Hi all,

I dont play my flute as often as I should and find that I get a kind of cramp in my left cheek. Also, I have developed a slight tremor (health prob) and this affects my lips also - aparantly it doesnt notice but I can feel rather than hear it). I was wondering if I were to practice much more often (which I do intend to - although have no plans for further exams, I am determine to improve) will my lips/embouchure strengthen (hopefully thus preventing the tremor being as bad as it is) and my cheek stop cramping? (strange that it is only one cheek?

thanks in advance

It sounds to me like you may be tensing up because you think maybe your tremor is noticeable... this would explain the cramp in your cheek at least. The trick to pain-free flute playing is to relax: your embouchure should be relaxed, your lips shouldn't be too tense, just enough to form the aperture and your jaw (and thus your cheek) definitely shouldn't be clenched. I get a tremor in my lip, only when I play in public though, and it sounds like really ridiculously excessive vibrato!
Hope that helps!

thanks Lizzie, that makes sense - thinking about it I suppose I do tense up - especially when being accompanied and trying to play perfectly I will endeavour to relax!