Does anyone here know much about these? They are a big brand here in Ireland, but a student of mine has tried one out recently and is hoping to buy it.
I tried doing my own research, and when I opened the azumi page I immediately thought No.
The opening title page of their flute website says
"For the growing Flutist"
Why or how in God's name would a flute producing company not know the technical term for a flute player?
I'm just not sure what to tell my student, they seem ok flutes, and at good prices but just need some advice if anyone has experience please

>Does anyone here know much about these?
I believe Azumi is Altus' competition for Powell's Sonare and Haynes' Amadeus. It's a high quality headjoint paired with a low cost body to bring the price down. I've only heard good things about Azumi, and they were great when I tried them.

>"For the growing Flutist"
>Why or how in God's name would a flute producing company not know the technical term for a flute player?
I'll assume you think the technical term is "flautist". There's a lot of controversy from what I've seen, and the conclusion from any reasonable person should be that "flutist", "flautist", and "flute player" are all equally correct. But what the company calls a flutist (or flautist, if you prefer) shouldn't affect your decision about recommending the instruments. That's silly. If they called me a snoozlepuff tooter and made a fantastic flute, I'd still buy from them.

here is the answer to the controversy, as I am asked this in my travels:

When your paid your a flutist

When your NOT paid your a flautist..

I have tried an Azumi at a flute fair.

They are made by Altus. I think that they are very good flutes.

They are Altus's answer to:

Amadeus by Haynes

Sonore by Powell

They are and intermediate flute. I think that they play well and that the mechinism is smooth.

While they are not as good as an Altus or any other high end flute, I would still recommend it as a good flute for a student. The flute could probably even get you through college.

Thanks for the flutist vs. flautist comments. Guess it just and Irish thing :P, you could almost swear that here you would be shot for saying flutist in an orchestra. Thanks for the tip there Patrick, interesting to know!
I like the Altus flutes, and have tried a couple myself,so you reckon this would be an ok flute for my student. This is the only time I've ever heard of them, so I hope you can understand my concern at not wanting a student to pay a fortune for something I was unsure of

thanks, it's just a joke I tell to audiences...I really don't know the real term...

haha, my use it myself, might hint at them to actually pay me once and a while

audiences like to be entertained, and that joke never fails to get a few chuckles, one of these days I will play in your country and try it out, I have some ancestors from county Cork..

Aw you'd love it! You should come, especially to Cork. It has one of the best music colleges in the country! Was hoping to study there, but it's the other side of the country so am between two minds whether or not to go.

It's simply a difference in regional usage. They are both correct depending on where you are.

flautist: Great Britain, Ireland, Australia
flutist: United States

Yep. Like colour vs. color...

I stand to be corrected, but did'nt Sir James say that he is a flutist because he plays a flute and not a flaunt????

I'm English and i call people a flutist including myself,well a learner one anyway.

I'm english too .... i still use flautist as it's the word i grew up with and old habits are hard to break, and as i'm very very very old ..........

Of course it really doesn't matter which version of the word you prefer and it annoys me that people make so much of it, so long as we all get paid .......

Anyway, i'm off topic In England the Azumi flutes are getting really good reviews, i'm considering one as a back up flute at the moment

Angie
Canterbury UK
Flautist

Does it really matter what the players are called - who in their right mind would really want to play the stupid instrument anyway?
But then I play bassoon, contra bassoon & bari sax.

Having said that some of my favourite (Please no bitching about spelling - I live on the eastern side of the Atlantic) people are flute players.

I've heard good things about the Azumi.

I personally do NOT like the term Flautist. Flutist, great, but for some reason Flautist irks me. If you have to use the a, make it Flautista! (With an accent, of course).