When you purchase your first flute, you will get a case and a cleaning rod, but there are a few other items you will need to take proper care of your new instrument. There are only a few accessories a beginning flute player may need.Ĭleaning kit: Yamaha Flute Maintenance Kit If this is appealing to you, you're in luck because these models will likely only cost around $100. If you'd like to express your personality with a colored instrument, many lower-end flutes for beginners allow you to choose a vibrant lacquer color such as purple, blue, red, turquoise, pink, or green. Solid silver or gold are not bad choices for any player, but those metals are usually limited to higher-end flutes, which would have other features not desirable to beginners. These metals are durable and produce a rich tone but are still very lightweight. Likely, you will either get a nickel or nickel silver flute. There is not much of a choice in materials when purchasing a flute for a beginner. The purpose of shifting the position of the G key is to make it easier for individuals with smaller hands to reach it. If you look at the keys of a flute without an offset G, they will all be in a straight line. Since most beginners are younger in age, an offset G key is found on most beginner models. Although the pointed key arm design is a better, more durable design because it secures the key from the center instead of the side, you'll typically have to pay a good bit more to get this feature, so you won't likely find it on student flutes. Student flutes have keys that connect to the bar via an arm that somewhat resembles a "Y". Beginners are better off not worrying about covering those holes so they can focus on other aspects, which is why a flute featuring closed-hole keys is best for a beginner. On a flute with open-hole keys, there are holes at the center of the A, G, F, E and D keys that you have to cover with your fingers to make the flute work. That may sound confusing until you understand that the option for the advanced player is French or open-hole keys. Plateau-style keysĪ flute that is designed for beginners has plateau-style or closed-hole keys. Now that you know what the three sections of the flute are, it's time to look a little more closely at which features are best for a beginning player. A flute for a more advanced player will have three keys located along the top of the instrument. On student flutes, this section is called a C footjoint, and it features two keys located along the top of the instrument.
The shortest section of the flute is the footjoint. It contains the majority of the keys and is where you will find many of the features that distinguish the instrument as a model for beginners. This is the longest section of the flute. In some beginner flutes, the headjoint may be bent in a U shape to help younger players more easily reach the keys. It features a tuning cork, which can be used to fine tune the intonation of the flute. This is the part of the flute that the player blows across to produce a tone. These sections are the headjoint, the body, and the footjoint. Flutes have three sections that, when assembled, allow the performer to play a wide range of notes. In order to know what you should be looking for in a flute that is specifically designed for a beginner, it is important to first have a basic understanding of the instrument. A low-quality instrument that is difficult to play could lead to the student quitting lessons due to frustration. If you just stopped by this page to get some recommendations for the best flutes for beginners, consider the models we've spotlighted in this article.Įase of play is one of the most important considerations for choosing a flute for a beginner. To learn more about the flute and which features a beginner should look for, keep reading. Additionally, a flute for a beginning student needs to be durable yet light enough that the performer's arms do not quickly fatigue. Plateau style keys, for instance, make it easier for beginners to properly cover the holes in the instrument, while an offset G key may feel more natural to a musician with smaller hands. The first flute is perhaps the most important instrument in a musician's career, as it sets the tone for everything that follows.Ī flute for a beginning student needs to have features that make early success possible. However, to get to the level of maestro, you need to start somewhere.
In the right hands, it can play either a nimble, sprite-like passage or a warm, resonant melody. The flute is a remarkably versatile instrument. Buying guide for best flutes for beginners