I`m 13 years old and I`m currently in 7th grade. I`ve been playing flute since 5th grade, and I hope to play it throughout highschool as well, maybe into college. I was first chair last year (6th grade band) but not this year since this obnoxious 8th grader took it ^.^ But, I believe that I will get first chair next year XD Well, my mom said that I could get a new flute when I go into the highschool, but ONLY after I`m in the highschool band for half of a year, so I would get it during 9th grade. Well, I`ve been looking into a Gemeinhardt 3SB. It`s a great open holed, solid silver, low B foot flute that I would be able to get for under 800 dollars at my local music shop. I`m just asking for any opinions, or other flutes that may be good? I`d like one that would last all four years throughout highschool, and I am on a limited budget, so please if you have suggestions make it a flute under 1,000 dollars ^.^ Thank you. -Katie.

ooh if you didn`t look at flute.com i put a response there too and hopefully some can give you advice as well on here!

Gemeinhardts are crap! Get a real flute. If you want to go anywhere in life with it, then don`t get a Gemeinhardt!

What is wrong with the flute that you have if you are only in 6th grade? Why do you need any all solid silver flute?

Sorry, I meant to say 7th grade. Still that is pretty young. Do you just want it because it is pretty and has open holes?

Jilly, I may be in 7th grade, but I am NOT in flute playing because I find the instrument "pretty". And if you cared to read, I said I would be getting it in 9th grade, in high school. I want a new flute since I will also be joining a symphony around that time, as well as getting private lessons, and the one that I currently have is not that great. I don`t mean to sound rude, but although I may only be 13, I am not an idiot. Kekee, although I know I did ask for opinions, yours is not appreciated, since you did not happen to write any other suggestions?

Just wanted to note that "Jilly" is not "Jill Pole". Anyway, Gemeinhardts are OK, but Yamaha or Powell is better.

Yes Powell is one of the best flutes that you can buy today. They are in a way different class then a Yamaha all together. It would be over kill for a Junior High student or High School student to even consider purchasing one. The conservatories run about $6000 and the handmade`s run about $1,0000.

I would just avoid anything made by Gemeinhardt.

I know some people don`t like Sonare, but mine was a perfect upgrade.

Just as long as you don`t confuse Powell with a Sonare. The only thing powell on a Sonare is the headjoint.

I trust Yamaha a lot. Yamaha has all the types of models from beginner to order-made for professionals. You`ll probably be looking for the middle type, maybe a bit higher than middle, but I suppose they do have the one just right for you A good thing is, go to a store, and ask if you can play and test some flutes, Greimenhardt, Yamaha, or any brand they have, pick your favourite, and then get that one It doesn`t matter what these people say, everyone has a different style which you need to use the best matching instrument to your style

I agree that everyone has there different styles, but when it comes to Gemeinhardt it is not a style issue. It is a fact that they are made poorly and on top of that there scale is all over the place and just plan bad. I can honestly say this as I have worked on many of them on several occasions.

I have yet to see one with leveled tone holes. The headjoints on them are by far the worst. It looks like they were just stamp out by a machine. Remember, you do get what you pay for.

jeeze! I allways here this about gemienhardts! I guess I lucked out. I mean i ended up getting a yamah because the sound was better years later but it was not drastically drastically different! I got a decent sound on the gemeinhardt could i have just kept good care of it! I practiced everyday on it or every other for 9 years! The flute player next to me has been playing hers for like 30 years and sounds great. I don`t know.

30 Years ago Gemeinhardt did make them descent. After the M series they thought that they would redesign them. In the process they ruined the scale on them instead of improving them. They have resently cut corners quite a bit to save on the cost of money.

I meant to say to say on the cost.
Wow... it`s late here! Lol!