Bob, do I read you right? Is your teacher selling his/her gold flute to you?

Please be very, very conscious that being made of gold does NOT automatically make a flute better, no matter how wonderful the IMAGE may be.

If your teacher wants to SELL this gold flute, then I would very seriously want to know why!

The most likely reason is that the teacher has found it disappointing compared with another flute - quite possibly a substantially cheaper one!.

Personally I have found several gold flutes I have worked on to be really disappointing compared with the most basic (EX) model made by Muramatsu.

BTW, you write of `pure` gold. WE normally speak of `solid` gold. The Muramatsus in the link are 9 karat gold. PURE gold is 24 karat. 9 karat gold is only 1/3 gold, so it cannot be described as pure gold. A pure gold flute would be far too soft and far too heavy. When we speak of `solid` gold, we mean some sort of gold alloy right through the metal, as opposed to gold plating over some other metal.

Many a teacher has lacked integrity when selling instruments to pupils. Be careful!

The reason I have a gold flute is because I saved up for half of it. My old flute broke so my parents decided to buy me a new one so I used my money aswell and bought a gold one.

I don`t think anyone is jealous as one 1 person I know plays flute and she has a solid silver Miyazawa flute so her flute is really good too.

I am also VERY careful with my flute and I have a studant yamaha one I use for taking to school. I use my gold flute for concerts and when i`m playing solos and I also take it to my lessons.

I`m not spoilt and if I hadn`t paid for some if it myself I never would have had it. I had been saving for a new flute for 4 years and the Miyazawa flute was the best one I could find and I had a 1/3 off the price as it was on offer in a local music shop so it was the same price as the solid silver ones.

I admit thet gold flutes aren`t always better than silver ones and if your teacher is selling their flute I would definately find out why.

Cath

Im just going fifteen but you see ive pretty much worn my silver flute out (its only silver plate) my parents agreed to buy me a new flute and when i suggested a gold one they said if were going to buy a new one it might aswell be a good one that sounds good if were going to pay for it so anyway thats why i need the price list for gold flutes but i cant find it any where on the internet and when we phoned the shops they said they dont really order in gold flutes
(a) because they can get damaged while be delivered
(B) they only order them in if people are buying them for certain
and i dont know which one i want yet as i have only tried my teachers gold yamaha.

NOW that is a spoiled kid!!!!

I think it`s important that you point out to your parents that "gold" does not equal "good". If they "may as well get you a good one", then you should be buy one appropriate to your ability and prospective for study. If you judge your new instrument by these criteria, it will undoubtedly be cheaper and just as useful.

Bob, are your parents going to buy you a porsh for you 16th birthday too?
There are plenty of needy children around the world that could also use money. Not to mention food!

Bob,

I hope that you are seeing what type of reaction you are getting from a cross section of ordinary music people here. If your silver plated flute wore out, I would suggest replacing with either another silver plate or take a smaller step up to a solid silver instrument.
If you want to become a great musician, take lessons from the finest teacher in the land on flute and maybe even a few other instruments such as piano and voice. These would be a real help for your development. A gold flute at age 15 produces a great deal of envy but not much musical respect from your peers. Besides gold doesn`t really improve the tone in spite of what ads and advocates say. You mayactually be better off practicing on an instrument that makes you develop your embouchure by working at it. Some of the flutes these days don`t really leave you doing that.

~Bilbo

It`s sounding like bob may be misinformed rather than spoiled perhaps? Definitely the parents do not sound as if they have done the research.

Bob, you and your parents need to really search and research on the subject of flutes. You will really need to try flutes (several, many, many) to find the right flute for you. You really should have someone who is trusted and very knowledgable about flutes with you to help you. Do not rely on the music store salesperson, their job is to SELL you, but you need someone who can help you find the best flute for you.
It really is reckless to buy a flute only for the reason that it is "gold". There are "gold" flutes on e-bay that are extremely poor quality. The "gold" part of it is not the important part.

As has been recommended, go with a level of flute that will fit your present needs, and perhaps be able to realistically grow with you. You haven`t mentioned your current ability...that is a big factor. Get yourself better informed, you will be happier in the long run. Good Luck.

He/she is just trying to show off to her classmate that she has a gold flute, and make them feel jealous and cause some problems.

It depends on what kind gold you are looking for. I own a Pure-Rose-Gold-flute that I love. It cost me about 19 grand! Which i only paid for half.

I don`t think wanting a gold flute is wrong and it doesn`t mean that you`re spoiled. If you can afford it then why not get it? I`m fed up of people thinking that is you have something expensive you are spoiled because it`s not true.

I am 14 and have a 24k gold flute and i admit it cost a lot but as I am at grade 8 standard and play in a lot of shows my parents bought me one.

I play in my school orchestra and there aren`t many flute players. One girl is jealous but most people don`t really say much about it.

All I can say is that if you want a gold flute, get one. Obviously make sure you do like playing it and get a good brand, but there is nothing wrong with having one.

Cornelia, I am so glad that your parents have 20 grand to blow like that.
It is so sad to see how parents are enabling the newer generation today.
The other girl probably isn`t jealous, but just thinks that you are very vain and would rather not associate with someone so worldly.
I bet you own a Powell piccolo with gold key too, that Mommy and Daddy bought you.
Just wait till you get into the real world where you will have to fend for yourself. You parents are just hindering you in the long run.

I get what Cornelia is saying, but why spend the money when you could get a great quality flute at a cheaper price. If I were you Bob, I would go with something like a Powell Signature Flute.

Excuse me! Ok, yes I do have a piccolo but is is silver plated. My mom and dad are are both self employed and they have worked really hard to earn the amount of money and so have I as I also work answering the phone in my dad`s car garage.

I admit that silver flutes are just as good but I wanted something a bit different.