It’s always an exciting moment when it’s time to buy a new flute with a student. I enjoy going along and guiding the process. Choosing a new instrument is important. It’s crucial to immediately feel a connection with an instrument. Additionally, a new instrument should allow room for growth. After all, you want to progress and not just buy a newer version of what you already have. I believe it’s important to seek guidance in the process, perhaps from a teacher. It’s a significant investment, and there are many opinions. Personally, I always take it step by step.
Start
There is a difference between buying a flute in a specialized store and in a store that sells everything. Ideally, you would go to a store where you have enough comparison material. That would be the case in a specialized store. Often, (professional) flutists also work in these types of stores. If the music store is more general, they often have fewer flutes in stock in a specific (advanced) class. The focus is often on selling beginner flutes. The salesperson is often not a (professional) flutist themselves. I always take my students to a specialized store. In the Netherlands, we are fortunate to have a few of these types of stores and traders.
Step 1
Determine a budget. Always leave a small margin at the top. There is a chance that a salesperson will see how far you’re willing to go and if your budget can be stretched a bit. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s good to keep in mind. Remember that there is always a more beautiful (read: more expensive) flute. The sky is the limit. That’s why it’s important to set your own limit before you start.
Step 2
Ask the salesperson to lay out flutes from different brands in your price range and with your desired specifications. Test the flutes without looking at the brand beforehand. Especially if you have an opinion about a certain brand, like “I have that brand now,” “that brand has a bad reputation,” or “she also plays on that brand and I do or don’t like it.” When you test “blindly,” you can often be surprised. Play a short, slow melody on each flute. A few measures are enough. Something in the low register and then something in the second register. You can do that a few times if needed. Play a piece with legato and a piece with staccato. Feel which flute(s) appeal to you and which one(s) fall short. Set aside the flutes that feel less comfortable and don’t play on them anymore. Make sure you have two or three flutes left.
Step 3
Most likely, you have determined a direction in terms of brand now. You can ask the salesperson to lay out more flutes from that brand or other brands. Then, start phase 2 again. Play for a longer time on each flute now. Pay attention to how the flute appeals to you and experiment. How much can you vary the dynamics on this flute? What tone colors can you get from the flute? How does the flute respond? Can you continue to grow on this flute or does it just feel familiar? Still play slow melodies in all octaves. Play short fragments and immediately switch instruments to compare. Also, play extended techniques like harmonics, tone bending, whispertones, and ghost harmonics. Harmonics allow you to experiment with air pressure. What can this flute handle and what does it need? Tone bending helps you experiment with your embouchure and finding the optimal angle to blow into. Whispertones and ghost harmonics relax your embouchure and help you experiment with blowing and relaxation. Make sure you have one or two flutes left.
Step 4
Leave the room where you tried out the flutes for at least half an hour and go have a drink.
Step 5
Play a bit longer on the flute(s) that are left. Play pieces that you enjoy. You can also play fast pieces in this phase. Try to explore the extremes on the flute. If there were multiple flutes left, make your choice.
Finally
I always find it magical to see that you often immediately hear and see which flute it’s going to be for the student. Usually, that can be seen even before the student realizes which flute it’s going to be. As soon as the student plays on the right flute, they start to shine. That happens every time the flute is played. Trust your intuition. The first feeling is usually right. For a student trying out flutes, it can often be overwhelming. The differences are sometimes minimal. That’s why it’s important to bring a teacher or another flutist who can guide the process. Ultimately, it turns out every time: the flute chooses the player.