Having just got a chromatic tuner for my computer, I have been practicing blowing long notes in key, what would be an acceptable waver ( in %) either side of on the money for pitch?
Please, please don’t say none!
Rob
I’d let your ears be the judge, rather than a box of electronics and a digital display. Of course if you’re playing to other people, their ears will be the judge too.
Then of course you’re opening the intonation can of worms; are you trying to blow into just or equal-tempered intonation etc…
Plus there’s the ‘speed’ issue. If you’re playing fast, ears aren’t likely to catch a difference of say 50 cents (say, the difference between a c-nat and c# in a fast reel), but if you’re playing an O’Carolan tune largo con espressione a semitone out would definitely be noticed!
Oh all right. ±5 cents, and not a penny more.
There’s also the aspect of accents and preference of expression.
For example, if you really “lean in”, or put heavy accent on one single note, the flute may produce upper harmonics (smtimes called “bark” in flute clicks..?) that actually shift the harmonic content as perceived by the ear. It doesnt mean you’re playing out of tune. It’s just a cool feature of your wild n’ reckless playing :-p
Also, in some tunes, one might like to push the leading note (major 7th) extra high; simply because it may sound better in a subjective opinion.
So, I definitely agree that you should let your ear be the judge. Of course, some reference might help while practicing; playing along with recordings are a good tip. Or even play together with somebody else; which is the (by far) better option! 
Please don’t think I’m playing tunes with my eyes glued to a tuner! I was only using it during my practicing of long notes. There is always the argument over head or heart to which I always reply ‘Both’ of course.
Rob
Hi! A few of us were playing around with a tuner this past Sunday..
It was amazing to me.
So I just bought one for myself.
What I plan to do is practice long tones every day for a bit, just to accustom my ear to my OWN flute’s tuning.. I can practice blowing it into tune (the various notes differ) and then hopefully I will have learned enough that I can subconciously adjust while playing along with others. At this point, it’s a learning tool, and an interesting one at that.
I was told, if it’s in the green, it’s good.
But yes, being able to hear if you’re “off” relative to whomever/whatever you’re playing with is good.
M
Just so you know, It was also suggested that a better thing would be to play along with a metronome…
Try playing against a drone, that should tell you if you’re in tune or not.
Where does one go about finding an R2D2 unit to practice with? 
What Peter suggests is, in my opinion, a much better idea than playing into a tuner. You’ll end up tempering your scale a bit to harmonize better with the tonic, which’d be D in the case of a concert flute.
Our flute scale isn’t even-tempered; if you train yourself to blow “in the green” on a regular tuner, you won’t exactly learn to blend with an ensemble. Or, play in tune with yourself, really.
I think the tuner thing is fine if you want to learn to blow a note steady, but don’t try to do scales and learn where the notes are with a tuner. Use a drone, or a recording of a drone. Or, have the tuner play a D for you, and make what you’re playing work.
Stuart
Actually, didn’t someone here once mention a site where you could download the sound of a drone to play against?
Oh, yeah! I remember that!
Hmm . . . hmm hmm hmmmmmmm. . .
But I don’t remember where it was!
Stuart
Was it Michael Eskin over on the whistle forum? A couple of years ago?
Hey Mikeee, ya out there?
Mary
Some time ago, drones were already asked for. I contributed my pipe drones. Here’s the link, it might be what you’re looking for.
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/dabooks/at_home_session.html
Thanks for comments and suggestions. I’ll give the playing against a drone a try. One thing the tuner does tell you is exactly what happens to a note as you change your emboucher, blow harder softer, roll the flute etc, and how much. One thing I seem to get is that the ‘harder’ the tone of the note the less it wavers either side of the mean.
So have I got everything ready… drone’s going, the tuner’s up on screen, microphone’s on, adjust the mirror so I can see my lips, just wind the metronome, put my Nicholson on tone on the music stand and I’m ready to play!
Rob
Thanks for that Christian I had been non actively looking for drones for a while.