Blog - The Flute Coach

Are These Flute Embouchure Mistakes Sabotaging Your Sound?

by Christie Gallen | November 9, 2019 | 7 Comments

Today, we talk flute embouchure.Whether you're a beginner player whose picking up the shiny tube for the very first time OR an experienced player, the flute embouchure (pronounced om-boo-shore) is a playing concept that's like oxygen. You can't do without it. Go to any flute forum, Quora or Facebook group, and you'll see its one of the most talked about topics.Take a look.Why?Well, mastering control of the embouchure is critical for beautiful rich toneeffortless leaping between high and low notes control over dynamics
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Don’t let these 3 reasons sabotage next year…

by Christie Gallen | December 20, 2021 | 1 Comment

Another year has passed us by and a new one is just around the corner. It’s around this time that we reflect back over the past year’s goals, where we succeeded and fell short, and look towards the potential of the coming year. We all like to get the most out of life, but for some bizarre reason we have a habit of only planning our dreams and goals out once a year in a New Year’s Resolution. An estimated
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Should We Bother Setting Goals??

by Christie Gallen | November 9, 2021 | 3 Comments

For me, I’ve always liked setting goals in all areas of my life – be it finance, hobbies, career etc. Particularly around the start of a new year, I feel a sense of excited anticipation and hopefulness about what lies ahead. But most of us (myself included) despite our very best intentions, fail to meet our often noble resolutions or goals of doing more exercise, losing weight, quitting smoking or learning a new skill like an instrument or language… Why are we
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How to transition your flute studio to an online model and build resilience in challenging times.

by Christie Gallen | March 15, 2020 | 3 Comments

We’re living through unprecedented events.Our generation has never faced anything like this before.As I write this piece, Coronavirus (COVID-19) is sweeping across the world.Over 160,000 people have now been infected, and the number is climbing daily. (It's 20,000 more than when I first started writing this...)The disruption its causing is colossal, and on every level of life as we know it. Borders are closing, once busy streets are growing quieter, world financial markets are in upheaval and major cultural and sporting
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Flute tone colours: How to Find Your Flute’s Voice

by Christie Gallen | January 16, 2020 | 2 Comments

So you’ve managed to make a sound on the flute. Fantastic!!But how would you describe it?Is it rich, clear and focused? Or... fuzzy, weak and airy? If you'd use the latter there's some simple reasons why this is happening to you. (And don't worry. They can be fixed, almost instantly.)Keep reading.In this article I’ll explain what is meant by flute tone, what affects it most and some super easy troubleshooting tips to zero in on INCREDIBLE sound. It's not enough to be able
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8 Flute Practise Hacks: Save Time and Improve Faster

by Christie Gallen | December 26, 2019 | 6 Comments

The difference between being good and being great at something is rarely a product of sheer talent.It’s no secret. It's your flute practise. But you work. You study. You parent. You travel.... I get it. Carving out a regular spot in your calendar to practise is hard.So if you're like me, when you finally get the chance to pick up your flute, you want to be sure that the precious time you're spending is actually making you a better player. Quick Navigation What
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12 Reasons Playing Flute as an Adult is Easier than You Think…

by Christie Gallen | December 17, 2019 | 24 Comments

Whether you’re learning flute for the very first time or relearning after a long break (decades anyone?), it’s never too late to start. Adult learners enjoy tremendous success in learning a musical instrument, with progress at a rate that often leaves younger students in their dust.And that’s despite having the additional time demands and responsibilities that adult life brings.So how do they do it??Based on my own experiences and those of fellow adult learners, I’ve listed 12 reasons why learning flute
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Updated for 2020: Why You Should Convert to Digital Flute Sheet Music

by Christie Gallen | November 28, 2019 | No Comments

Why You Should Convert to Digital Flute Sheet MusicAs flute players seeking to be challenged and inspired in our playing, what is our number one need?Sheet music of course! And lots of it!Today I reveal printed music is on the out, and why making the switch to digital sheet music is the all-in-one solution to buy, organise, preserve, customise, streamline and quickly access your entire library.Plus I show you my exclusive research comparing four of the top online sheet music
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How to Play Lush Low Notes and Heavenly High Notes Effortlessly

by Christie Gallen | November 17, 2019 | 7 Comments

These are some of the questions I get asked the most..."How do I play high notes easily?""Why aren't my low notes sounding properly?""Why do my notes keep cracking between octaves?"If you're struggling with any one of these playing challenges, this article explains the common solution - developing a flexible embouchure.Here's what we're covering today...Learn the note range of the fluteBreak down each registerLearn the unique approach to playing each register beautifullyExercises to build embouchure flexibilityHow to quickly trouble shoot tone
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Breath Support: The Why, What and How…

by Christie Gallen | November 25, 2018 | 2 Comments

When it comes to playing a wind instrument such as the flute, the way we breathe and blow is really the cornerstone of our performance. We’re all told to use this concept of ‘breath support’ when playing. Despite being a critical playing concept, the actual muscle mechanics of breathing and breath support during playing is poorly understood by both players and teachers alike. Because of this we all have a different definition of what breath support means. And that’s lead
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