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So I've been playing flute for about 3-1/2 years. I'm in the eighth grade, and I'm first chair in the top band at my school. Our band director chose our second Christmas piece, "Fantasia for Christmas" (Based on "The Ukranian Bell Carol") today, and it called for a piccolo. Traditionally, the piccolo part goes to the first-chair flute, so I get to play the piccolo! Unfortunately, this piece does not seem like a good piece to start off on, because it goes up to a HIGH A. I've pretty much got the lower registers down, up to HIGH E, but notes above that pretty much suck. I'd like some pointers for getting my higher register OK-sounding, and improving my tone on the lower registers. Thanks a bunch! smile

Don't mess with your embouchure! You get the air to move faster by using good air support and arching your tongue very slightly (so slightly that just thinking about it will probably do the trick rather than actually forcing it into position). To get it right, start by hearing the note you want to hit in your head; you may want to sing it to help you hear it (if you need to use a piano to find the right note, could try that but still sing it as a way to internalize that pitch). Then sing a scale up to that note. Notice how your mouth/tongue/throat change as you go up? That's what you're aiming for when you play high notes as well. Sing the note again, take a deep breath, sit up straight, and play the note.

So basically, to play high, move the air faster by using your tongue/mouth like a singer would. To play louder, use more air (with good air support). To play softer, use less air but still with good air support. Don't use your lips to do any of that.