This’ll be my first post on C&F in about a year and a half
I always told myself that I would wait until I am semi-proficient on the whistle before I made the leap to flute, but then, “tradigy” occurred. My buddy Mark, who posts as Mark_J here, brought a new flute aquisition to my fiance’s house last night, just to make me burn with envy, I’m sure, and now I gots the bug. I knwo Olwell has a great beginner in his cane flutes, but the thought of waiting half a year kills me. Are there any out there just as good as the Cane Flute that I can get in a more timely fashion, or should I just suck it up and wait for the Olwell?
Ah, I DID see that off of HMT. I guess I’ll just order from Pat directly!
Mark always rubs his new aquisitions in! (JK, Mark!) You should see this flute though. It has no markings, so he has no idea who the maker is, but even I was able to coax a few notes out of it after about 10 minutes.
I’ll second the suggestion of an M&E - I’ve recently bought M&E’s Rudall & Rose style polymer flute - and I love it! I had been playing a borrowed, earlier model - the M&E R&R is a bit lighter, very nicely in tune, and has more timbre… I’m really enjoying playing it (while I’m waiting for my 6 keyed flute), and it really is indestructible.
If you want something more durable than the Bamboo, but don’t want to go as high as an M&E or Seery, The Dixon 3pc Conical Bore flute might be a good way for you to go - about twice as much as the bamboo and almost half as much as the other polymers mentioned.
Just to put in my two cents: I think the M&E Rudall is more suited to beginners than a Seery. It produces a decent tone more easily than the latter. It also has good volume, and is generally acceptable flute for the price, in many aspects. It also lends itself well to diaphramatic accents.
However once you get the embouchure more or less settled, I find that a Seery produces a more satisfactory tone if you are into the reedy sound. Anytime before that, you’ll get a very unfocused airy sound that can be discouraging for beginners.
If your looking for something more economical then consider either Ralph Sweet’s wooden flutes or the polymer flutes mentioned previously.
Folk have a wide variety of opinions regarding all of the above, so it’s wise to search out an owner, try them for yourself, and form your own opinions.
Joe,
I have one of the Dixon 3 piece polymers if your interested, I don’t want to sell it but since you’re reasonably close (you DE, me MD)I could meet you IRL to give you a chance to give it a try. I have a beginners’s clip up on Clips and Snips if you want to hear it.
I love mine and the price was right for my beginner status. The M&E and Seery I hear are great too, but I prefer my Dixon, so far.
Email me if you want to get together.
I tried a couple Of Hammy Hamilton’s Aluminium practice models the other day. I was impressed, particularly by the model in G, It was a little beastie! I’m considering getting one for myself- they’re a snip at 50 or 60 euro and no waiting list to sweat.
The D ones are easily blown and give a good indication of the reach needed- hard to go to from a quality instrument- but as good as any other ‘practice’ flute I’ve tried.
