what is the diffrence between a student flute and a Conservatory Flute?
Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at
11:18 pm
i am in high school and i am thinking about buying a new flute but first i would like to know the difference between a student flute and a conservatory flute….also what would be the best brand of flute for me to buy
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Tagged with: conservatory • Student Flute
Filed under: Student Flute
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Student flutes are made of a base metal, and are silver-plated . Nobody makes nickel-plated flutes anymore – nickel stays shiny for a while but is very slippery to hold; silver-plated flutes are made because you can grip them better. Also, may people have a contact-dermatitis allergy to nickel.
Next step up – a flute with a silver head, which improves the tone. At this point, some flutists also seek an open-hole flute, a B foot, and start to think about some other additional keys – all of which I am not going to explain here. Just ask if you need to know. Going to an open-hole ( French) flute is hardly mandatory – many fine professionals play on closed-hole flutes. However, the keys throughout on an open-hole flute are closer to the chimneys, and travel less – therefore your action is faster, spring strength being factored in.
Next step – all silver tube flute. Keys can be plated – that’s OK, and does not affect tone or action – and saves about a grand off the price. At this point, you also are seeing more hand-finished work – maybe some overcuttting and/or undercutting of toneholes and/or headjoint. Some additional keys may appear. However, if you do not need this stuff, or know how to control it, you are going to be disappointed – these factors require far more finesse and control on the part of the player. Giving a $3,000 flute to a middle school kid will probably frustrate them more than inspire them.
Top-end instruments can run 8 grand to 12 grand or more – these are only needed by top pros who can make these respond to their slightest nuance.
Go browse at http://www.fluteworld.com. You will learn a lot. Almost all the brands there I would approve of – except Gemeinhardt (these are there because there are still so many band directors – who are not flutists – who were taught decades ago (when these were still OK) to push these. Well, times change – and there are many far better flutes out there now.)
You do not mention a private teacher. They know you best – and their opinion is the most important. Do NOT do this on your own – it is far too important to leave to your own opinion. Most companies will send you a few flutes to try – and play in front of your teacher. I wish you luck – but this is a big decision.