-flutes (not having enough money to buy a new one), but on the other hand it would also be a relief if a bad flute explains my tone-struggeling (so it's not my fault if my tone is not very loud)

My flute is a type M2S, the tube is made of solid silver (not the mechanics)

Steve, I began playing on a student Gemeinhardt (an old model M3): I now play on a Yamaha. The difference in volume, dynamics and quality of tone are simply put, dramatic.

Now, consider that changing to a better flute or headjoint will not solve the problem instantaneously, you are used to that GN 2S headjoint and it normally takes considerably time to adapt to a new (and better) flute or headjoint, in order to get all its potential.

Only very good professionals and masters can get a good and strong sound from a bad student flute at first try.

Adapting to my EC cut Yamaha HJ took me a few months and now I have changed again for a Hagahara DA cut HJ and it is taking much efforts. I expected that.

But I have improved my tone a lot, according to my teacher. And I sound quite loud now, if I need to.

You are probably much more advanced than me, I do not play in any orchestra, so it could be easier and faster for you to adapt.

Thanks a lot for the reply.

So I know what I have to do...
Maybe I can start with just a new headjoint at first.

I have a gemienhardt with J1 headjoint and I have the loudest sound in my orchestra. My teacher helped me a lot with that though. She gave me a bunch of breathing exercises and stuff. It might just be my flute though because she said it was the nicest student gemienhardt she had seen.

"The nicest student Gemeinhardt" is probably one of the few and far between 'good' Gemmies. Unfortunately, even if it does have a good headjoint it will still have the infamous 'screwy' Gemeinhardt scale.

The good news is that student Yamaha flutes are very well reviewed by pro players and teachers who report that the standard 'CY' Yamaha headjoint is great for advancing students who are working on a more mature tone. To back that up, many of these same players/teachers have a Yamaha student flute to use outdoors and as a backup flute, for situations that they don't want to risk their expensive flute. Apparently it is hard to hear the difference.

So...replacing the Gemeinhardt M2 with a Yamaha 200-series flute, even used, shouldn't cost much, and it will likely make a big difference in the ability to develop a more mature tone.

my uncle bought an used old Gemeinhardt from ebay, it was not too bad, playable, easy to handle the notes, but the volume was like what you said very weak.