Bad for Flute Embouchure?
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
Joined
·
3,878 Posts
I dont think so. I play both and while Im not a flute virtuoso, Ive had no real adverse effect on my embrochure.
I have a trumpet major friend as well who is a great flute player, she does just fine too.
IMO, the argument that playing different instruments messes up your embrochure is a load of crap. If you are a half decent player of one instrument, you should know your embrochure well enough to be able to handle something different and then go right back to it, no problem. If you arent, then you probably need to stick to your primary horn anyway!
I have a trumpet major friend as well who is a great flute player, she does just fine too.
IMO, the argument that playing different instruments messes up your embrochure is a load of crap. If you are a half decent player of one instrument, you should know your embrochure well enough to be able to handle something different and then go right back to it, no problem. If you arent, then you probably need to stick to your primary horn anyway!
Back in my college days, I remember a girl flute player taking brass methods telling me she thought the trumpet was hurting her flute embouchure. But then, that was only for one semester -- maybe after you get used to it there's just stuff you have to get used to about the two. I still don't see how people play either one with facial hair on the lower lip, but obviously plenty of folks do.
Joined
·
455 Posts
When I used to play classical clarinet, I played trumpet for a while, and I think it did hurt my clarinet embouchure--but that was only in the sense that it made it hard for me to get close to that IDEAL classical sound I was trying for. It's so much about attempting to reach perfection of tone in that kind of music. But jazz and pop music are much more tolerant about personal approaches to tone--I mean, it's a plus to have "your own" sound in jazz, but don't try that if you're going to audition for a symphony orchestra! Maybe it's similar on flute: if you're a classical player, you should probably stick to flute (and maybe piccolo) but if you're playing jazz or pop, you can just make a judgment call based on whether you personally like or dislike what is happening with your embouchure and your tone. Playing trumpet definitely won't prevent you from playing flute, but you might start to sound different on flute.
:headbang:
Joined
·
17,082 Posts
No problem as long as you practice on both.
BTW, Sir james Galway wrote in 2002, "I play the French horn and saxophone (real bad on both) and it has not affected my embouchure at all. In fact, playing the French horn actually improved it. I became more aware of the changes which are necessary on the flute."
BTW, Sir james Galway wrote in 2002, "I play the French horn and saxophone (real bad on both) and it has not affected my embouchure at all. In fact, playing the French horn actually improved it. I became more aware of the changes which are necessary on the flute."
Joined
·
3 Posts
Go for it! ... My roommate that goes to music school with me is a trumpet major here, but she plays lead flute/pic in the woodwind choir, go figure ;o)
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
