Product Reviews: Pneumo Pro Wind Director

Originally bought as a teaching aid, I now realise it is treasure trove! In truth, it is a tool for developing a strong embouchure 24/7 wherever and whenever silence rules!

For a few years I struggled with the flute embouchure and even stopped playing to get away from the awful sound I was making!!! Then I discovered the Pneumo Pro and the difference it has made to my flute playing is quite amazing ! I decided to practice with the Pneumo Pro for a few minutes over a few days before actually playing my flute and I nearly tripped over myself with the sound I made!

I was not sure about purchasing this teaching tool, but on a friend's advice I did - thank goodness! Within a few minutes of fitting it together, it was possible to stand in front of a mirror and see where I was going wrong with my embouchure. As a complete beginner it was difficult to grasp how to correctly produce a note with a good embouchure, but the Pneumo Pro is a great help. I alternate between short sessions working with the Pneumo Pro and with my flute. It did not take very long to produce notes of a far better quality than I have managed before. I feel encouraged to continue and practise more to keep improving.

I am very please with this gadget and would definitely recommend it to other students.

Having feared that taking up the flute in my 50s would prove too difficult, this brilliant product cuts to the chase and has helped me make enormous strides. It is not a child’s teaching aid but a beginner’s teaching aid and beyond

Excellent article. It is an amazing tool very well designed. Really useful not only to teach the fundamentals of embouchure formation an blowing but also to learn advanced techniques such as circular breathing.

I've hardly used it yet, but after one lesson my flute student finally made a sound. The device visually summarises all of my explanations on how to get a sound, making it much easier for them to understand what they have to do and more importantly - what they are doing.

I don't know if the product is made for everyone though; every embouchure is different; therefore I would stop using it after achieving a fairly good sound.

Also, I was hoping the device was hollow so that it could fully substitute a flute mouthpiece, but maybe something like that could be invented in the future.

Lastly, the device does not fit into the barrel very snuggly and keeps falling out. The rubber band could definitely be bigger, or there should be various sized rubber bands to accommodate for different sized flutes.

Overall, useful and effective tool. If you teach, buy one!

I have used this for beginners to help them get their first sound from the flute as well as advanced students to help them learn to play quietly. It is excellent.

Thanks, its really great stuff for teaching! I recommend it!

I chose this item because I wanted to know How I blew (downward, straight or upward). This made me aware of where I should blow when it must be downward. I was amazed to notice that I didn't blow where I thought! IN this way, it was a useful device. It encouraged me.
The device comes in two part, easily assembled. i bought a separate box (not included ) to store the device all assembled.
It has guided me in a useful fashion to approach the flute embouchure so I would produce a sound.
I did have to work from there to adapt my lips to play the E4 (low register).
This device is useful, I would recommended, It's certainly a helpful guide that will show you where you have to blow.

The Pneumo Pro is a very useful tool for teaching and improving the sound quality in all registers. The students use more air and focus the tone better.

I've been using the Pneumo Pro Wind Director in my teaching for a couple of terms now and it saves a lot of time and frustration for my pupils. Especially the very young ones. There's a real fun element to making the propellors wiz and then move to the flute or fife and there it is... the (almost) perfect sound and embouchure.

It paid for itself in the first week.

I only wish it came in a smaller box.

Only used this with a few students some complete beginners working to make a sound and a student struggling to play in the second octave. So far they have all had a positive effect using this visual aid.

Would definitely recommend.

I was really excited when i saw this on the website, i had to buy this! And i am really happy with it. It really works with pupils, it shows them the right direction to blow the air... and also how strong to blow! The Wind Director is a really really great Invention! Best wishes from Austria

I have only just begun to use this with students and need to read more of the on line support. It has really helped students visualise the air direction for different pitches and the air speed. I have found it particularly helpful for beginners. I have yet to use it for tonguing etc and for more advanced students.It is rather expensive for an individual student to buy.

I bought this to help teach flute embouchure to a grade 7 clarinettist who wanted to learn a doubling instrument. Three lessons with this tool probably saved months of trial, error and feedback from me: the student could see for himself what needed changing.
I won't say it transformed my own tone, but it did help to clarify what I was doing with air column direction; after a few weeks out of practice, I find this is great for focusing my mind (and lips) on what I should be doing to get my playing back into shape.

Finally i am feeling more confident about playing. The difference is amazing. It is really good to try just before playing.

I bought the Pneumo Pro to help improve my embouchure control, in particular with lifting the air. I have not been disappointed. Not only have my diminuendos improved, but my overall tone quality has changed substantially within a few weeks, with many commenting that they could hear this change. I would highly recommend this to flautists of all abilities, but particularly to advanced players who might dismiss it as a tool for beginners. You won’t believe the difference it can make until you try it for yourself!

Bought this having tried one with my teacher. I am a late returner to playing the flute and am finding it very useful to get embouchure back into place and keep it all relaxed.

This product was delivered promptly and efficiently - thank you. This item intrigued me and has certainly helped with my embouchure. I am a largely self taught player, having learnt primarily from books and manuals. I thought it might be useful to have something other than a book or manual. It is especially handy when you do not want to disturb neighbours or the cat. However it is too early to comment upon the long term effect.

As a Diploma student I love this product, its really good for visually seeing and controlling the airstream. It has helped me with the tone and tuning of top notes and note bending.

Very pleased with this find which helps improve blowing technique with the additional aid of a handy CD giving further tips.

It's really helpful to get visual feedback on where your air is actually going, and how fast it is going. Very helpful for learning to be precise with where you direct your air, how much air you use, and the speed of air. The pneumo pro is very useful for younger students, to help them understand these concepts. I bought this as a tool to help with learning to circular breathe. Try and keep the fans spinning at a constant speed while breathing in through the nose!

Cons: I would like more excercises included, with clearer instructions on what to actually practice with the pneumo pro. Once it is assembled it doesn't fit back in the box and it feels too delicate to take it apart and put it back together every time I use it. Better to leave it assembled. But then I'm worried about the little fans getting damaged.

Wonderful tool that nicely complements flute practice. Fast delivery without hassle.

I finally invested in a pneumo pro after encouraging students to keep one for themselves as they moved up the grades. I must say, it’s a fantastic piece of kit! I’ve found it highly effective, even with students who particularly struggle at the beginning in getting a clear sound/higher or lower octaves. You can also attach it to your flute. It’s very engaging!

If I had to pick a con, it would be that it feels like the pinwheel stick could snap. But really, there’s not much con in this little gem.

Every flute teacher should have one of these!

As a non-flute specialist tasked with teaching some flute students, the Wind Director has been a lifesaver. I used it to refresh my own flute technique and to help students visualize their air speed and directions. I love that it can be used on its own or attached to the body of a flute. The accompanying booklet provides some useful suggestions for both beginner and advanced students. Well worth the price!!

I am awarding 5 stars, as it gave me an immediate understanding of the different embouchure needed for the various octaves - which no text book could achieve. I can blow the little windmills to perfection now, BUT my high notes on the actual flute have deteriorated! I was presumably getting away with blowing incorrectly! I have no teacher, so will persevere and sort this out for myself. I have located the teaching videos given by Kathy Blocki on her website :(https://www.blockiflute.com)