i still dislike my tone in the third register. none of my range is airy anymore, but the top still sounds too bright for my taste. any tips on darkening it up?

Make sure to keep your airway as open as possible, all the way up to the lips (which may mean opening your jaw and your throat more than you have been). Often, players start to close up to force the air out, thinking that this will help them produce the highest pitches, but you're more likely to hit those notes with a focused and well aimed airstream than by simply forcing a ton of air out. Try angling your air down into the flute slightly more to both increase darkness and help bring down pitch (since much of the upper range is sharp). Tone matching exercises can be used into the third octave as well, and may be helpful, but be sure to use earplugs or work somewhere without much reverberation if you do these, as the third register, played loudly for prolonged periods of time can affect your hearing. I hope that helps!

yes, ear plugs! i practice downstairs which has a lot of reverb...which makes it sound great, but my ears hurt so much more after practicing. i'll wear ear plugs. i'll try directing the air more downwards, i've experimented with opening my throat and lips but i dont think ive ever tried that, thanks!

just remember, that you don't just play notes on flute, you need to "find" them, doing so with a relaxed embouchure and jaw and relaxed open throat and lungs, a competent teacher can help you with this, if your face is tense, so will your high notes be tense...

its mostly on high f sharp...ive done a little research and read that sometimes if a flute has a split e machanism the f sharp is tougher to get? is this valid? well even if it is...no reason to give up trying to make f sharp sound better.

about the 3rd register... when i'm playing high notes (highest b ect.) sometimes my lips buzz. i'm wondering if this happens to anyone else and if anyone has any tips on preventing it?? Thanx!!

Generally buzzing is a sign of excess tension. Most people tighten up in the 3rd octave in an attempt to force the notes out, but relaxing your embouchure will likely not only eliminate the buzzing, but should also improve your tone and pitch. You'll need to consciously focus on this, as it's likely pretty well ingrained. I would suggest some long tones moving up chromatically, as well as scales into the third octave (optimally to D4, as that note is now standard, but C4 is usual for students at the intermediate level), played slowly to focus on tone prouction. Once you are more comfortable producing these pitches without pinching, start attacking right on the notes. Eventually, you won't have to think about staying open nearly as much.

Is it normal to somewhat damage your hearing in your right ear when playing that high? (or loud?)

I notice when someone sits next to the right of me and I play, they cringe at the loudness or the...ear peircingness... but It doesn't phase me.

they say I don't have a bad tone, it's just I'm loud :/

Is this normal from practicing in 3rd and 4th register?

It is normal, and when playing that high and loud (though high and loud should not be inextricably connected), you can do serious harm to your hearing, and the hearing of those around you. I suggest you start wearing ear plugs when you practice the 3rd and 4th octaves, and generally try to tone down the volume.

The third register is from the first C off the staff to altissimo(sp?) C right?

If so, try Filas' book of High Register Studies. It's really helpful. My teacher &I are working out of it now.

For a flute with split E mechanism, the problem is solved for E, but not for F# and G#, which remain as problem notes. However it certainly is not the split E that CAUSED the problem with F# or G#. The problem with these just became more conspicuous when the E problem was removed.

micron,
haha wow...how come i never thought of that...makes perfect sense and i think thats exactly what the author of the source i read meant. thanks for your thorough response.