My band teacher today switched me off of flute because I could not get any sound what so ever out of it. She even worked with me for an hour extra after school to see if I could do it and I can`t.

So she switched me to clarinet, my second choice, and I can get a sound out of that one....so why is it I can get a sound out of the clarinet and not the flute?

Its possible that you`re not blowing across the tone hole properly. Does your teacher play flute?

Flutes have the most unique embochure of all the instruments, so naturally they are the hardest to get a sound out of at first for lots of people. If your teacher doesn`t play, she/he may have trouble helping you the way you need help...

My main instrument is the clrinet but my parents bought me a flute for a christmas present and that night I was able to get a sound out of it within half an hour. I think that was beacause I was used to the way your mouth would have to be. I would suggest playing on the clarinet for a while and then going back to the flute when you are used to the way your mouth has to be. Please let me know if this helped.

Either your teacher is useless or you do not do what the teacher says.

It is okay if you can`t get a sound out at first. For some people (like me) it took an hour at least for them to get a sound out. I would suggest that you take the head joint off and just blow into that until you think that you can put the rest of the body on. JUst work your way up and you will be fine.

My teacher plays flute as well as clarinet and saxophone so I know it`s not her....guess I`ll do what my brother did....start on another instrument first then switch over.

Thanks for all the help.

some tips:

blow across the whole, dont blow too down, or too high

If you wish, I can send you a 180KB email containing flute lessons which you may pick up something from.

Hi!
How I 1st learnt flute was my blowing across bottles! No, seriously it helps! Learning a flute takes time! I also did a year on fife 1st! If you really want to play flute you should get a fife - they are cheap and it gives you a great idea of how to play!
Flute does have the hardest embasure at 1st, but if you are prepared to put lots of hard work into it, then it`s great! I luv it!
Bye
Beth xxxx

blowing across a bottle helped me alot.

There are a number of reasons why you can`t get a sound, but the key is perserverence. Take the advice of others and play the clarinet, but pick up your flute on a regular basis anyhow. You won`t be sorry about knowing how to play multiple instruments if music is something you really like and can identify with.
I actually started by playing the trumpet. In the beginning I was so horrible I was urged to quit, but I didn`t give up, by the time junior high came along I was first chair.
I taught myself how to play the flute. After I had my braces taken off I couldn`t play the trumpet anymore and one of my friends reccommended that I try the flute.
I`m not sorry for having played more than one instrument I wish that I had picked the flute up while I was still playing the trumpet.
So keep trying don`t give up you`ll make it.

I agree with Tanya, it`s great ot play more than one instrument. I have now got my gr 8 distinction on violin, flute and percussion, but I`ve chosen to specialise on flute. 2 years ago I would have said percussion, 4 years ago I would`ve said violin, so it`s best to leave your options open
beth xxxxxxxxxxxx

hi i play flute and when i started it took me like a week to make the 3 sounds out of the headjoint! when you would play would you warm up on the headjoint? that might be the case you should always warm up on it (beginner only)

Well my band teacher first started us on the mouth pieces for the first 3 days. Every one found it easy. Then as we assembled our flutes, nobody cept me could get a clear sound, most of the others recieved an airy, squeaky tone, the were others were switched to clairinet and it worked beautifully. The moral of my story is just maybe the flute isnt for you...