Yay, new flute

[shortandsilly]

My dad bought me an Amadeus Haynes 800 on Friday without letting me try it first. The body is so much better than any of my former flutes but I don't hear a difference in tone quality. Is anyone familiar with this flute? He payed $1800 for it. Also, I have never had a B footer until now... and I am having a hard time stretching my pinkie that far. Any suggestions?

[vampav8trix]

Congrats on the new flute. I hope that you enjoy it.

Practice, practice practice.

That is the only way to get used to a new flute.

[Phineas]

I agree with vampav8trix

I do not know which flute you came from, but that Haynes style headjoint on the Amadeus is going to take some getting use to. First of all, develop a good warmup routine. Nothing fancy, just running up and down scale and arppegios. Also get back to practicing your dynamics, vibrato, and your long tones. After a couple of weeks of daily warmups and practice on your new flute, you will hear a definite difference in your tone. As time goes along, you will appreciate that headjoint more and more. I use to own a Haynes, and it did take me a couple of months to get the sound and dynamic control I wanted. Make recordings of yourself and listen. This is another method that will help improve your tone/dynamics.

It is too bad that you did not try out more flutes first. You may have found an instrument that is more responsive to your current playing style. However, I know for a fact that any person can learn how to be an effective player on any quality flute. It just may take a little more effort.

As far as the Bfoot thing. Well, just adjust the footjoint, put a plug in the "D" hole, reach for it and hope for the best.

Phineas

[fluteguy18]

you'll get used to it. And you don't neet the low b that often anyway.

As for the flute.... chances are, are that you are moving from a machine made headjoint to a handcut headjoint. That is a big transition. Give it some time and effort. You should soon hear a difference.