Hi guys,
I`m 14 years old and I`m playing the flute for 5 years.
In this period My parents are planning me to buy a new flute
As for now I have the Gemeinhardth 2sp.
My teacher recently told me that he prefare for me to buy a plated good one that can be use until the diploma, so it will not cost too much... and for another reason that I am still a teenager and he told me that if one day I want to be a professional flutist so that is the time for me to buy a silver one.
But the decision is still mine... Do you have any opinion???
Plz reply ASAP Thanks!

(Hope you understand my english!)

Most people who learn the flute, end up not spending much time playing the flute. They gather a whole lot more interests in life, and spend most of their time with higher priorities such as adult responsibilities and family.

So most people who play the flute don`t really NEED a fancy flute. The player is the limiting factor, rather than the flute.

So in this sense your father is quite correct.

It also depends on how self-indulgent you want to be and can afford to be. You could think about all the other things that could be bought for the cost of a professional flute. Is the professional flute REALLY a higher priority than these, along with other items you will think of next year, and next, and next....

Another issue to consider is that if you are only 14, there is quite a high chance that you will not be playing the flute at all in a few years, because these are years in a person`s development where priorities can change drastically. Hormones may well take almost total charge!

I`m sure others here will add other valid perspectives.

I am wondering...Which one is better?? (I`m confused)

Your English is fine.

Another issue to consider is that if you are only 14, there is quite a high chance that you will not be playing the flute at all in a few years, because these are years in a person`s development where priorities can change drastically. Hormones may well take almost total charge!

*coughs* I am 14 years old and I have already decided that I am doing a career with the flute because it is the most rewarding overtime.

Lifelong decisions by 14 year olds, no matter how firm they are at the time, have a habit of changing in time, as the much greater `fullness` and diversity of a well-balanced adult life explodes around them.

The name you call yourself says quite a lot.

No intention here to be mean or anything, but just observational.

Of course, you may well be one of the few exceptions that `prove the rule`.

My name of First Chair Flutist? Heh. It`s hard being the first chair out of 27 flutes. And what`s even harder is knowing you could have been fifth chair of a wind ensemble.

"1st chair" I agree with you. I`m 3rd out of 20ish and I`m in 10th grade.The 2 ahead of me have ben playing waaaaay longer. I got a profesional silver flute the end of eighth grade. I knew when I started I was going to keep playing.

I think it`s right about not definitely knowing what career you will go for at 14, however sure you feel. At that age I was also considering a career playing flute but when I went to college I found other interesting subjects. And though I still play and enjoy it a lot, I don`t think a flute career would`ve been for me.

Also the thing is with flute playing, however good you think you are at 14, doesn`t mean you`re going to end up good by professional standards when you`re older. Sure you can practice a lot but you`ve got to be very dedicated over a long period of time and there`s a lot of competition out there. Some people just don`t have it.

I`ve known many 14 year old flautists who have played 1st flute and considered themselves good, but lack the musicality they need - maybe technically good but play with no feeling, or lacking confidence, for example.

I know this sounds negative but it`s true, not that you can`t or won`t get a career in flute playing in the future, but it does seem a bit of a waste to pay out loads of money for a flute at that point. Having said that, a more expensive flute will most likely last you longer and be worth it in the end... but I have also known quite a few flute players (who were good)give up when they left school or band. In those cases an expensive flute would`ve been a waste of money.

Hello everyone! I`m 14 too and i`m still deciding if i should play flute for the rest of my life. I enjoy playing flute and i`ve been in a lot of competitions. When I grow up, I want to do a lot of things. I think music is such a wonderful part of our lives and it should continue. So whatever you do, you could play flute as a hobby or go professional and do a lot of other things as well.

I agree with the whole 14 year old not being able to make a for sure decision on their career in the future. When i was fourteen I wanted to be a musician or a lawyer... now im set on a music teacher. I love playing though, We dont really have chair numbers in our orchestra lol but i`m around 2 or 3. I`ll probably be first next year if I don`t do pic again. Im only 16 and still have alot of time to change my mind, which could still happen. I may want to be an astronaut next year (doubtful) Alot of people at that age still have alot of time to experience other things that they will love even more that music. I think that you shouldn`t bother getting a top of the line flute yet, just upgrade, it won`t be worth it ten years from now if you`re not playing it. Hope my input has helped. Cheers!

Ok. I have to agree with Ed on this one. I was in 4th grade when I started playing Clarinet. I taught myself everything. Then I picked up Sax in 8th Grade. Then Flute finally in 11th grade. I figured I wanted to go to college and be famous for music just like every other player. I can now (I`m 26) play any major concerto on Clarinet, Flute and Sax...and even play Mozart on Oboe just from teaching myself all of them. I have not gone to college because my family could not afford it. I have not done anything with music except play in my house. I started a life after High School, and music fell aside. As much as I LOVED music...I never made it further. Only now am I going to go back to college. That`s to show you that even the people born with the talent who are able to do whatever they want, first chair in All-States on multiple instruments, All-County First Chairs, First Chairs in High School, 30 Superior Medals from Contest - Something MIGHT come up. Don`t get defensive or offended just because the older people that have observed this or lived through it are telling you what typically happens. 14 year old teenagers don`t always know what they truly want in life. They also don`t know what`s in store for them. You might have a child in college, and have to drop out. Things like this happen everyday. Just please don`t be rude to other people because they are sharing their knowledge with you. Take it all with a grain of salt if you don`t believe it.

Happy Playing,
-Dennis

Alrighty, plated or silver... big question there. The first thing you need to think about is "do i really want to spend that much money on a silver flute?" another is "Am I going to want to do this my whole life?"

I have played on both types. Both were my mothers, her nickle/silverplated sounds to me, more harsh and like a tin whistle while her solid silver one (the one I play now) sounds warmer more bell-like. If you want to go pro i would go with the silver and keep it near and dear, they are easy to dent. If you are just going to play for school, I would stick with the plated. But it all really comes down to money.

Goodluck

~Gothic Piccolo Chick

Micron, you are right on the money there.

I am going to upgrade soon. Hopefully. (By the way, I was first_chair_flutist). My friend who works at a music store says that they have a sale of quality flutes. I will go soon to see if he`s right or not