When testing a flute out what do you play?? Not only scales, but what is a good piece to see all aspects of its playability sound articulation, etc. ??

To Bad Kera is occupied with the flute fair. She would really be the one to ask. There are some others that I would ask too.

I have been play testing flutes for about a week to try and find THE flute. The one that I will be happy with.

If you have read some of the forums you know that I have a problem with my right hand.

I have been looking at footjoints and playing a lot on the footjoint when I play.

I then start at A above the staff and slowly play down and up the flute. Then I do it again with a tuner and practice moving my embrachure.

I try going from high A two above the staff to High E one above the staff. (I don't know the technical term. Please excuse my ignorance.)

Double tongueing, flutter tongueing and singing into the flute.

I close my eyes and play long notes and listen to the sound quality of the flute.

Then I just play something that I like. Some scales and that's about it.

I bring a notebook and I write down what I like about the particular flute. What I think of the construction and how it worked out with ease of play. After I am finished I ask the price and I write it down. I also write down the options available and the cost. eg. split E,C# trill, etc.

Try that. Maybe someone else will have some input.

After all, I have only started playing again after 25 years. I am probably not the best person to ask.

Good luck!

I usually play the notes that are the
hardest

Article on testing a new flute by Jennifer Cluff:

http://www.jennifercluff.com/blog/2007/01/testing-new-flute-on-trial.html

When I was looking to buy my flute, my teacher had me play a few lines of the all-state etudes i was preparing, as well as a bit of my solo i was learning, and that i am now preparing for solo/ensemble. Also scales, double tonging, long tones.. play stuff you can play well.

What REALLY helped me decide on which to buy was to have me, well first narrow it down to just a few.. then I played them for someone else (they did not know what flute it was, I did) and had them and myself write down what I thought about the flute i played (how easy it was to play, what it felt like, what i thought of the sound.. just anything about that flute) She also played them while I listened and i wrote down what I noticed when she played them as well.