Playing Your First Note
One of the most important aspects of playing any instrument is the ability to produce a strong, even tone. On the flute this largely depends on the position of the mouth and lips, the amount of pressure used, and the way the air is directed across the mouth hole. The mouth and lip position is known as the embouchure.
To form the basic embouchure for flute playing, hold the mouthpiece of the flute against your lower lip so that your lip covers about a quarter of the hole.
To sound your first note, place your fingers in position for the note G, then blow across the hole towards the centre of the opposite edge. Don’t worry if you can’t make a sound right away, most people have trouble at first. Try moving the flute slightly to the left or right. You can also try rolling the flute either towards you or away from you to create different angles. Experiment.
Watch and listen carefully to your teacher and above all, keep practicing. Soon you will have no trouble producing a note.
When you have succeeded in making a sound, try to be aware of the sensation in your lips. Associate the sensation with the sound, and aim to recreate the sensation to recreate the sound.
