I could never play the open-hole flutes, my fingers are too small and I can`t seem to play well with them...trust me, I had to play one in band! But hey, if your buying a open-hole flute I recommend Gemeinhardt...I have a colsed one, but it plays wonderfully so just imagine that but with holes.

Here we go again.....

I would NEVER recommend a Gemeinhardt. Notice that only the players that don`t have a clue about the other brands out there today, always do this?

Gemeinhardt, Jupter, Emerson, Pearl, and Armstrong all make great sub-$500 flutes to start out on as it is easier to produce a pleasant sound on those small round holes with little effort. That is why they are always recommended so much.

Then professionals chime in... "GASP, NO!!!! NOT GEMEINHAARDTTT!" Yes, manufactured flutes are inferior to their professional counterparts, but the difference in cost is thousands.

The likes of Powell, Muramatsu, Miyazawa, Sankyo, Brannen, Landell, Tom Green, Burkhart, etc should never be considered a choice for a student... especially one who doesn`t know whether they prefer open or closed holes! For the advanced amatuer that wants a flute for the rest of their life or one who wants to go on professionally yes, but even then those "manufactured" brands take many a student through their music major.

That said I think ALL student flutes should have open holes and then they can choose to continue with holes or go with closed hole when they upgrade to either an intermediate or professional flute. Only because they are forced to position their fingers to direct pressure to the center of the keys. Constant pressure otherwise can drive a flute out of alignment.

I think when one is podering whether they want drawn or soldered tone holes, risers of specific material, C# trill keys, rollers, convertable foot joints. They are looking for a professional flute.

Otherwise I would suggest manufactured brands.

And before the Yamaha suggestions chime in. The Yamaha flute is in the unique position of being a silver plated C foot instrument at $800. I could never recommend it when you could get a comparable plated flute for less than half... or get another brand at $800 with silver head, B foot, split-E. True, FluteWold, offers a special discount IF you call, but Yamaha should be punished for their un-consumer friendly practices. Namely mandated higher online display price, brick and mortar specialty flutes, assembly in USA and other countries, while still marking their flute made in Japan... and this is completely speculative, but you may not even get a Yamaha headjoint on a Yamaha student flute.

For every anti-Gemmy rant, I`ve got a Yamaha bombshell.

Now if you cannot recommend a Yamaha... what else does one recommend for someone not willing to spend $2,000 on a flute.

"...while still marking their flute made in Japan....."
That is a result of USA law, which allows them to do it, The duty structure ENCOURAGES such nonsense for imported items. IN countries with different law, made in JKapan means made in Japan.

... unless I am mistaken. :-)

It has been suggested that US made Yamaha flutes have crossed into Europe with made in Japan or as they say "crossed the pond". I can`t imagine how such a trip would be economical, but it was something a little birdie told me.