Will a More Expensive Flute Make a Sweeter Sound?

Steve_C · Post by **Steve_C** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:38 am

I am still a beginner - I have been taking lessons, one hour a week, for the last six months.

I am starting to play the highest notes in the second register, and the lowest notes in the third register.

To my ear, these notes that I play don't really sound enjoyable. My flute teacher can make these notes sound very pleasant and sweet. She tells me "You are a beginner - I don't care if you have to peel the paint off the ceiling when you are making these high notes - one day you will do better."

But I wonder if a better flulte would help me make better sounds.

I have a student flute, a Yamaha Advantage, cost was about $700.

It wouldn't be a problem for me to buy a flute up to the range of $3,000-$4,000 or so. Also, I have large hands - I am a man, and my glove size is extra large. My flute teacher tells me that an open-hole flute should not be too difficult for me because of the size of my hands and fingers.

For me, the real question is - - will a better flute produce sweeter sounds for a person at my skill level? Will it be easier for me to produce nice sounds in the higher octaves (or even in the lower octaves)? Or maybe it doesn't matter about the flute quality - maybe the only way to produce the sweeter sounds is more months (years?) of practice, and it won't make any significant difference what the flute's quality is.

FYI, I have just this week started practicing "Beside The Gently Flowing Stream" by Jon Raybould at

http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/sh ... reid=16358

This music has new notes for me, the highest I have played, and this is why I begin to wonder if a better flute makes easier-and-sweeter sounds.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:43 am

To some it up in 2 letters, NO

If you are a good player(hence your teacher), you will sound good on any playable instrument. If you are not such a good player, practice will take you much farther than flute dollars. Although a nice flute will never hurt anyone.

More information on this subject can be found here
http://www.fluteland.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2411

Phineas

ick27 · Post by **ick27** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:47 am

This is not a bad question actually--the sound of some instruments does depend more on the instrument. The sound of pianos and other keyboards depends almost entirely on the instrument itself and the quality of string instruments has a large effect on the sound. As a beginning flutist however, you won't notice that much difference in sound quality or in ease of sound production between different flutes (assuming the flutes in question are all in good repair). Try getting your teacher to play your flute some time--I expect he or she will sounds largely the same.

Steve_C · Post by **Steve_C** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:50 am

Hmm...

It would be quick and easy to buy a better flute that would instantnly make each note I play sound sweet and beautiful, without me doing any practice at all.

But, I am still not convinced that my flute will make the sweet and beautiful sounds I want. So I will ask my teacher to play it next week.

I guess it will sound beautiful, just like it does when she plays her own flute, which means I will just have to practice more months (years) before my music will sound as pleasant as hers.

No problem, I am having a great deal of enjoyment learning the flute! I look forward to practicing every day.

My expectation is to play "fairly well" in a couple of years. Maybe that's realistic, maybe not - we will see.

Flute_star3 · Post by **Flute_star3** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:32 pm

Yamaha is a good flute brand. I'm afraid that at this time in the game a new flute would make some difference but it's not going to instantly perfect your tone, there isn't a quick and easy in this case. My advice is to stick with your yamaha for now, with hard work sweet sounds will come and then you will really be able to use a higher end flute and it will make a huge difference, but I think at this point, a new flute isn't going to help very much.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:17 am

I agree with Phineas. The answer is NO, NO, NO.

More expensive flutes are designed for more advanced players; players who have developed a good tone and overall tone control. These professional flutes are quite often difficult to control in the beginning, but a competant player easily learns how to use the flute effectively. Beginning level flutes are designed to help beginners establish a good tone.

Stick with your yamaha. It is a good flute, and there is no need to upgrade. If anything, I think upgrading right now would be bad for your playing.