I am not really a “proper” flute teacher. I played up to about Grade 6 / 7 standard years ago and did flute as second instrument at College of Education. However I have found myself teaching flute because there isn’t any one else around here who does.

I have a problem with a thirteen year old girl (Grade 1) who was producing a fairly full tone until she had a dental brace fitted to her top teeth. She has to wear this for two years. The tone has now become very breathy and she is becoming demotivated because as she says, “The sound isn’t nice any more.” Please has anyone any ideas?

I have a second problem with a fourteen year old boy. He persistently lets his flute drop to the right. This doesn’t seem to affect his tone. Should I keep on saying ad infinitum “Lift your flute?” or does it not matter? If I let it pass am I storing up trouble for later?

When I was learning my teacher (who was fantastic for all things technical etc...) put a sweet (wrapped for obvious reasons!) in the end of my flute. If it didn't fall out I could keep it. It worked wonders for me and I've used it with my pupils too!

I used to wear braces not long after I started playing the flute and it does put you off for a while.

The best thing to do is to get her to keep practicing her technique and she'll eventually get her full tone back. It's just a matter of being patient with it as she has to get used to having her brace as well as playing the flute with a brace.

Just be encouraging with the girl and point out the braces won't be on forever and that with a bit of effort, she should be able to readjust her tone with time. As for the boy, don't let him slouch! I have a pupil like this too and tell her every week to hold her flute up but she never listens to me either! That sweet trick sounds brilliant, I shall be trying that one in future!

I play clarinet, and the braces do affect your tone for a while, but she'll get the good tone back when she's more used to them, don't worry!

When I was at school two kids managed to get their braces intertwined and immovably locked together: They had to go to A& E joined together by the mouth in this manner to get it sorted (with wire-cutters!) I think they may have died of embarrassment if it hadn't been so painful!

Thanks everyone for your comments. I was relieved to know that braces do affect wind players because I was beginning to wonder if that was really the problem or whether something else had gone wrong. I shall be patient and will explain to the child concerned that the nice tone will eventually return. She does need encouraging because she has just discovered she can’t take her Grade 1 after all – split up parents and that day she has to be with the wrong one.

The sweet in the flute is a great idea. I’m going to try it ! Actually the boy is a bit too old to be bribed with a sweet but I reckon if he keeps it in I could refund him a euro ! !

As for Robodoc’s story …..

That's so sad about the parents & the exam - can they really not get round the problem? If they can't, the poor child will be uncertain about whether she'll be able to take every exam she ever enters & other important events must be a problem, also. Don't the parents think it's a waste of money, as well?

I think the problem is that father is totally uncooperative and mother repeatedly gives in when there is a conflict, in order not to stress the daughter and not to provoke a situation in which he might start legal proceedings for custody of the child. Yes it is sad. The pupil herself is remarkably well adjusted and understands the situation, though she does find it frustrating. I think she's just waiting to be eighteen. Mother paid up in the hope that the exam date would fall on one of her weekends and I think she feels that the money she risked is just the price she has to pay to keep the peace and to keep the door open for her daughter. I think I may be able to ask the Board for a voucher so that she can enter for an exam next year, but it's true, we could come up against the same situation. Fortunately, she will be able to play at our end of year concert - to which only mother will be coming. I have suggested that the pupil takes her flute with her when it's father's weekend to show him wwhat she is doing but she seems to feel it would be pointless.

Parents like that need their heads banging together! They obviously have no consideration for how their behaviour is impacting on their daughter's life.

Could you contact ABRSM and explain the circumstances and see if you could get the girl an alternative date, even if it means going to another centre?

Unfortunately there isn't another centre anywhere nearer than a three hour drive from here. It's sad, but I can't see any way out at least for this year. It's also a bit delicate for me as the cultural association under whose wing I work houses their piano in the school where I also work. And the child's mother is the head teacher of that school. She is actually a very nice person but is trapped by the father's uncooperative attitude
(over many things, not just music.)