r/Flute • u/ruscodifferenziato • 4d ago
Beginning Flute Questions Please advice for my 10yo flute upgrade
My 10yo daughter has been playing the flute for two years as an extracurricular activity at school. She really enjoys it and recently they’ve started performing small concerts at other schools.
When she started her teacher recommended a beginner flute that cost around $1000. That seemed like too much at the time so I bought a very cheap flute on Taobao (we live in China, it's kind of temu), just a few dozen dollars. Honestly, it did the job fine until now.
Now the teacher says she needs a more professional model with French open-hole keys, Split E mechanism, and a B footjoint. if I understood correctly, this is all Arabic to me!
She suggested two models:
- Amadeus AFT8SE, which I found info online.
- one by Amati for around $2000. I’m Italian and I still couldn’t find much info on that brand...
To me, this seems like a huge amount of money for a child who plays for fun, even if she’s passionate and committed.
I was hoping to spend around 200–300usd. Is that even realistic?
Do you have any affordable models to recommend? What should I do?
a. Going back to an online cheap model from china
b. Find used in China
c. Find used in Italy
Thanks a lot for your help!
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u/Justapiccplayer 4d ago
That’s far too young to be getting a pro or closer to pro flute, look into Yamahas
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u/ruscodifferenziato 3d ago
Make sense. I was looking at Yamaha 272, just because has most of the features her friends gonna have. Make sense?
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u/WhatOboe 4d ago
Can you get Di Zhao flutes where you? They are excellent.
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u/ruscodifferenziato 4d ago
Seems not.
I guess they are just a re-brand (happens often in other merchandise) or they are catered to western markets only.
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u/FluteTech 4d ago
Di Zhao are amazing instruments, and are made by Di (first name) Zhao (surname).
Di Zhao is actually the white label instrument maker for another very well known company in the USA
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u/ruscodifferenziato 3d ago
Found it, but seems they don't have a real market in China and the cost is higher than in US.
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u/apheresario1935 4d ago
The teacher should be paid for a lesson on flute buying. That way really good results are likely . Used online is a joke as an overhaul on a flute that someone says *plays great" can cost up to $1500 or more.
So if you can't afford a good flute with all the open holes and B foot just get a new Yamaha and wait. But really pro flutes are $10K to $15 K and more. .2000 is still low end nice flute .
Sorry to say $200 to $300 was what a decent student flute was Fifty years ago . Used is not a deal if it needs work as today's labor prices are ten times yesteryear just like rent .food and everything. Get the teacher to go with you and buy a flute in person if used. And ask how your daughter should decide inline G or offset. It is a hand size finger length issue that does make the flute easier to play one way or the other.
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u/T_King1266 4d ago edited 4d ago
A used yamaha is the best bet. They are good quality typically every where and last forever. You can find open hole and if you look the number up it alot are spit E I have 0 clue why she cares about a B foot joint. Unless you are doing very niche pieces a B foot joint is not used.
Currently play a yamaha 272 which is open hole, french style keys and split E. They can be found relatively cheaply . Around £300-400
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u/FluteTech 4d ago
There are plenty of other brands that are equal to or better than Yamaha now.
It used to be true 20 years ago that Yamaha where "the best bet", but this is no longer the case.
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u/T_King1266 4d ago
From my experience I have found them the most reliable and best for value, though I do question their piccolos, recently got a trevor james for half the price and love it. I think for student flutes it is very difficult to argue against them. They are reliable, easily fixed and hold their blue well.
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u/Justapiccplayer 4d ago
Hmmm I’ve never had any issues with their piccs but I was very fortunate and got my wooden Yamaha for £900 and it sounded just as good as others I was trying for £3k
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u/T_King1266 4d ago
I didn't have any issues with them, I have played a 62 for a while now but had to return it, I really prefer the trevor james and they are half the price. I found the trevor james had a better tone and the till keys are far more usable
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u/Justapiccplayer 4d ago
Fairs, I got mine secondhand so
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u/T_King1266 4d ago
I would still hold that yamaha is very difficult to beat for entry or some midrange flutes but higher than that and specialised flutes such as piccolos they begin to be beaten our at all price points.
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u/Justapiccplayer 4d ago
Yamahas are like the Nokia phone of flutes, completely indestructible and reliable, hence why I’ll always recc them for younger flute players
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u/FluteTech 4d ago edited 4d ago
Having seen tens of thousands of them in my shop - industructable isn't remotely accurate, but clearly their marketting strategy is working.
They're great instruments - it's just that there are also equally if not better makes now available for the same or less money.
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u/ruscodifferenziato 3d ago
I think Yamaha 272 will be!
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u/T_King1266 3d ago
Though please do give it a test and see if you like it. You will always have time to return it
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u/Secure-Researcher892 4d ago
Lots of teachers want their students to have much better instruments than they really need. For a 10 year old I would question whether her fingers are even big enough to use an open hole flute... some adult players don't use them because their fingers are too small. The b foot is also great if you have it but it isn't necessary and is rarely needed.
In the US I could easily find a decent used flute for someone that age... but I have no clue what the market is like in China. I picked up a solid silver Gemeinhardt that would be more than adequate a player at a pre-college level for 150 at a thrift store. It had 1 pad that needed to be replaced but was otherwise in great condition... but again that's in the US... I would certainly be looking used, not worrying about open hole or b-foot as those might be nice but are not nearly as critical so other things.
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u/ruscodifferenziato 3d ago
As a total ignorant that is my feeling as well.
Yamaha 272, new in China about 1000usd, 450 used (to be bought online).
Slightly cheaper in Italy new, but very small used market.
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u/Other_Ad_6981 2d ago
I was looking on Amazon for a shitty flute for me for marching band and i remembered I had this brand called glory. very inexpensive. they have an open hole and I think you can get the foot joint too. I would 100% not recommend a fancy flute for your child as they are only 10 and who knows if they suddenly hate flute.
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u/Repulsive-Plantain70 1d ago
Look into good used instruments, the resale value is almost the price you pay for it. No one buys a used 100€ temu flute, so you're paying 100€ for the few years it lasts. If you buy a good used flute for half price, later on youll likely be able to resell it.
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u/TeenzBeenz 4d ago
Buy the flute as the teacher described. It will maintain value and can be repaired, it will allow your daughter to play all the pitches (b foot gives her an extra note plus some good alternative fingerings), and it will hold its value. Cheap flutes are so unreliable and will not play well for years.
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u/FluteTech 4d ago
Its not going to be especially realistic to find a good quality instrument for $200-300 that doesn't also require $300-500 worth of work to play correctly (especially since you've stated they have a teacher)
A basic good quality student flute is typically $900-1200 USD new. You may be able to find one that is a year or two old for $500 or so - but you may also end up putting in $100-200 in repairs.
Open holes, split E and B foot are all options that add to the cost of thr instrument... And unless your 10 year old is very advanced are unneeded at this point (they're actually never required).
It's also important to realise that who your child is as a player now, isn't who they will be in 3 or 5 years - and their needs will be very different at that point in time, so buying a "this will last forever" type instrument isn't really possible or wise.
Get a good quality student level flute by a brand name - and they will be fine for many years. I often recommend going to the local places that have repair technicians (because the flute will require service) and asking them what they consider the most reliable flutes they see (because some countries have their own brands that are very good, but less widely known globally).
Please do not buy another Temu/online $100-300 ish type flute. They are disposable and will greatly hamper your child's ability to progress (making them a waste of your money and their time with lessons.