Flute tone has changed. Please help!

[piccolo_cate]

I have been playing flute for six years (I'm in my final year of highschool) and nearly two years ago I started playing saxophone. (I also play piccolo, I started that two and a half years ago.) I have recently started to notice that my very clear tone that I used to have is becoming slightly "muddy" and not as nice as it used to be. Is there any way of getting back my nice tone without quitting sax? Thankyou in advance!

Best wishes,

Cate :D

[bpimentel]

Is there any reason to believe that playing saxophone is what's affecting your flute tone? Assuming your flute hasn't developed any leaks, headjoint dents, etc., the most likely culprit seems to be that your flute embouchure has changed. That happens to me when I've been playing other instruments a lot, but it's not because of the other instruments (at least not directly)--it's because I've been neglecting the flute.

I say keep playing flute, piccolo, and saxophone, but expect to put in serious practice on each of them to keep them up to your high standards!

Good luck,
Bret

[Gordon (NZ)]

Exactly what I was going to write.

BTW James Galway plays French horn and sax ("badly", he says), and claims that they have not affected his flute embouchure at all - that playing the French horn actually improved his flute embouchure because he "became more aware of the changes which are necessary on the flute."

Practice, practice, practice. Get expert instruction if necessary.