You are the best flute teacher I've ever found on youtube. You are even better than the most revered world class flutists like Emmanuel Pahud in terms of articulating the lessons.
I think you should not compare these basic flute lessons with what top artists like Pahud have to offer. Both are useful, in different ways. Pahud teaches those whose technique is already better than an amateur will ever achieve, so he does not focus on instruction for the beginning flutist. Nevertheless even Pahud has something to offer to the beginning flutist, because he doe not emphasize embouchure, jaws an so on, but focuses on the sound and the stream of expression. Technical instruction like given by Jolene runs the risk of focusing our attention on our lips, and make us tense, even when she advises us to relax. Flute is a wind instrument says Pahud, not a lip instrument. But of course the instruction given by Jolene can be very useful too.
Oh my god this the very first time I'm hearing even mention of the teeth in five years, and just hearing it made me so shocked. And then I tried "opening my teeth"...my sound was instantaneously better!
Well, I am older, and trying to learn flute in my retirement. I know I will never be great, but if I play, I want to play decently. Just into my second year now, and no matter what I do, I have a steady hiss of air while I try to play. Just about ready to quit, maybe my lips (teardrop shaped upper lip) simply aren't made for flute. Can't get a hole, I get a slit. I think it sprays air too widely, so even if I am hitting a sweet spot, I also get air noise from either side. However, your video gives me hope to keep trying. Thank you so much for a very analytical approach to the problem, and then such useful advice about how to try to deal with it. Maybe it is normal to have this problem just a year in, or maybe it is me, can't find the answer to that question. Anyway, like I said, your video is giving me hope. I will work some more on it now. Thank you again. (And yes, I have watched many videos on the 10 things you can do, etc., to diminish the air sound. And spent hours and days and weeks and months trying....)
My advice (given by a teacher to me years ago): do not try to diminish the air noise, but work on increasing the sound. A little bit of air does not do harm, as the flute must sound beautiful for the audience, not for the player. Rich sound will come across to the audience, a meager tone, produced by someone minimizing the air sound, will not get anywhere.
I'm a sax player who hardly ever plays flute. I needed to get in shape quick for a last minute gig that included flute. These tips helped a lot! Thanks!
I love your videos they are so right on the spot, some days ago i found out that my air stream direction needs that I change my flute direction backwards and I did exactly as you said in this video moving my flute in various directions, the best part of this is that you actually become more aware of what's going on and don't freak out whenever you sound bad. keep up the good work
Now I understand why my flute teacher had me making yucky sounds for half my lesson!! I was so confused even with all her explanations. This makes complete sense now! Thank you!
Hi Jolene, you are definitely giving the best flute lectures on UA-cam. Could you please do a lecture on “making high register notes resonate” or “making low-middle register notes (middle B-D)sound sweet and round”? Thank you so much!
This was so helpful!! I was able to make my sound a lot clearer immediately and get a more resonant sound. I've been playing in my band classes for almost five years now, but I've never had a flute player as a director or anything like that, so no one has really explained these things to me before. This was AMAZINGLY helpful for me, so thank you so much
Omg ive had an airy sound for the longest time but doing the changing if angle with every breathe helped so much i sound so clear and i can do vibrato much easier thank you so much 🙏
Wow! I am a relative beginner, and have been struggling for an age to get that elusive bottom note. As soon as I saw this video, I played around with the air flow as you suggested, and miracle of miracles, not only am I getting the bottom note, but all the others are sounding much clearer and much less breathy as well. it appears having the flute slightly more angled onto the right side of my bottom lip is the sweet spot for me. Thanks so much for this great video. I have subscribed!
Wow, great advice and at a perfect time for me. Your advice is wonderful and so professional for us . You really are the best teacher I've found even off you tube. Thank you.
Thanks so much Jolene, I have only just started learning but you’ve improved my sound and turned practice into meditation for me. Invite airy sounds to dinner. Lovely metaphor.
Thank you for helping me not feel so frustrated. I have just picked the flute back up from when I was a preteen and played for about a year and then again as an young teen. It was so easy for me then. So hitting frustration straight out the gate is that much worse. This helped me to essentially embrace the mess and learn from it.
I almost gave up on playing the Irish flute after trying to play it for over a year (and going back to the tin whistle) but this tutorial saved me, especially the tip on angling the flute away from me a bit. I just wish I had watched your video 12 months ago! :P
I’ve always tried finding how to not have an airy like sound but never found it. For the past almost four years, I’ve been annoyed of it but then sometimes I don’t. But hey. This video exists and I’m gonna try haha
Soooo...forget everything you know and do it wrong to learn to do it right? Wow! That is a trip. Btw I was just taking a break from practicing when I turned on the computer, and the AI brought your video up. Thank You! I'm going to try this...
This is awesome! I have used similar techniques for many years, but not as consise and destilled and thought through as this. Love it! Great explanations. Will go right ahead and experiment! :-)
Great explanation and suggestions to experiment! I've played for years, but I just never got instruction from a fellow flute player to really explain why some of these sounds happen and how to play around with it so you can figure out what's going on.
Wow. This video helped me so much!❤️❤️❤️ Before, I thought I was playing wrong and I couldn’t play even basic notes like G. Now you helped me get less frustrated when I’m practicing, and you also taught me that everyone plays differently! Love this vid SO MUCH. Sorry, did I already say that? Well, I’ll say it again: your videos make me feel really good. 👍👍😄
Hi! Your tips has helped me a lot to improve my tone. It was indeed the point that I was missing in order to maintain a intentional and concious control of the sound I produce! Thank you so very much!
I started playing 2 months ago, its a lot when you’re in a room with experienced players! But either way this helps me lots, unsure why high school doesn’t have a beginners class lol
I am not sure I'm asking this question on the right video. But I have been working on singing while playing to try to open my sound up and open my throat up. Two questions I guess is your flute tone very shaky when you sing? Does that get better? And two I still find myself getting very very tight through my shoulders and throat will this relaxing time if I continue practicing singing and playing? I absolutely love your videos, your personality, and you're playing it's such a treat when a new video comes up. Heidi in Atlanta
It's so interesting how you use your cheek full of air. When you do vibrato your cheek moves with the air, but I push air the way I do when im singing and i have for years now, does it change your tone when you hold air in different places? I also noticed that your lips are loosely on the mouth piece, does that change your sound too?
I noticed that you have a lefreque on the headjoint and couldn’t help but wonder if it contributes to your very focused and centered tone (at least to my ears)? Usually solid silver or silver plated flutes tend to sound more airy and brighter but your tone seems rather warm :)
Wanted to learn the flute since middle school. Been watching another guy to get the proper angle and he kept saying it has to be parallel at all times and you need to move the mouth angle to hit the note not the flute. It's been frustrating trying it that's way. Your tech I'm hitting crisper notes. What flute do you recommend for a beginner.
Thanks for your great video and fantastic tone! I’ve had a lot of success with “low humming” along with certain flute-notes as demoed by Ian Mullin as a quick fix for bad-tone days, Any opinion?
Thanks for watching! I do low humming / singing while playing often for sound, it's one of my favorite ways to practice feeling a relaxed, consistent shape, and ample support!
Ok so like i picked up the flute like an hour ago and like i can play a song(amazing grace) but it sound so airyyyyyyy. But like wow i picked it up pretty quickly coming from clarinet
Try taking it to the shop. If there is anything wrong with it they will fix it for you. My flute wouldn't play G, A flat, A, B, ext. for around a month or two. It was like that until I took it to the shop, I thought I was doing something wrong but it was my flute
You forget the most basic part: the flute must be parallel to the a line traced across your lips so people, look in that frigging mirror and correct that. On the same token, pay attention to NOT DROP you right arm, unless you also tilt your head to keep the parallel alignment (look at how Sir James Galway holds the flute and tilts the head to keep that alignment). Of course, once you are a "pro" you naturally find your sweet spot but only after you are way past "learning the basics" ...
You are the best flute teacher I've ever found on youtube. You are even better than the most revered world class flutists like Emmanuel Pahud in terms of articulating the lessons.
Thank you, Celine, you are very kind!
I think it depends of your flute level. She does very well, but, did you have a masterclass with Pahud?
I know I recommend Dr. Selfridge
I think you should not compare these basic flute lessons with what top artists like Pahud have to offer. Both are useful, in different ways. Pahud teaches those whose technique is already better than an amateur will ever achieve, so he does not focus on instruction for the beginning flutist. Nevertheless even Pahud has something to offer to the beginning flutist, because he doe not emphasize embouchure, jaws an so on, but focuses on the sound and the stream of expression. Technical instruction like given by Jolene runs the risk of focusing our attention on our lips, and make us tense, even when she advises us to relax. Flute is a wind instrument says Pahud, not a lip instrument. But of course the instruction given by Jolene can be very useful too.
Oh my god this the very first time I'm hearing even mention of the teeth in five years, and just hearing it made me so shocked. And then I tried "opening my teeth"...my sound was instantaneously better!
This comment solved all my problems before the video even started.
Well, I am older, and trying to learn flute in my retirement. I know I will never be great, but if I play, I want to play decently. Just into my second year now, and no matter what I do, I have a steady hiss of air while I try to play. Just about ready to quit, maybe my lips (teardrop shaped upper lip) simply aren't made for flute. Can't get a hole, I get a slit. I think it sprays air too widely, so even if I am hitting a sweet spot, I also get air noise from either side. However, your video gives me hope to keep trying. Thank you so much for a very analytical approach to the problem, and then such useful advice about how to try to deal with it. Maybe it is normal to have this problem just a year in, or maybe it is me, can't find the answer to that question. Anyway, like I said, your video is giving me hope. I will work some more on it now. Thank you again. (And yes, I have watched many videos on the 10 things you can do, etc., to diminish the air sound. And spent hours and days and weeks and months trying....)
ahahaha...you are not alone!! we are both retired and ranting the same problem..
anyone can do any task, some just take more time
My advice (given by a teacher to me years ago): do not try to diminish the air noise, but work on increasing the sound. A little bit of air does not do harm, as the flute must sound beautiful for the audience, not for the player. Rich sound will come across to the audience, a meager tone, produced by someone minimizing the air sound, will not get anywhere.
I'm a sax player who hardly ever plays flute. I needed to get in shape quick for a last minute gig that included flute. These tips helped a lot! Thanks!
I love your videos they are so right on the spot, some days ago i found out that my air stream direction needs that I change my flute direction backwards and I did exactly as you said in this video moving my flute in various directions, the best part of this is that you actually become more aware of what's going on and don't freak out whenever you sound bad. keep up the good work
Now I understand why my flute teacher had me making yucky sounds for half my lesson!! I was so confused even with all her explanations. This makes complete sense now! Thank you!
Hi Jolene, you are definitely giving the best flute lectures on UA-cam. Could you please do a lecture on “making high register notes resonate” or “making low-middle register notes (middle B-D)sound sweet and round”? Thank you so much!
Thank you so much! Definitely! I appreciate your suggestion! :)
Ooh brilliant! I like the idea of making friends with the enemy. Thankyou for a helpful video!
Thank you so much, Ruth!
Very, VERY, nice work, Jolene. I'll be sure to share it with my students. The concept is applicable to most wind instruments, no doubt!
Thank you, Mr. Bianchi!! :)
Thank you SO MUCH! I had never thought about changing the angle of the flute, and when I did...WOO! What a change for the better!!
So happy it helped!! :)
This was so helpful!! I was able to make my sound a lot clearer immediately and get a more resonant sound. I've been playing in my band classes for almost five years now, but I've never had a flute player as a director or anything like that, so no one has really explained these things to me before. This was AMAZINGLY helpful for me, so thank you so much
I'm so happy this was helpful!! Thanks for sharing!
Omg ive had an airy sound for the longest time but doing the changing if angle with every breathe helped so much i sound so clear and i can do vibrato much easier thank you so much 🙏
Wow! I am a relative beginner, and have been struggling for an age to get that elusive bottom note. As soon as I saw this video, I played around with the air flow as you suggested, and miracle of miracles, not only am I getting the bottom note, but all the others are sounding much clearer and much less breathy as well. it appears having the flute slightly more angled onto the right side of my bottom lip is the sweet spot for me. Thanks so much for this great video. I have subscribed!
I'm so happy this helped, thanks so much for subscribing, I appreciate it very much!! :)
This is hands down the BEST VIDEO and advice on improving flute sound I've EVER seen!! Thank you!!!
Wow, great advice and at a perfect time for me. Your advice is wonderful and so professional for us . You really are the best teacher I've found even off you tube. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Nancy!! I appreciate your kind comment!
I don't know what it is but I love your tone, it is one of my favorite tones I've ever heard.
Thank you!! :)
Your just magical. I saw this 1 min ago and I’ve turned into a whole new person. 😊 Thx so much! Keep making videos.
So glad this helped!!
Thanks so much Jolene, I have only just started learning but you’ve improved my sound and turned practice into meditation for me.
Invite airy sounds to dinner. Lovely metaphor.
So happy to hear that, thanks for sharing!!
Miraculous! Bravo. Something improved the moment I exaggerated the air, and then corrected it.
Simple, intuitive and efficient ... Best tip I got this year ! Thanks :)
Happy to hear it, thanks Dimitri!!
Great tips! I have never seen it explained like this. It's very useful to see you "find" your good tone! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching! So glad this was helpful!
Thank you for helping me not feel so frustrated. I have just picked the flute back up from when I was a preteen and played for about a year and then again as an young teen. It was so easy for me then. So hitting frustration straight out the gate is that much worse. This helped me to essentially embrace the mess and learn from it.
You are sooo good at this! Your tips helped me so much! You are the best! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Jolene, you are an outstanding teacher, you are very clear.
you are a lifesaver thank you so much
I almost gave up on playing the Irish flute after trying to play it for over a year (and going back to the tin whistle) but this tutorial saved me, especially the tip on angling the flute away from me a bit. I just wish I had watched your video 12 months ago! :P
it worked! thank you
That last exercise helped sooo much! Thank you !
This is so helpful! I'm learning to play a simple system/Irish flute and these tips are great. Thank you!
excellent tips, love your vids, useful and nicely short :) thanks for sharing
That was such good advice, thank you so much for sharing.
Merci Jolene!! Bonne chance pour tout.
I’ve always tried finding how to not have an airy like sound but never found it. For the past almost four years, I’ve been annoyed of it but then sometimes I don’t. But hey. This video exists and I’m gonna try haha
I hope this helped!
Thank you, this is very helpful!
Thanks Jolene, those tips do help a lot!
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you!
Soooo...forget everything you know and do it wrong to learn to do it right? Wow! That is a trip.
Btw I was just taking a break from practicing when I turned on the computer, and the AI brought your video up. Thank You! I'm going to try this...
This is awesome! I have used similar techniques for many years, but not as consise and destilled and thought through as this. Love it! Great explanations. Will go right ahead and experiment! :-)
Wonderful, thanks for watching!
Great explanation and suggestions to experiment! I've played for years, but I just never got instruction from a fellow flute player to really explain why some of these sounds happen and how to play around with it so you can figure out what's going on.
These are great ideas!
VERY NICE INFORMATION.
GRAND SALUTE..
Thank you so much for helping me get the right flute sound!!
Wow. This video helped me so much!❤️❤️❤️ Before, I thought I was playing wrong and I couldn’t play even basic notes like G. Now you helped me get less frustrated when I’m practicing, and you also taught me that everyone plays differently! Love this vid SO MUCH. Sorry, did I already say that? Well, I’ll say it again: your videos make me feel really good. 👍👍😄
Yay!! I am so happy to hear that!!
Hi! Your tips has helped me a lot to improve my tone. It was indeed the point that I was missing in order to maintain a intentional and concious control of the sound I produce! Thank you so very much!
I started playing 2 months ago, its a lot when you’re in a room with experienced players! But either way this helps me lots, unsure why high school doesn’t have a beginners class lol
Such great advice. Thanks!
Thank you for this info!!
Very helpful with angle explanation, I was doing the same but explained it differently with my students.
great advices, thanks a lot!🙏
this helped me soo much, i hv a test tomorrow omg ty,
Yay!! I hope it went well!
I am not sure I'm asking this question on the right video. But I have been working on singing while playing to try to open my sound up and open my throat up. Two questions I guess is your flute tone very shaky when you sing? Does that get better? And two I still find myself getting very very tight through my shoulders and throat will this relaxing time if I continue practicing singing and playing? I absolutely love your videos, your personality, and you're playing it's such a treat when a new video comes up. Heidi in Atlanta
Very useful info.
Especially, when I can't afford lessons at the moment.
We don't have metal flute here. By any chance do you play the bamboo flute? And any special tip needed to play well on the bamboo flute? 😐😧😦
Great advice!
i have watched your video many times i am still struggling with airy tone
Wow! This was so helpful! Thank you!
Please help LOW C is all holes closed right? but I tried it its not making a sound but when I moved to D its ok
Great sound. What is that gizmo on your head joint and why is it?
Your such a life saver omg this helped a lottt
Woah thanks for the idea of angling your flute I heard an immediate difference
This is sooo helpful!
Great information
Your video is simply brilliant !
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
It's so interesting how you use your cheek full of air. When you do vibrato your cheek moves with the air, but I push air the way I do when im singing and i have for years now, does it change your tone when you hold air in different places? I also noticed that your lips are loosely on the mouth piece, does that change your sound too?
My keys at the end of my flute sound the same is it bad or normal someone tell me plzz.🙏🏻🙏🏻🥺🥺
What’s that clip on your head joint?
It's LefreQue and it should improve the tone quality 😁
Cool, thanks
What is the thing on your head joint?
Very helpful. Thank you.
I noticed that you have a lefreque on the headjoint and couldn’t help but wonder if it contributes to your very focused and centered tone (at least to my ears)? Usually solid silver or silver plated flutes tend to sound more airy and brighter but your tone seems rather warm :)
Wanted to learn the flute since middle school. Been watching another guy to get the proper angle and he kept saying it has to be parallel at all times and you need to move the mouth angle to hit the note not the flute. It's been frustrating trying it that's way. Your tech I'm hitting crisper notes. What flute do you recommend for a beginner.
Excellent, this has helped me to get resonant sound consistently, thank you !
thank you!
What notes did you play at 4:11?
Thanks for your great video and fantastic tone! I’ve had a lot of success with “low humming” along with certain flute-notes as demoed by Ian Mullin as a quick fix for bad-tone days, Any opinion?
Thanks for watching! I do low humming / singing while playing often for sound, it's one of my favorite ways to practice feeling a relaxed, consistent shape, and ample support!
Would this work on the Baroque flute?
You've got a follower 👍🙏
Havent figured out how to make it sound more airy, so cant make it sound less airy?
Can you do a video on “vibrato”?
HELPED. SO. MUCH
🤗 Yay!! Glad to hear it!
This was very helpful, thank you! I mean, I assume it will be when I'm not washing the dishes at least.
Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you for reminding me to watch without dish duty!
Ok so like i picked up the flute like an hour ago and like i can play a song(amazing grace) but it sound so airyyyyyyy. But like wow i picked it up pretty quickly coming from clarinet
what is arperture? u said it at around 6:10
oh. thanks a lot for the fast reply. is embouchure the shape of the lips?
Tan Hong Zhi correct 👌
Jolene, is that a heavy mass device on the headjoint?
I feel like my flute sounds flat and airy because of the brand, and I've had it for 4 years and It was kind of cheap but idk
May I ask, what is it on your flute?
all of my airy sounds are in the upper registers, i have no problem with the lower ones
So I have a gemeinhardt flute, and my sound is incredibly airy, yet when i tried a jupiter or armani flute, my sound is beautiful, anyone know why?
I have a Jupiter and I find it hard to blow on it. It’s airy and the high notes sound not nice.
Is Yamaha better?.
khanishka mote same
I have a Yamaha and Sonatina flute. Yamaha makes a nice sound but I've heard my classmate play her Jupiter and it sounds marvelous
Brilliant.
Subscribed! Enough said! :)
Ahhhhhhhh! This is so smart!
How Cant tell if I have an airy sound or I can just hear myself breathe ;-;
MY FLUTE NOT WANMA WORK WITH MEH IN STRESSED BADLY PLS HELP
How do you open the teeth more??
Relax your jaw
Hey how do i fix my flute it dosnt play f
Try taking it to the shop. If there is anything wrong with it they will fix it for you. My flute wouldn't play G, A flat, A, B, ext. for around a month or two. It was like that until I took it to the shop, I thought I was doing something wrong but it was my flute
if you can play all the notes around it something is wrong with the key next to your first (F) key. take it to the shop.
is it sad that I forgot my flute at school and I am sad?
🌾🍃🌿Thank you 🌾🍃🌿
I can’t understand how or why some people play out of the sides of their mouth.
Because some have a tear drop lip which disturbs the airflow coming through the middle so that have to play through the side of their mouth
You forget the most basic part: the flute must be parallel to the a line traced across your lips so people, look in that frigging mirror and correct that. On the same token, pay attention to NOT DROP you right arm, unless you also tilt your head to keep the parallel alignment (look at how Sir James Galway holds the flute and tilts the head to keep that alignment).
Of course, once you are a "pro" you naturally find your sweet spot but only after you are way past "learning the basics" ...
I play piccolo and I sound airy in my lower register