Relaxed Embouchure Improves Tone

Look at your embouchure in the mirror.

Do you look relaxed?
Are you pulling your corners back or down?
Are you tight in the cheeks?
Is there tension in your mouth?

Those are all factors that are going to influence your tone.

Now there’s many different embouchures in the professional flute world and none of them look exactly alike. So, there’s more than one way to get a great sound.

But here’s a way that I think works really well has worked for me and my students. Try to relax your face when you make your embouchure.

If you look in the mirror without your flute, and you just close your lips. I want you to look at what your natural, relaxed face looks like. This natural look is the way you should form your embouchure.

A natural relaxed embouchure is a great way to begin your tone development.

So, look at yourself in the mirror with a relaxed face. Then put the flute up while keeping your embouchure in that same relaxed position. Then begin to play with this relaxed embouchure.

As much as you can, keep the corners of your mouth loose and relaxed. Keep your embouchure open without any tension or tightness in your face. This tension in your face will produce a tighter sound.

Relaxing your embouchure will give you a bigger more open sound.