is there a good inexpensive flute I need to look at without paying 300-400-500-800 $$$ for a flute.

ebay has plenty in the 100 range NIB but dont know nothing about them.

I almost got suckered into a local deal for new with insurance for 28$ a month for 30 months on a 500$ flute. that equals to over $800.

Not really sure my daughter will even stay with band thats why I would like to start inexpensive and if she stays, then I will invest.

any help in the $100 range would be appreciative.

thanks in advance

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Try the pawn shop and/or music store but be sure to ask about used instruments. All in my family had quality, but used instruments, for a fraction of the price. My wife played the flute in school, she still has hers and plays now and then.

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Non illegitimae carborundum

"Dad, can I get a drum set?

Don't be a shmuck...play the flute...it's light and you can stick it in your pocket."

Robert Klein

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Ah, one of life's passages- the "band time."

You have a few options. FIRST, check with the band director, and see what is ACCEPTABLE. They usually have a list of approved makes/models.

At a pawn shop, you might luck into a great flute cheap. Then, you will probably find out the teacher insists on re-padding it. So, you might wind up spending more than a cheap new one, but have a better flute. Or, if you're like me and know nothing about them, you might wind up with a cheap used that is now re-padded and in good shape, that you spent more on than a new one costs.
Same thing with classified ads.

I went through this pahse before Big Al invented the net. We live in the boonies. Like you, I did the math, and decided I could beat this deal. I got the list from the teacher, and took off for Atlanta. I shopped the cut-rate music shops, and in both kid's cases, bought a far better instrument for far less money than the payments totalled, new in both cases.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Buy used, and find a local college level flautist to check it out for you. Then have the pads replaced (even if they seem ok at first).

I bought my daughter one just this way last year for $125, and it's value right now is about $600.00.

PM sent to you.

Don't they do this any more?

Back in the late 60s, when I started in band, the music shop would rent you an instrument for three months. Then you either bought that one, bought a better one, or just took it back because your kid decided he didn't want to do that sissy band thing anymore.

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I always take precautions

Here you go $150-$170
Sam's Club - Simba Platinum Flute
Sam's Club - Platinum Plated C Flute
Sam's Club - Suzuki 1st Chair Flute

Better yet - a piccolo for concealed carry!

Ok, least I step on anyone's fingers, I'm going to tell you what I know.

I majored in instrumental music education in college and spent a few years teaching before I became an administrator.

Your dilemma right now is just the same as it was back in 1963 when I started teaching. Most parent know nothing about instruments and really have no way to evaluate weather something is suitable or not.

A beginning student needs as good and instrument as you can afford. When you try to do it "on the cheap", the results many times are not good.

To compare this to shooting, if you were trying to teach some to shoot and were recommending a "first" revolver, wouldn't a good, clean, well maintained $300.00 Model 10 be a much better buy than a $50.00 Lorcin that you bough from the guy down the block?

Musical instruments are just the same.

I always worked with a local major music supplier that ran a "rent to own" program in which quality new and used instruments were provided. Everyone always had an "uncle down the block that had an instrument in the closet that someone used to play in the past". This can be good or bad. There are some real gems residing in closets out there, and there is also some real junk.

Woodwind instruments have a special disadvantage that you don't have with brass. They have pads and all kinds of extremely complex mechanical linkages that have to work "completely right", or the instrument simply does not play. The beginning student can not tell if he is just "not doing it right", or there is something wrong with the instrument.

A complete overhaul of a woodwind instrumetn can be quite expensive and would negate anything saved. Now if you found an excellent artist quality instrument...that needed overhauling...that could be like finding a gem.

You need one on one assistance with evaluating an instrument if you know nothing about them. Get this assistance where ever you can find it. A music teacher, professional musician, college student, or other knowledgable person is invaluable.

Last but not least, do not....DO NOT...purchase a musical instrument from a discount store like you were just buying an appliance in a box. It just doesn't work that way. In the first place, quality musical instruments are not going to be found in places like that. You are just throwing away your money and not helping your student.

I have been away from it for so long now that I don't have any advise as to brands, makes or models. I do also know now that many good brands are imports. Years ago that was not the quite the case. There have always been artist grade instruments produced all over the world, especially fine woodwinds from Europe, however these were too expensive for beginning student use.

Today, Yamaha is a major player in the instrument market and they produce excellent student through artist quality instruments.

Please get help. Make sure you are buying quality. Also make sure that if you buy used, the instrument is suitable and operable. Don't be lured by price alone into buying something that will not contribute to success.

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G.P. Charlie