Horns?? Did I miss something? Lol! JK! Yeah, the modern scale is a heck of a lot easier to play, I agree.

I try to get most of my students to get newer flutes. That way you know what you are getting. I just feel that the scale on flutes have improved so much in just the past ten years. (Me speaking from a flute techs view.)

Any really good flutist can still get keep an old scale flute in tune, but hey...why have to put any more work into it then you really have to?

Hey the singing is helping my intonation big time with my yamaha! It`s still difficult but getting better. My airsteam is not as focused as it could be and I do a lot of noises with my throat at times so I`m trying more abdominal support and the singing helps the pitch. I have a keyboard i`m working with a tuner. Notes with higher to lower intervals sound much better as well. Just though i`d share. I hated singing but it helps and you may not be great at it but if you get the pitch decent and practice it`s not bad and helps the playing.

Mystical waters, it sounds like you need some instruction from a competent teacher, especially regarding noises from the throat

Kara, regarding older scale flutes, I do agree that the modern scale is easier, but listen to recordings of the great flutists of the past 50 years who played on, or who currently play, older instruments, especially William Kincaid and Julius Baker, to name a few, my technician here has an old Powell for sale that was owned by Kincaid, incredible flute

I have heard some really old recordings. I have old records. They are a real treasure. If you listen to Rampal, he is not always completely on with intonation. Many others that I have talked to say the same thing.

If I still have the choice, I will pick the newer scale over the older scale flutes any day. That is great that some people don`t mind the extra work with intonation, but I do. Like I said before, having perfect pitch can be a real curse sometimes.

True, he was out of tune sometimes, but so was Isaac Stern, Horowitz played sloppy, Rubenstein did as well, so did Marcel Moyse, but oh how we miss those romantic masters...

I`ve recorded myself the throat noises are only if i`m trying to hard. I just relax and it stops.

Hmmm... maybe it was just those `old scale` flutes. Lol!