At this point, we have discussed quite a few alternatives for you. Everybody has pointed out their favorites. Honestly, from one beginner to another, I can give you one solid piece of advice. Start with the Tipple. It’s cheap (like whistle cheap). You can get the holes cut for ergonomic comfort (making the hand size a non-issue) and it’s good enough to last you more than a year of learning, at which point you will be able to keep it for a backup travel flute, or sell for like 20 bucks less than new (that’s about what they go for).
If you decide the flute isn’t, after all, for you, it’s a tiny investment.
It’s the advice I’d give anybody who asked me, and I’m just starting to get the hang of all this again. The only reason I’m not playing the Tipple is that I have a Rob Forbes and already knew I wanted to continue from playing almost a year on a cheap bamboo C flute (which cost me about $65 at a fair, but is surprisingly well made). When you know you want to play for certain, then look at the next step.
My grandmother Tipple, along with having twelve children, was fond of commenting about things she saw in the world. One of her expressions for newly advertised items that she saw in the store or heard about on the radio was, “It’s cheap, and it is cheap,” meaning that the item didn’t cost much but that it wasn’t worth much, either. I hope that the same cannot be said about my flutes. Yes, Denny, we are trying to keep all of the flutemakers in business, even the ones who make plastic (or should I say polymer to confuse the general public) flutes.
I don’t think you will ever regret that decision. When you decide you love it and upgrade, you will still have a perfect camping and travel instrument.
