Recommended Flutes

Here you will find my recommendations for flutes that should match your skill level requirements while giving you the best quality for your money.

You want to spend your money on a flute that was put together with care. For approximately $500 and up you should be able to find an entry level flute that is a joy to play. A beginner is best served with a plain flute that is well made. In this price range, beware of purchasing a more sophisticated flute such as a solid silver, open hole (French keys) flute as this may be a good indication that this flute is not of decent quality. As your talent improves then you should expect to upgrade to a more expensive flute with more features.

Here are a list of flutes that I know are well-made beginner and intermediate level flutes:

The Pearl flutes have a wonderful tone and the keys have great action. The student will play low and high notes with ease.

The Jupiter flutes have a nice tone as well. It is also a good sturdy flute and I find the keys to react to a lighter touch. The keys have better action than the Pearl brands, however I tend to prefer Pearl flutes since they produce a slightly better tone.

The Yamaha flutes offer and provide similar qualities of the Pearl and Jupiter. They have a variety of flute styles available. The only drawback is that they generally are more expensive.

I have also come across other brands such as Gmeinhardt, Bundy, Selmer and Emerson during my years of teaching. However, I prefer the quality of the Pearl, Jupiter and Yamaha brands.

Below are lists of some various models of Pearl, Jupiter and Yamaha flutes that I recommend according to associated age/experience level:

Beginners Younger than 7
At this age I recommend you start with the recorder. In general don't spend more than $20 for a recorder.
Canto CR101 Soprano Recorder with Baroque Fingering
Canto One-Piece Translucent Soprano Recorder with Baroque Fingering Transparent Yellow
Aulos A303A 3-Piece Soprano Recorder with Baroque Fingering Ivory

Beginners Ages 7 and 8
Jupiter Prodigy is the only choice available and it is a great flute. It is much smaller than the standard flute and the key pads are made for smaller fingers. Expect to pay around $500.
Jupiter 313S Prodigy Flute

Beginners 9 and Older
C foot, silver plated, plateau keys, offset G. First choice would be a Pearl or Jupiter ranging from $450 to $1,000. Second choice would be a Yamaha brand flute.

Pearl

Pearl Flutes PF-505E Quantz Series Flute

Jupiter

Jupiter 515S Deluxe Standard Flute

Yamahas

Intermediate. Any Age. Like to play - Mainly as a pastime.
Silver plated, or better yet solid silver headjoints, B foot, offset G. First choice would be Pearl or Jupiter-French keys. Second choice is a Yamaha. $750-$1,250.

Pearl

Jupiter

Yamahas

Intermediate. Any Age. Loves to play - e.g. Thinking of pursuing further lessons or study.
Solid silver headjoint and body, B foot, offset or inline G, open holed split E. First choice Pearl or Jupiter brand. Second choice is a Yamaha brand. More than $1,500. Try and compare flutes before you buy.

Pearl

Jupiter

Yamahas

Very Competitive, Preprofessional.
You probably have a private teacher so you should consult with him or her. Try and compare flutes before you buy.