How is flute playing like dry cleaning?

Greetings,

Insights and inspirations can be found in the most unlikely places...

I have a friend whose parents own a dry cleaning business in TX. One of their facilities burned to the ground in February. Fortunately, no one was injured and insurance covered the bulk of the expenses to rebuild.

I received notice recently that they are celebrating the reopening of the facility. As I thought about my friends and the happy end to their ordeal, the image flashed into my mind of a pants press machine used to steam trousers. I could see the lid closing and the steam escaping.

Eureka! The perfect image to explain the relationship of the tongue and upper lip in a flute embouchure:

Think of the surface area of the tongue as the flat bottom of the pants press and the inside of the upper lip as the lid. The "lid" (upper lip) closes on the bed (tongue) creating pressure (steam) and crisp clear articulations and control of tone are the results.

My students and I have enjoyed the wonderful results of this powerful image this week. Please give this a try and let me know how it works for you!

All the best,
Catherine