Review Of The Ten Best Student Flutes
Learning to play the flute is a very rewarding pastime. It is calming, entertaining, and a nice way to relax. Even better, it has many health benefits. It can improve your respiratory system, when you play the flute, you perform breathing exercises at the same time.
Learning to play the flute does require some perseverance and patience. So, the more you play, the more you train yourself to develop these traits.
If you do decide to give the flute a try, it’s important for you to choose a flute that’s perfectly suited for your skill level, needs, and preferences.
To help you out with that, here are the top ten flutes available on the market, including on Amazon, today:
Best Overall
Yamaha YFL-222 Student Flute
Runner Up
Gemeinhardt 2SP Student Flute
Favored
Jean Paul USA FL-220 Student Flute
Best Value
Kaizer 1000 Student
Flute
Best Overall Student Flute
1. Yamaha YFL-222 Student Flute
The Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute is made of nickel-silver with a silver-plated finish. It has a CY headjoint that features a double flare taper and an undercut embouchure (lip plate). It also has good flexibility and an open sound.
Yamaha is known for producing high quality musical instruments. Hence, it isn’t surprising that it produces excellent flutes as well. This flute is ideal for students because it is easy to use and it features a mouthpiece that’s suitable for beginners. It is highly recommended for elementary and middle school students.
In addition, it has an excellent key design. Yamaha has made sure that its keys are ergonomic enough for the young player to feel comfortable. Students with delicate hands can practice all day without getting exhausted.
It’s also low maintenance. You will not have a hard time cleaning and storing it. It will stay shiny for the years to come. What’s more, this flute is sturdy. You can count on it to last for decades.
It will not break easily even if you’re quite careless with it. It really is a great investment and offers value for money. It even comes with a carrying case that helps with both protection and portability.
PROS
- Silver-plated design
- CY headjoint
- Embouchure hole
- Great flexibility
- Great tone & quality
- Durable
- Ergonomic keys
- Neoprene bumpers
CONS
- Opening the flute may cause it to lose sound quality
- Headjoint might need higher silver content replacement
Best Student Flute – Runner Up
2. Gemeinhardt 2SP Student Flute
It’s a flute designed in the 1940s by Kurt Gemeinhardt, and is approved by music retailers, band directors, and repair technicians worldwide. Since it is made by one of the biggest musical instrument manufacturers in the world, you can count on it to be superb in quality.
This flute is ideal for both beginner and intermediate players. It has a silver-plated nickel head, body, and footjoint as well as closed keys or plateau style keys. It also has an ergonomic offset G, nickel silver-plated lip plate, and a Y-arm key.
And yes, it comes with a carrying case that’s zippered and padded. This case has a shoulder strap and handles that make it easy to carry around.
For a moderate price, this flute is an excellent investment, especially if you are particular with sound output and intonation. It has an excellent response rate and sound quality.
It even comes with a three-year warranty.
PROS
- Durable and sturdy
- Excellent design
- Ideal for both beginner and intermediate players
- Convenient carrying case
- Affordable and comes with a warranty
CONS
- Quality control is sometimes not consistent
Highly Recommended Student Flute
3. Jean Paul USA FL-220 Student Flute
The FL-220 is ideal for beginners, including children. However, it may also be used by intermediate players. It’s made with high quality materials and has a beautiful finish. It also has French-style closed-hole keys.
Moreover, it is very affordable. So, students can easily buy it with their allowance or income from a part-time job.
Even though this flute looks cute and dainty, its performance is superb. It has excellent intonation and sound.
In addition, it comes with accessories, such as a cleaning rod, a cleaning cloth, and a carrying case with a shoulder strap. You’ll be able to take this flute wherever you go without hassle.
PROS
- Ideal for flute players of all ages
- Affordable
- Excellent intonation
CONS
- Carrying case does not have a hard shell
Best Value Student Flute
4. Kaizer FLT-1000BLNK Flute
This one has a nickel-silver body as well as great intonation, smooth action, and improved springs. It features an offset G with a split E, closed keys, and a detachable foot joint. It’s also equipped with professional padded keys and a beveled embouchure.
If you’re on a budget, you will be glad to know that this flute is affordable yet high in quality. Since its keys are professionally padded, it stays airtight whenever its keys are pressed. This produces better tonal control and response.
What’s more, it is very easy to adjust and it comes with various accessories, such as gloves, a cleaning kit, a carrying case, and a joint lubricant.
PROS
- Easy to assemble
- Professional pads
- Excellent keys
- Affordable
CONS
- Tight joints
- G sharp key pad does not fully cover it
- A little difficult to reach lower notes
5. Jupiter JFL-710 Student Flute
The great thing about this student flute is that it isn’t only ideal for children but for adults as well. It’s of excellent quality, having been made by Jupiter, which is widely known for their high quality flutes.
It has good specs as well as closed-hole keys, a C footjoint, and an offset G. It’s easy to play, even for beginners. It also has a silver-plating finish and a nickel body. Truly, this flute does not only look good but it sounds good as well.
It comes with accessories, including an ABS molded carrying case. This case will keep it protected and secured as you take it with you anywhere you go.
PROS
- High quality and sturdy
- Excellent intonation and sound
- Includes accessories
- Carrying case is made of hard plastic
CONS
- A little expensive for a beginner flute
6. Hawk WD- F113-WT Closed Hole C Flute
This flute is a basic model but it has useful features. It’s also affordable and aesthetically appealing. It is available in white as well as other colors, such as purple, blue, red, and black. Its body, footjoint, and headjoint are all nickel plated.
In addition, Hawk’s offering is durable and guaranteed to last for a long time. It has stainless steel springs that ensure that the keys do not break easily, no matter how often you use the instrument. You can say that it is good value for your money.
By the way, this flute has pads that cover its holes, making it easy to play. Another great thing about it is its deluxe hard-shell carrying case. This ensures that your flute is safe and secured whenever you travel.
It also comes with a cleaning kit, so you can quickly clean your flute whenever you have to.
PROS
- Decent price
- Easy to play
- Includes a durable case
- Sturdy construction
CONS
- Upgrade is necessary
7. Mendini Closed Hole C Flute
This flute is from the brand Cecilio, which is known to produce high quality musical instruments. Mendini flutes have specs that are ideal for beginners. In fact, they are highly recommended by flute tutors.
This flute has a flawless finish, proving that Cecilio has really exerted an effort in making it outstanding. Its fuchsia pink color really makes it stand out from the rest of the flutes on the market. Then again, if you are not a fan of this color, you can always choose a different one. There are many other equally vibrant colors you can go for.
In addition, this flute has a beveled embouchure, pads, and closed-hole keys. All these features make using it easy. Its good quality construction also ensures that it produces a good tone.
Even better, its price is moderate. So, you will not need to go over your budget just to afford it. It also includes accessories, such as joint grease, a cleaning kit, a carrying case, a stand, and a flute pocketbook.
PROS
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Includes accessories
- Available in different colors
CONS
- Tone is good but not great
8. Etude EFL-100 Student Flute
Etude is patronized by a lot of musicians because of its excellent line of musical instruments, including alto saxophones, trumpets, and flutes.
This flute is great value for your money. Investing in it is a really good idea. It has good solid construction as well as an offset G with a C foot that makes it easy to play, even for beginners. It is durable, so you can be sure that it will last for a long time.
Furthermore, it comes with accessories such as a plastic carrying case and a cleaning kit. So, you can clean it easily as well as carry it around conveniently.
PROS
- Good value for money
- Solid construction
- Easy to play
CONS
- Carrying case is only made of plastic
9. Roy Benson RBFL-402E Student Flute
This flute has a silver-plated finish and an excellent mechanism. It is ideal for beginners, even young elementary students. It also has smooth action keys that are easy to use. It makes playing the flute more fun and exciting for young boys and girls.
In addition, it has great sound and tone quality—comparable to more expensive models. Despite that, it is moderately priced, meaning it won’t break your budget. You can easily afford it with the money you saved from your allowance.
The RBFL-402E comes with a wooden carrying case that protects it as well as enables you to take it with you wherever you go. So, even if you have to travel far away from home, you can still practice playing the flute and hone your skills.
PROS
- Even mechanism
- Comes with a wooden carrying case with a cover
- Solid construction
CONS
- Does not include a cleaning kit
10. Windsor MI-1002 Student Flute
The brand Windsor is well-known in the woodwind industry. It produces high quality wind instruments, including flutes. In spite of its high quality, however, it doesn’t have a big price tag. Yes, you can easily afford this student flute.
It has a good design that’s ideal for beginners. It also has improved playability, with a split E mechanism. No wonder it’s popular amongst beginner and intermediate players alike. It is a good investment.
It has smooth keys that are easy on the fingers. This makes this flute ideal for young players with delicate hands. The pads are also high quality and long lasting. Moreover, this flute has a sturdy and durable construction, giving it excellent tone.
Much like other entries on this list, Windsor’s offering comes with accessories, such as a cleaning kit and a plush-lined case. Hence, you can clean and carry it around with ease.
PROS
- Excellent tone
- Smooth action keys
- Sturdy and durable construction
CONS
- Some users claim that it is quite hard to clean
Conclusion – Which Is The Best Flute For The New Student?
There are plenty of great student flutes on the market, but these are the best ones in terms of tone and sound quality, price, features, playability, construction, and aesthetics. They are recommended by flute players, tutors, and even music enthusiasts.
Each one, however, has its own pros and cons. Evaluate them carefully, and use this guide to obtain ideas. Choose the one that best fits your budget, needs, and preferences. If you’re still having a hard time choosing, you may consider the following:
Best Overall Student Flute: Yamaha YFL – 222 Student Flute
Runner Up: Gemeinhardt 2SP Student Flute
Highly Recommended: Jean Paul USA FL-220 Student Flute
Best Value: Kaizer FLT-1000BLNK Flute
Do your research when deciding on a new flute.
Before anything else, you have to arm yourself with knowledge. Read about student flutes as much as you can. You can go to the public library to read books and magazines about woodwind instruments, including flutes. You can also use the Internet and search for articles, e-books, and blog posts about flutes. You can even watch tutorials and informational videos on these wonderful musical instruments.
The more you learn about student flutes, the more prepared you will be when it comes to purchasing one. You can also go to music stores and check out the different brands of flutes. Ask the store personnel about the specifications and features of these flutes, so you can compare each and every one of them. You can ask the opinions of family, friends, and colleagues who play the flute. Likewise, you may ask a music teacher or tutor for a recommendation.
5 Tips on How to Choose a Student Flute
If you want to know more about student flutes and how to choose the right one, here are some guidelines you can follow:
1. Watch out for low quality flutes.
A high price does not always mean high quality. Then again, most expensive flutes are indeed high in quality. They are expensive because their materials are sturdy and the makers put a lot of time, effort, and expertise in making them.
So, if you see a flute that’s too cheap, you should think twice about buying it. It may be low cost because it is low quality. You should also consider its brand or manufacturer. If it isn’t made by a reputable maker, you cannot be certain about its quality. Do not invest in anything that you are not completely sure of. Otherwise, you may only end up wasting your money.
2. Choose flutes that are specifically designed for your level.
Student flutes are typically made for elementary and middle school students. If you’re already an adult but you have just started to play the flute, don’t worry because you can still buy these flutes. Check out models that are ideal for beginner and intermediate players.
Check out their playability, ease of use, weight, and material. Since you’re a beginner, you should only buy something lightweight. The more advanced a flute is, the heavier it is. On the other hand, if you already have previous experience on playing the flute, you can buy a model that will allow you to easily transition from beginner to intermediate to advance.
3. Choose traditional specifications.
As much as possible, you should stick with the basics of a student flute: silver-plated with closed holes and an E mechanism or split E. These specifications entail that the flute is easy to play. Hence, you can be sure that other flute players would be in search of something like it. Once you’ve mastered it, you can sell it at a high price.
4. Be particular about the size and features.
Flutes generally have similar sizes. Nonetheless, those designed for beginners usually have curved headjoints that help reduce the stretch. These flutes are more expensive than the ones that do not have this feature.
Then again, you should take note that a flute with a curved headjoint is a wise investment. Beginner players who use a flute without this feature usually suffer from back and neck pain over time because of overstretching. They also tend to develop poor posture.
5. Choose upgradeable models.
If you plan to play the flute for a long time, you should consider investing in an upgradeable model. This way, you can easily upgrade it once you have mastered your current level. You can quickly go from beginner to intermediate simply by replacing its headjoint.
The Bottom Line
The flute is such an interesting musical instrument. It is fun, relaxing, and beneficial in a lot of different ways. Learning how to play it is already an achievement, but becoming really good at it is even better. You could even turn your hobby into a career.
Then again, in order for you to reach the top, you have to start at the bottom.
Hopefully, this guide on student flutes has helped you learn how to choose the right one as well as what your best options are.
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