I've been playing the flute for five years and I'm really getting serious about it. I currently own a Jupiter student model that I got when I first started playing. I like the flute I have, but I would like to get a more advanced flute. I would like to have open holes on the keys (with plugs at first because I can't play with open hole yet) and a B foot to get a better range. I'm lost when it comes to brands, material (such as silver, gold, nickel...), and what to look for when finding a new flute. I don't know if I should play the flute before I buy it to see how my tone is on that model or if my tone isn't as good when I first try a flute, might my tone get better if I get used to it. Do you have any advice?

Thanks

What pieces do you play (or think that you might play) that require a low B?

You must try the new flute before you buy it. If you don't fall in love with it, don't buy it.

research and read everything you can find concerning the choice of open-hole vs plateau keys. there is no doubt that there is a stigma regarding "you cannot be a serious player if you play a closed-hole flute", but if you weigh all the positive features against a very, very small niche who claim there is a technical difference (or even a use for those techniques in contemporary music), and add to that the logic of large number of players who plug at least some if not all of their open-holes, it should at least make you think about not making such a snap decision based mostly on cosmetic style.

as the previous comment mentioned, also think about the additional low b-key. again, it looks like you have an advanced flute, but in the 15-20 years i did play, aside from chromatic scales, i've never had a use for it.

i switched to guitar full time about 20 years ago, and i'm going to try and pick up the flute again, but i've got to imagine instruments are instruments. i can play three Gibson Hummingbirds right off the rack and no two will feel exactly the same. try all the instruments you can get your fingers on. concentrate more on the feel and the intonation rather than strictly your tone.

i would call my second flute an advanced intermediate. solid coin silver or better should be your minimum target. it will be an instrument that will at least hold it's value over a few decades. i doubt of more exotic metals would make a substantial tone difference for any but a handful of players in the world. sure gold doesn't tarnish, but you will not find one bit of it on my own 40 year old instrument.

keep an open mind and you'll hopefully make an informed financial & ergonomically sound decision.

Been playing a number of Low Bs in Mahler's 4th Symphony. There is also a low Bb in the 2nd movement that I skip over (what was he thinking?). I have seen one flute with a low Bb.

Well, here goes the pretty much standard reply from me...

1: Materials and what it's made out of are meaningless aside from aesthetics. Metal is metal, and all that matters is construction from a technical standpoint. Now, most makers don't put in the same time and effort into their lower-end flutes, so you're kind of stuck with getting a silver instrument.

In the end, a flute is a metal tube with holes in it and something to cover them so that you can make proper sounding notes. And, of course, the mouthpiece. note - wood does sound different than metal. Not better or worse, just different.

2: The mouthpiece is about 90% of where the sound quality comes from. The difference between a lower-end model and a higher-end one is often that the headjoint is gone over by their best technicians and passes a higher level of quality at the factory or workshop. A common thing to do is to get a more normal body, then, and get a professional quality headjoint. This can save you a couple of thousand dollars in many cases over a solid silver body and keys. Thankfully, many makers now offer a professional level model with a plated body and a good headjoint due to the increased demand for it.

3: Buy a flute that is made in the U.S. or Japan. The issue here is that China generally has iffy quality control. Also, a lot of metal coming out of China is made out of poor quality alloys and even recycled metals. Maybe this will change in about 20 or 30 years, but right now, it's quite literally hit-or-miss. This might cost you a bit more, but IMO, it's worth it.

4: Search the local stores for something that is in good condition used, and try it out first. This will save you a lot of money and since this isn't your final/professional flute, most likely, it'll not break your budget, either. Certainly don't buy anything without playing it first.

As for brand, it really depends most upon your budget.

<Added>

edit - about the metals from China, the issue is that in most cases, the flutes from China simply don't last as long or are built as robustly. All alloys are not the same and you're going to likely regret getting something that's made in China.

http://iwk.mdw.ac.at/Forschung/english/linortner/linortner_e.htm

if this doesn't work, search:
SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM - AND THE SOUND OF THE FLUTE

and you should come up with a good paper on the subject of metals. i agree that even silver is an aesthetic, but i also own a few guitars that needn't be finished as finely as they are. bindings and inlays add little to the tone, but life would be pretty dull without the little intangibles you just can't explain. and don't forget about the bodies and minds attached to the hands of hand made instruments; for the most part, they belong to artists.