I am looking for an intermediate flute for my daughter of 13. I`ve been perusing these forums for a week now and while 90% is greek and 100% is new to me it has been very informational in my decision making process.

What I`ve learned? everyone seems to like the flute maker of the flute they play the best, :-)

Anyway I`ve been drilling down on flutes versus my budget of ~1500$. I`ve heard Powell is excellent but a bit beyond my budget, but that they have a division called Sonare... the body is cheaper made but the headjoint is handmade.

Im considering the Sonaré SF6BOF...thoughts? Thanks in advance from a confused but determined father.

You should take your daughter to a store that offers multiple brands/levels of flutes and have her play test them to see what her preference is. You could well invest $1500 in a flute that will feel uncomfortable to her compared to her last flute, regardless of how inferior it could have been.

Now some stores over inflate the value of their flutes so you should research pricing and go there prepared to haggle for a price you are willing to play for your daughters desired flute.

Alternatively you could order a few flutes that your daughter preferred from a web dealer, keep the one she likes and return the rest.

A flute can be as personal as underwear. Let your daughter have some part in the choice if possible.

While I`m not best placed to advise on brands, I have a few all-time useful tips:

1. She`s thirteen. She doesn`t need all the bells and whistles in the book. Don`t get conned into a B-foot, rose-gold riser or anything that costs hundreds of dollars extra. The only exception I`d make in this case would be an e-mechanism because they are very useful (although not strictly essential)

2. If the flute is in good playing order, perhaps a new headjoint would give her the responsiveness she needs as her skill improves. One of the UK dealers offer a Yamaha body with a Miyazawa headjoint which seems to be popular, although I don`t personally know how it sounds.

3. Take her present skill and future playing potential into account. Does she want to go to college or is this just a hobby? Of course this may change over time, but it might make the difference between a "pro" flute to last through a degree or a more basic model which will fulfill all her needs as an amateur.


4. You don`t need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars. The japanese brands (muramatsu, sankyo, miyazawa etc) produce ranges that go up the fanciest proffesional flute. Within these brands you can buy an excellent quality intermediate flute for around £1000 (or equilvalent in dollars) which will be a sound investment.

5. Don`t go with an unknown brand. If it`s on ebay and has no manufacturer`s webpage it`s probably made of old tin cans.

I hope that helps a little and doesn`t reproduce too much of what you`ve already heard.

A B-foot is very useful for those who are accustomed to playing low B`s.

Now... there really needs to be a Bb foot joint and not an add-on that converts the B to a Bb though.

Seriously though the B-foot adds $50-100 in cost of the flute, but greatly increases its resale value. So it`s worth it in that respect at least.

Ditto on the B foot. I use mine all the time.

I like Yamaha and I would suggest Paul`s daughter to try the YFL-461 (with C foot, and 461H for B foot). Also can try the YFL 574 model (with offset G and E-split). They are at around $1600 price range. Both are of easy playability with their CY headjoints and good resale value. Easy to sell it when ready for another upgrade in the future.

I believe Sonare is good but its built quality may not be as reliable as Yamaha, and of course can not match with their big brother - Powell. However, the Powell Signature Headjoints in the Sonare SF6B series are also easily playable and can produce very good quality tone. Obviously, they may not be able to satisfy some pro players and that is why Sig Headjoints are not used in those Powell pro models flutes.

It is a good suggestion to let the girl try out different flutes because ultimately it is her instrument. And don`t forget to bargain with the vendors.

I agree that a basic Yamaha is all that is needed until a student is getting quite accomplished.

If you really want to spend more, then within the price restraints mentioned, I would consider going for a higher model Yamaha (made in Japan) in preference to a Sonare where most of the flute is made in Taiwan or China.

If there is not a significant quality difference between these two sources, then it must be about the first time. You are running a risk. The Sonare head is reportedly very good (made in USA), but it MAY be better & cheaper to buy a Sonare head and put it on a student Yamaha! Or a new Muramatsu head on a student Yamaha.

"Be not the first by whom new things are tried
Nor the last to cast the old aside"

-- Alexandre Pope. ...

Thanks for all your advice. I was going to make this a surprise Christmas present but now I agree and will take her to a music store so she can test drive some flutes. As far as the buying a better head-joint to go with a student flute;

What do I need to be concerned with so they fit? Are flutes generally one size diameter to fit or do I need to add that to my list of things to check?

Whether you need a low B or not depends on what type of music you will be playing. Challenging modern music, maybe. Classical orchestral music, rarely if ever. Church music, hardly likely!

In playing 5 shows per year for a few decades I have needed a low B twice. On both occasions I just added a bit of plastic tubing to the end of my flute.

All the hype aside, a low B flute has a significant disadvantage in that far more precision is required to place one`s finger on the low C roller to play low C, which is a far more common note to encounter than B.

The late Jean Pierre Rampal, probably the world`s most esteemed flute player prior to Galway, claimed that the extra tubing for low B damaged the sound of the next few low notes. Flute design may have improved since then though.

When buying a headjoint the headjoint should fit in the headjoint somewhat... a little tight or loose where you can play and test the headjoint is fine and can be adjusted when you decide on that headjoint. If the headjoint is too big or small to fit in the barrel of the joint adjustment may ruin the headjoint.

"a low B flute has a significant disadvantage in that far more precision is required to place one`s finger on the low C roller to play low C"

Only if you`re not accustomed to a low B flute. I have issues on C foot flutes when I have low B`s and still try to play them. lol

I have a similar issue with trying to play low C on a piccolo. My poor pinkie just falls off the end!

I have used the low B in church and many other places.

I am in the same vote as Piko, I have trouble now with a C foot. I use the low B so much that I would be lost without it.

Piko, that is fine for you. Congratulations. I assume that you do a lot of practice to maintain the extra precision that is DEFINITELY required.

However many of my low-B customers, when they come to pick up their flute following repair, demonstrate very clearly that they have a lot more trouble fingering around low C & B, than do customers who only have to finger around low C without that extra roller being so close. Because of design, this is more of a problem on some brands/models than others. And it is certainly far more of a problem with fat fingers.

It is a luxury in real life to spend a great deal of time practicing flute. Most people, by the time they settle into the typical routines and responsibilites of adulthood, have very little time indeed to practice. So for many players, this is indeed an issue.

I would never recommend a C foot because they are too limiting.
Piko, makes some great points, and I do have to agree with him on this one.