Is a side embouchure okay? Meaning, when you look in the mirror is the embouchure hole centered between your lips? Or is the embouchure hole moved to one side or another?
The bottom line to that question is:
Yes, it is okay!
Our lips are formed differently therefore our muscles work differently. When you form that initial flute embouchure as a beginner, your lips naturally go to a certain spot. I used to think when I was first starting out teaching that I had to get everybody to play right there in the center.
Center Your Embouchure.
That’s it.
No other option.
Today I know better. However, I am still going to try and center each student’s embouchure. But I know that might not be the best for every player. It is not always the right place for them because that isn’t where their lips naturally go when they form an embouchure.
But that is OKAY!
Sometimes when the embouchure is formed, the lip moves to one side or the other either top or bottom. When this happens, the embouchure hole moves to the side. Let me just say it is all good. Really. It is not a problem. The side embouchure poses no problem at all. You can still get a fantastic sound even though your embouchure is not dead center.
But here’s the kicker. The important thing is that when you are blowing across the embouchure hole, that the air blows straight. A side embouchure still needs to be blow straight across that embouchure hole in the head joint.
How do you know if you are playing straight? You can use a mirror and see what it looks like. And you can also look at the breath condensation on the lip plate. You know the dried strips of condensation that collects on the outer side of lip plate. Look to see that those lines are dead center. There might be more than one perhaps two or three. But you look to see that those lines are mostly centered not angled. If it is going straight, then you know you’re okay.
A side embouchure will be fine as long as those lines are straight. That means you are blowing straight across the middle of this embouchure hole which is the ideal spot to get the sound you’re looking for.
So, if you have a side embouchure, check to see if you are centered. If so, then great. If not, then you need to adjust until you can blow straight.
The bottom line is don’t get all caught up with that side embouchure. It is part of life, it’s part of your general makeup and how your muscles work in the mouth. When you figure that out you can see that a side embouchure is not a bad thing. Then you will still have the ability to get a really great tone.
Just aim for that straight airstream.
Have fun working on your embouchure!
Doctor Flute
Watch my video as I explain whether a side embouchure is okay.
Is a Side Embouchure Okay? FluteTips 133
