Buying your first flute can be a daunting experience: there are so many different makes, models and types of flutes available, and the variations in price can be hundreds of pounds. Below, we’ve compiled our 5 top tips to help a complete newcomer decide on a new flute.
Buying your first flute can be daunting: there are so many different makes, models and types of flutes available, and the variations in price can be hundreds of pounds. Below, we’ve compiled our top tips to help a complete newcomer decide on a new flute.
1. Do plenty of research on the different brands available.
If you already have a flute teacher lined up, they should also be able to offer their own advice on what to buy. If you don’t have a teacher already you can ask us to help.
2. Be careful of flutes which look too cheap…
This is important. Some supermarkets, high street chains and online-only warehouses sell their own brand of flutes. In our experience, these flutes should be avoided: while the quality of Chinese flutes has undoubtedly improved since this article was originally written, there are still many poor-quality, cheap flutes around, and while the initial outlay is low, the running costs can quickly overtake the price of a good branded flute.
As well as the high running costs, cheap flutes are not as easy to play, and can be difficult even for an advanced player to make a decent sound on. We see so many players on the verge of giving up because they thought they were just no good at the flute – when in fact the problem was caused by a poor-quality instrument.
What’s great about Music Corner is that we only stick to quality second hand instruments that you can hire-purchase at a fraction of the price of buying the new equivalent.
3. Get the right size
Flutes don’t come in different ‘sizes’ as such, but you can get curved headjoints for a small beginner. This brings the keys of the flute closer to the body, reducing the stretch. If your child needs a curved headjoint, the truth is that it will cost more; but the problems if you don’t get a curved headjoint could far outweigh the price difference. Neck and back pain from over-stretching can arise, and players can easily get into the bad habit of poor posture. It can take many years to sort out a poor posture that wouldn’t have arisen with a curved headjoint.
For very small players (ages 5 to 7), you could start on the Nuvo TooT, these are affordable ‘mini’ flutes.
4. A good brand will hold its value
Unlike many things in this modern world – cars, computers, phones etc – flutes can hold their value very well. Many model numbers have been around for years – so you shouldn’t worry about your flute being obsolete in six months’ time. In fact, because of increasing metal prices, some customers have been lucky enough to discover that a Yamaha 211 flute bought new a few years ago is now worth more second hand than they paid new!
5. Think ahead
Hopefully, you’re buying a flute with the intention of sticking at it and developing your ability and sound. Certain beginner flutes – notably the Yamaha YFL-211 & YFL-212 flutes – are upgradable by replacing the head joint (the part that you blow in to). Putting a handmade silver head joint on one of these is like loading it with rocket fuel – the improvement is immense, for a fraction of the price of an intermediate flute.
Follow this advice and you’ll have an instrument that will give years of use and enjoyment. What’s more, it will give you room to develop your playing skill, too.
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