I started looking for an instrument a while ago--I ran across some pictures and sound clips of wooden flutes and low d whistle and I was hooked. (I also considered the ocarina, but that`s another story) So I bought a cheap fife from a place called sweetheart (http://www.sweetheartflute.com/renfifes.html). But it seems I`ve made a mistake; I can`t overblow octaves, and the D is quite high. I did get some fingering, embrochure, and rhythm experience out of it, so it wasn`t a total loss.

So here`s my dilema. I would like to keep playing the Irish Flute, but I do not want to play in the irish style. Will it be as troublesome as it seems to play in a modern style on a wooden flute? Or should I save my dough and get a cheaper boehm-system flute?

casey burns makes a good irish flute for a much lower price than other makers (one from olwell or noy starts at around $1200 for akeyless model)

he`s got a student model irish flute for $250 made out of mopane, it`s a lot like rosewood, they sound great and play really well.

keep in mind that a fife is a completely different instrument from an irish flute. fifes are designed to be played with a very tight embouchure in the 2nd and 3rd octave wheras the irish flute excels in the first and second octave.

www.caseyburnsflutes.com