That's really not that selective. I've been in groups where they took 2 out of 100 people. But still, it's more selective than some, and I don't think it's right for them to set requirements on what you can play.

flutist06, I might agree to a degree, but, having auditioned musicians, having them play the same piece allows one to see what one does with something as opposed to another

ths is why Mozart is so often required, besides showing technical skill and tone and intonation, there are few notes to hide behind, and one must make much of the few notes he wrote

Patrick, I see what you mean. My last post was a bit ambiguous. I was not suggesting that it was a poor idea to require certain pieces be played at an audition, but rather that it was a poor idea to tell you what instruments you can and cannot play.

agreed

yess. i remember in my middle school, all the flute players ALL wanted a open hole flute because that's wat the B.D says is the BEST!! so, at that time a lot of ppl went for the "looks" in my middle school. haha. it's the player that counts! i did some amazing things with my closed 2sp gemienhardt comparing to flute players that had expensive pro oopen hole.
yess. just wanted to share.^_^..

Ok...ages ago somebody replied to me about me liking my flute. i thought i would just add my side of that comment!!

My whole life i have played a yamaha, beginner flute, with closed holes. my parents wouldnt buy me a flute even though i begged every day!!\
I felt that with that flute i wasnt getting newhere and well...i wasnt. i couldnt reach any high notes without them sounding 'fluffy' and i just plain old SUCKED!!
This yr my parents finally bought me the flute id been dreaming of and it was the best day ever!!

I didnt say that closed holed flutes are bad, at all, i just said that i wouldnt want to go back to one of them...purely because i like having the freedom to take the plugs out!! Also flutes with the holes out have more resinance!! that is a FACT and nobody can say otherwise!!!!!!!

they say that when you have all the plugs out, and u can play, u have perfect position...i want to at least have the chance to have that position..

bye now

Also flutes with the holes out have more resinance!! that is a FACT and nobody can say otherwise!!!!!!!

Please share with us where you got this "fact" of information from. I would be very interested in reading about this. Thanks.

>>they say that when you have all the plugs out, and u can play, u have perfect position...i want to at least have the chance to have that position..
<<

The problem is that, the "perfect position" is the position in which the individual flutist plays the best. If my technique is more fluid and my position more comfortable (allowing me to practice longer and more often) with my LH 4th finger on the edge of the key, then so be it.

Think about it--if you went to buy a bowling ball or a baseball glove, and someone tossed one at you and said "One size fits all--if you make your fingers fit perfectly in the holes, then that's the perfect position," you'd think they were off their rocker, wouldn't you?

http://www.johnlunn.com/lunnflutes/ho1.htm#bax


The big problem with the open hole/closed hole debate is that most people have a BIG change in tone/playability when they go to their open hole flute because it's a BETTER flute (with a better headjoint, as well) than their student model. If you played on a comparable closed hole flute, you'd probably notice the same change.

Judy

Unfortunately, Flutie-Tootie, both Kara and Pickled are quite right. The open holes have no impact on resonance, and most certainly do not offer a "perfect" position for the hands. They may be in the right spot for some, but every player is different, and will have a different hand position. What ever position is most relaxed for you and allows you to play what you need to play is the perfect position for your hands, not where the makers (who produce large numbers of flutes, and meet very few of there customers) put the holes. As for the resonance, that is mostly determined by the player, and the headjoint. The body of the flute may have some impact, but whether the holes are present in the keys has none. Even when we are not depressing the keys, or fingers are supposed to be sitting on top of them (to eliminate excess distance and improve facility), so we are covering the holes most all the time anyway. How could a closed hole flute be less resonant than a French flute where the holes are nearly always covered?

Also, if it were an undeniable fact that open hole flutes have more resonance, would custom flute builders, and some of the largest professional flute makers (Brannen, Haynes, Muramatsu, etc.) offer the option of a plateau keyed mechanism on the top of the line instruments? If your assertion is correct, and French flutes are more resonant, wouldn't they stick to exclusively plateau instruments? Most people will never use the holes in the flutes. The started being put there when the Paris Conservatory chose to use open hole flutes as their standard, so that their students could learn the more contemporary repertoire being written in the 20th century, and at the time they were (and still are) one of the most highly respected music schools in the world. Everyone started copying them without really knowing why (much like Louis Lot with the inline G), and it spread throughout the world.

Sorry...That last post should read "...French flutes are more resonant, wouldn't they stick to exclusively French instruments?"

No problem, Micron! Glad to be of service.

Well, just try to remember back when you were that age

In my wise old years (and occupying my wise old body) I think I may be coming to a change of mind about open hole flutes.

I have played on an in-line open hole flute for about 35 years. I have ALWAYS been a proponent of inline open hole flutes as "better" than others. As I look back I believe that I may have been influenced by some level of propoganda, but more likely it is for the reasons that flute06 stated, a step-up-from-student-level better flute &/or head.

However, I now have chronically sore wrists along with other aches and pains. I'm not saying that the flute caused it, but it definitely hurts more to play my flute than an offset plateau model.

If I had my druthers at this time, I would like to play a solid silver (I still like solid silver!), closed hole plateau flute. Of great quality of course!

Maybe it's the pain talking...I feel so unloyal.....

>>Maybe it's the pain talking...I feel so unloyal.....<<

Nope. My pain is crying "Plateau" today. :::grimace:::

I wanted that flute soooooo badly when I was in high school. Inline, open hole--just like all the other girls had (there was only one guy--I can't remember what he played--I *think it was plateau with a B foot--he was the only smart one, I guess <g>. Now? I wish I could afford to replace it. In the meantime, it's me and my plugs. I have one in the G key, and I'm thinking of putting one in the D key. Now that I've got my left hand all set, my right hand isn't happy.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, someone who knows better--having plugs in an open hole DOES effect the sound, right?

Judy