new flutist looking for help to choose an instrument

[Alkatji]

Dear fellow flutists,

Im seeking advises

i started playing the flute some months ago and i must say i really love it. I found my instrument and it feels wonderful.

Im learning by myself, aiming to learn improvisation mostly. I registered for fluteland online videos lessons, checked the youtube masterclasses, got a couple of books on flute ( trevor Wye tone exercices and How to love your flute) and will get some advises from musicians friends from time to time also.

I started by renting one for 3 months but gave it back to the shop since I recently had the chance to get a sankyo artist silver flute in very good condition from someone in my family. Needless to say its an awesome instrument, specially for my level and that is what worries me.

let me explain:
I have family and im working a lot so basically the only way i found to have some time to play is having my flute always with me so i can pull it out anywhere and anytime as soon as I have a moment. 15, 10, 5 minutes, sometimes just a couple of sounds, in the morning, outside, at the office, even waiting for the metro .. at least this way i manage to play a bit every day.

But with this new flute Im afraid of beating it, afraid of carrying it all around or even worse, loosing it (!). Also Im afraid that with my poor technic i will bend the keys as I red it happens if you press them to hard.
All this things would lead to expensive repairs that I can not afford.

So im thinking in buying a cheap flute i would not be afraid to bring all day long with me, that could take the sun and the rain (a bit), that i could lend to try to children (under surveillance ofc ) and keep my expensive and fragile sankyo safe home for the moment.

So here are my questions:

Can you recommend a solid, robust flute but still nice under 300€ (350/400$) ?
Maybe I should aim for one as close as possible to the sankyo...or not?

If I buy a cheap flute would you suggest i keep using my silver sankyo headjoint on it so I can get used to it or go with the cheap headjoint as it does not really matters at my level, and headjoint take hits also.

If you have any other advises they are very much welcome.

Thank you so much to everyone that will take time to read this (too) long thread and answer.

Peace and flute,
Alkatji

[Phineas]

Dear fellow flutists,

Im seeking advises

i started playing the flute some months ago and i must say i really love it. I found my instrument and it feels wonderful.

Im learning by myself, aiming to learn improvisation mostly. I registered for fluteland online videos lessons, checked the youtube masterclasses, got a couple of books on flute ( trevor Wye tone exercices and How to love your flute) and will get some advises from musicians friends from time to time also.

Well, if you can swing it, I would like to see you take a couple of lessons. Before I started playing flute, I was a pretty accomplished Guitarist, and I still needed to take a few lessons.

Another thing that is a red flag is the "aiming to learn improvisation mostly" approach. Improvisation is often thought of as easier, but it really isnt. If you are just going to doodle around, then it may not be a big deal. However, if you intend to be good at it, or play with a group, you still need to have a good solid foundation in at least basic flute, and music theory(At the very least a good ear!). I have met a few flute players that "play by ear", but even that takes a lot of time and practice.

I would suggest you get on a good path, and stick to a good practice regiment. If you do not feel like reading music ever again, at least you will sound good, and play good with others.

I started by renting one for 3 months but gave it back to the shop since I recently had the chance to get a sankyo artist silver flute in very good condition from someone in my family. Needless to say its an awesome instrument, specially for my level and that is what worries me.

Good deal!

let me explain:
I have family and im working a lot so basically the only way i found to have some time to play is having my flute always with me so i can pull it out anywhere and anytime as soon as I have a moment. 15, 10, 5 minutes, sometimes just a couple of sounds, in the morning, outside, at the office, even waiting for the metro .. at least this way i manage to play a bit every day.

But with this new flute Im afraid of beating it, afraid of carrying it all around or even worse, loosing it (!). Also Im afraid that with my poor technic i will bend the keys as I red it happens if you press them to hard.
All this things would lead to expensive repairs that I can not afford.

So im thinking in buying a cheap flute i would not be afraid to bring all day long with me, that could take the sun and the rain (a bit), that i could lend to try to children (under surveillance ofc ) and keep my expensive and fragile sankyo safe home for the moment.

This is a pretty normal situation for a lot of flute players. I have a Miyazawa, however I keep a lower end model to carry round, even though I have my Miyazawa insured.

Check out Section 1 and Section 2 of this FAQ. This will give you the information that you need. These days, there are many choices that are available in that price range, especialy if you are willing to buy a used instrument.

http://www.fluteland.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2411

Good luck on your flute journey!

Phineas

[Alkatji]

Thank you for taking time to read and answer and also for all the advises

I am sticking to the low register until i can get a few lessons. Regarding the impro part, well, it is the goal, the "dream" what i would like to be able to do in some years, improvising with a nice tone, in a creative way.
(Un)Fortunatly Iam old enough to know i wont get that without effort and time.

The FAQ is awesome i recommend it warmly.

Thanks again