Hi…
I’m a piper ( god help me) and have wanted to muck about on the flute a bit. I’ve heard that M&E might be a good way to get started for ease of maintenance, playability and cost.
Anyone who’d care to weigh in…I’d be happy to hear your opinion.
Many thanks & stay tuned
Seamus
Where are you based? That may influence your choice.
If you’re looking for Delrin flutes, I’m partial to Forbes, Somers, and Copley. I’ve played a couple of (older) M&E flutes and didn’t like them as much.
Hi Seamie
A friend bought the Deluxe Flute from M&E. The six keyed polymer model, it looks lovely and sounds lovely when she plays it.
David
Stay away from north asian unstruments and no-name bargain music store flutes, and all the makers will have a playable flute to offer. The important part is to get a flute and start playing it. Everything else will follow. Its better to get an ok flute now than a perfect flute you have to wait two years for. Any of the makers mentioned here or in other recent ‘first flute’ threads make an instrument that will do you just fine for the first several years of learning.
Good advice from all. I appreciate it. Thanks a million
Seamus
Excellent advice from all and sundry. If I might just add…as a woodwind teacher, I’ve noticed over the years that developing good embouchure in a student can mean the difference between a kid who sticks with the instrument and one who quits. I’m pretty sure it’s the same with adults. With that in mind, I chose the Casey Burns Folk flute. It’s cheap ($450 US) and has an amazing embouchure hole. Casey is a master at the embouchure hole cut. He also has mastered the tone hole placement for smaller fingers- which is good for anyone who hasn’t played traditional flutes before. At most of the sessions I’ve attended, flute players have gathered round my cheap flute and asked to play it. They say things like “is that the Casey Burns?” and “wow, it has a honking low D!” All that comes from the embouchure hole.