Buying a Beginner Flute - Yamaha, Trevor James, Jupiter

With so many beginner flutes on the market it can be hard to know where to start. With years of experience in playing, teaching, buying and selling flutes we have accrued a good understanding of the models available and the needs of the beginner flautist. This guide has been written in view of the first time buyer in the hope of offering independent information and advice. If you find this guide helpful, please vote below so that more of our guides will be visible.The Yamaha, Japanese made YFL211 is the most popular student flute on the market and for good reason. Designed with the beginner student in mind, it is extremely responsive and has excellent intonation. Built to last, the 211 is constructed of high quality materials, giving longevity to both the mechanisms and pads. This is a highly versatile instrument recommended for grades 1-6, though it is known for players to even reach grade 8.As with the majority of entry-level flutes, the 211 is silver plated (the 211N nickel plated is available but not as highly recommended). Silver is used as it a very dense metal and consequently produces a soft tone. More advanced players may want to upgrade to a flute with a solid silver head-joint, which again produces a greater quality of tone. Silver, however, is both expensive and soft and therefore we would not recommend purchasing a solid silver flute, new or second hand, for a young beginner. Not only that, but solid silver flutes are initially harder to master, reaching lower and higher registers may be difficult for a beginner. The 211 maintains its value due to the quality of its construction it is very durable and can withstand a certain amount of mistreatment by the younger player. It stands at the top end of the entry-level market but compared to cheaper models, and if taken care of, is the best investment long term. The YFL211 has a split-E mechanism, which helps players to reach the 3rd octave E, as well as on offset-G helping smaller hands reach these keys. The majority of flute teachers in the UK recommend this offset-G and split-E configuration and will insist on beginners purchasing the appropriate flute. Please be aware of new "YAMAHA" 211 flutes from China sold on Ebay, these are generally counterfeit goods and of very poor quality. The Trevor James 10x is also a highly recommended beginner instrument, with the same key configuration. Trevor James (TJ) are English flute makers known for their delicate construction and highly responsive flutes. It is often said, and we agree, that Trevor James flutes have a much sweeter tone than Yamaha flutes. The TJ 10x is the beginner model and is silver-plated. Trevor James have an innovative plating system whereby they use a cupro-nickel alloy plating underneath the silver to prevent damage. This is why second-hand Trevor James flutes often appear to have better plating. Trevor James also make the TJ Privilege, a step-up flute with a solid silver lip-plate. This makes it a cheaper option than buying a flute with an entire solid silver head joint, while providing a denser metal at the first point of contact with the airflow. The Jupiter 511-ESSC is also a very good beginner flute. Jupiter is a Taiwanese company, though their beginner instruments are made in China. Even so, the JFL511 is very well made and has just won the Music Industry Association (MIA) award for the best woodwind instrument of 2009 beating the YFL211, TJ10x and others. Critics still maintain however that the Chinese made Jupiter flutes are not as durable as the Yamaha or Trevor James flutes. There are plenty of other well known flute makers such as Pearl, Germeinhardt, Buffet and so on. We have not discussed them here as they are not as popular as those described above in the UK. Pearl flutes are of a very high quality, with smooth and unique pinless mechanisms. We highly recommend them for the advancing student and their solid-silver flutes are very well regarded. Germeinhardt flutes are very popular in the USA and are of high quality. For advice regarding buying new or second-hand flutes please see our guide: 'Beginner Flute - New or Second-Hand?' We hope this guide has proved useful and that whomever the flute is for enjoys it thoroughly! Should you have any further questions please feel free to contact us at info@friendlyflutes.co.uk Best wishes Thea and Tim Friendlyflutes