I`m a beginning flute player struggling to obtain a proper tone and any sound at all from the lowest and higher notes. Once in a while I get a beautiful tone, but I`m not sure what I`ve done right.Can anyone give me tips about how to shape my mouth and how to blow across or into the mouthpiece? Any links that might help?
Thanks!

The low range on the flute is one of the prettiest ranges on the flute. Do you already know how to play the lowest notes but are trying to perfect the tone? My instructor was helping me the other day and I find that you blow to the point where it is almost overblowing to give it the tone color. For high notes tighten your embouchure and a steady stream of air. What is the best note you can play? play that note and slowly work your way up or down to try to achieve the same richness or quality in the other notes. You`ll get it.

When I`ve had trouble with the low or high notes, I have indeed gone back to the best sounding notes as you have advised; however, I often can barely eek any sound from the lowest ones, though I know how to play them--there`s just barely any sound. As for the higher notes, I find myself blowing really forcefully to reach them, which again just amplifies the sound of rushing air as opposed to rendering a purer tone. I can`t yet achieve a full second octave. Can you explain the technique of embouchure?

Everyone`s embochure is unique and everyone is different. I personally start tightening my lips more- at the middle F- I guess you could also think of this as bringing the lips slighltly closer- just slightly though. Starting on the high E I push the air stream just a little and tighten as well. Have you ever played piccolo before? If so, think of the piccolo when tightening your lips for the higher notes. When I first began picc I had trouble with the C (2 ledger lines above) and the high E natural. I think of the E as another point to tighten your lips even more.
For the low notes I open my throat more or drop my jaw slightly, loosen my embochure a bit, and I suppose I blow down more into the flute, but just barely- I don`t roll my flute or anything, but I direct the airstream down with the formation of my lips I guess. Everytime I play the lower notes I visualize the air going more slowly through the flute- I don`t know why, but this may help you.
Remember not all notes have the same embochure position- as I`m sure you are finding out, yet the more experience you get the more you will be able to link them more together. Also, I am still learning- I`m still a student, and this is just the way I do it.I`m sure my technique will change and improve within time- so don`t take all of this word for word, just something to think about.

Wow, I`m writing alot. I think you may be able to lessen the airy sound by laying off on forcing too much air and tightening your lips more. The keyword to all of your problems though is EXPERIMENT. It can get frustrating, but it`s the quickest way to improvement in my opinion. Hope all of this helps!

Thanks for your indepth reply Picclojay! I really appreciate your input, especially as I am self-taught--I only picked up the flute about three weeks ago. I did better these last few days, mostly because I played a lot, I think. I like your idea about visualizing the air going slower through the flute for the low notes (and conversely, faster for the high notes?)I`m impatient with myself because the reason I want to play is for the full, round, strong and pure sound that is uniquely the province of the flute and no other wind instrument. It can be so gracious, I hate to get it wrong. I`ll keep trying with your pointers on when to tighten and loosen my lips in mind. Thanks again!
Leslie

no problem!

I can understand! My best friend had such a hard time getting sound to even come out of her flute that she finally switched to another instrument. Well, anyway, a good tip is that as you go higher tighten you lips and as you go lower relax a little more. If no sound is comeing out at all,(I know it`s grosss, but....)hold the flute like whoever taught you told you how to and stick your tongue out so that you can feel the hole. Now, if your mouth is where it should be, then, you should feel a little less than a half of the hole. Now, if you`ve done this, and no sound comes again, then take just the mouthpiece and do this over and over again. It won`t sound pretty with just the mouth piece, but as soon as you`ve got sound comeing out put it back on your flute and keep trying! See `ya!