I'm not saying they need to buy a flute, just that if they rent, they need to rent from a place with the materials, tools, and expertise to be sure that the flute is actually in good condition. Most schools lack all of these (and others are missing at least one), which makes the reliability of any instrument you get from the school suspect. If you're paying, you'll likely end up having to take care of repairs on your own. If you're not paying the school, then there's really no issue, as you don't stand to lose out should something go wrong.

Hi all,

Thank you for your comments. Our school does not rent instruments. The two rental shops that I have called were renting no-name instruments and it was out of my budget to rent yamaha so I just went and bought a no-name myself for slightly more then the rental for one year. I don't know if she will stick with it so I took a risk that this instrument will last her 2 years and if she decides to continue, I can invest in something better later on - by that time she will be able to test a used instrument herself (I don't even know how to produce a sound on a flute). Thank you again for all your input

Well, best of luck to you, but realistically you will be extremely lucky for that instrument to last you even one year...They're extremely hit-and-miss, so you might get lucky and have one that won't develop any major problems, or (the more likely situation, as unfortunate as it is), you may have one that will fall apart in just a few months. These junkers are built of pot metal (which is far softer than the usual alloys), which means it's more susceptible to damage, and much harder to repair (most techs won't even look at them, because they're a financial liability...Fix one thing, and another goes wrong). Aside from that, the scale (how in tune it plays with itself) is usually horrendous, with some notes as much as a 1/4 step sharp or flat naturally. The headjoints are poorly designed and cut, and the mechanism highly unreliable. You may find that you'll need to invest in a name brand flute sooner than you expected. Student level used instruments from a reputable maker can be for just a couple hundred dollars, though, so it's not a huge expense to buy one. Anyway, good luck to your daughter, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that that flute can hang in there for 2 years.

Do you happen to be getting commission for Liz, or are you just a customer? She does carry a lot of upper end flutes which are very nice at a good deal.

Heh. No. I just have found hers to be one of the few sites online that actually is honest about used condition. And I've read nothing negative, either.

Me? I personally like local shopping, but I'm in Los Angeles, so there's tons of them for sale on Craigslist and in the local shops. But if I was looking for a more basic flute, I'd go the winds101 over wwbw or the others. $300 and gone over/adjusted is far better than renting, IMO.

Liz is good, but Fluteworld, Phil Unger at the Flute Center of New York, Carolyn Nussbaum, and the other major flute retailers are just as honest. Buying from any one of them is a fine way to go if you can't buy locally.

Hi everybody! I just happened to visit this forum while researching for a flute for my daughter. She just started learning flute at her school. Currently, she is renting an Emerson flute (open holes), for which we are paying almost $30 per month. We also bought a Suzuki flute (closed holes) and asked her teacher if it was good enough. Yesterday she said that the Emerson was preferable but Suzuki was ok. So, I called the rental company and told them that I would be returning their flute. Today, the teacher flat out rejected the Suzuki one and said that it is not recommended. What happened between yesterday and today? Did the rental company called up the teacher and talked her into it? BTW, my daughter practices at home after school and she was able to play some notes very easily on the Suzuki flute but still can't do it on the Emerson flute.

She also made a lot of fuss about the need for open holes in the flute. What is the difference between the two and does a beginner really need open holes? As far as your concerns about the Suzuki flute breaking down before one year, I say that look at it this way. Rent for 1 year: $360. Cost of brand new Suzuki: $180. So, you can buy 2 of them for the annual rental fee. At least, you will own it and not pay money to the rental company. Also, who knows if she will continue with the flute next year. If she does, I will buy her a really nice one, don't mind the money at that time.

Let me know your views.

Today, the teacher flat out rejected the Suzuki one and said that it is not recommended. What happened between yesterday and today? Did the rental company called up the teacher and talked her into it?

This is unlikely, unless the teacher and the rental company have some connection. It's impossible for us to rule that out, but odds are she simply recognizes the Suzukis for the low-quality flutes they are and wants her students to begin on something that will allow them to progress, while being reliable.

She also made a lot of fuss about the need for open holes in the flute. What is the difference between the two and does a beginner really need open holes?

The only difference is that open holes allow pitch shading, some notes into the fourth octave (most players never leave the 3rd), and extended effects....All very advanced techniques. The fact is, that no beginner (and almost no one, even at the professional level) NEEDS open holes, though some people do like the feel of them or simply buy a flute with open holes because they're easily available in the US. They won't hurt your daughter's playing, but if she is younger, or simply has small hands, you should get her some plugs so that she doesn't have to worry about covering the holes. They're readily available from most music stores. These holes are also probably the reason she can't play on the Emerson yet. You have to be sure to seal them completely with your fingertips, or the notes won't sound properly, and if she has even minute leaks through the holes, they will prevent her playing normally.

As far as your concerns about the Suzuki flute breaking down before one year, I say that look at it this way. Rent for 1 year: $360. Cost of brand new Suzuki: $180. So, you can buy 2 of them for the annual rental fee. At least, you will own it and not pay money to the rental company. Also, who knows if she will continue with the flute next year. If she does, I will buy her a really nice one, don't mind the money at that time. Let me know your views.

And that's the mentality of most parents who buy such an instrument, but when you factor in the repair costs, as well as the time they spend in the shop (which means the student doesn't have a flute to play), they stop looking so appealing. It's easy to spend $100 on repairs (which no name flutes generally need much more frequently than instruments from reliable makers) if you're using a reputable repair tech. You don't have to have a really nice flute as a beginner (in fact, used student models in good repair from reputable makers can be had for just slightly more than a Suzuki...Usually in the range of $200-$350, or perhaps less depending on where you look), but it is important that one have an instrument they won't have to fight, and that will operate reliably. I would recommend either keeping that Emerson you have rented, or simply buying a used student model. It will allow your daughter to develop her playing much more successfully, and the cost is hardly prohibitive.

Thanks for your views. I am in Austin, TX. Can you suggest some local stores you know of, or online stores where I can buy a used student model for the annual rental fee or less. I hate paying money to the rental companies.

Thanks again.

Today, the teacher flat out rejected the Suzuki one and said that it is not recommended. What happened between yesterday and today?

My guess: The flute teacher reads this forum and saw the comments made about the Suzuki flutes. Alternatively, the teacher might have asked some colleagues about Suzuki flutes and they might have advised against it.

Regardless, the general consensus seems to be that Suzuki flutes just aren't up to snuff.

Can you suggest some local stores you know of, or online stores where I can buy a used student model for the annual rental fee or less.

I can indeed. For low cost (but good quality) used instruments, which have been gone over and fixed as necessary, Winds101 (www.winds101.com) is probably your best option. Liz is honest and reliable, and seems to do a good job of putting the instruments in ready-to-play condition. It's possible to get an open hole Yamaha student model (one of the most reliable and well-constructed makes of student flute) from her for $289 dollars ($325 if you want to go with a closed hole model). You might also try your local music stores. Most have a stock of demo instruments, or previous rentals that they will sell for a low price. Assuming the store has done a good job of refurbishing the flute before you purchase, this is a good option. Then there's always eBay, though this is far more risky (particularly if you don't know exactly what it is that you're looking at, and what it should sell for in various states of repair). I would regard eBay as a final possibility after exhausting the others I mentioned, though with some care, you can pick up a good quality instrument for a low price there. To help you along, here's a list of makers who are put out reliable student instruments. A flute from anyone of these should be fine for a beginner:

Yamaha
Gemeinhardt
Emerson
Pearl
Armstrong
Jupiter
Trevor James

One thing to note, though is that you want to find a relatively modern flute if you can. Many older flutes (those pre-dating the 80's in particular) have poorly designed scales (which means it's more difficult to get the flute to play in tune with itself, though certainly not impossible). A modern flute makes playing much easier, and is less likely to cause frustration that could end with the student quitting.

Hopefully that's helpful.

I also sell used flutes that are rebuilt to like new condition with add ons also. Liz carries more stock than I do, but I can get a hold of just about any flute you might want and customize it to your liking for a lot cheaper than most.

<Added>

http://fluteragiouscreations.blogspot.com/

Kara, and your workwomanship is awesome! I don't know when I will ever be able to justify a fancy shmancy Flutragious flute, but I know you do good work.

Thanks Az! I think that the flute should not only play great, but also be a work of art. Kids always seem to love it too