When to Upgrade Your Flute
How do you know when it is time to up your flute-playing game and upgrade your flute? You may have seen some pretty fancy-looking flutes out there or maybe you have heard of some interesting-sounding bells and whistles that can be had on upgraded flutes. But how do you know when your current flute can no longer serve you fully? The most important things to consider are what your intentions are for the future of your playing, the reasons why you are even wanting to upgrade at all in the first place, and what new features you require from a new instrument.
Future Flute Intentions
You might think it is obvious that the more expensive a flute is, the better flute player that you will be. However, that is not necessarily true. While a great instrument can’t hurt your playing by any means, there is so much more to flute-playing than just the instrument itself. The flute player is just as important as the flute.
So consider your skill level. Are you still figuring out how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb? Then you likely won’t need a solid gold flute anytime soon. And if you aren’t sure how much you will be playing in the future then you probably don’t want to spend money on a new flute that you won’t be using a lot. But if you are in high school thinking about majoring in music in college or if you have repertoire that you want to play that you simply can’t on your current flute, then it might be time to upgrade.
Another thing to consider is the state of your current flute. Sometimes a student flute can be in such bad condition or keep falling into disrepair so frequently due to questionable craftsmanship during its manufacture that it might make more economical sense to just buy a better instrument than to pay for frequent costly repairs.
Why Upgrade Your Flute?
It is really important to understand your motivation for upgrading your flute. While it is definitely true that you should be playing on the best instrument that you can afford, you need to make sure you are not just upgrading just to be upgrading. You really need to know what exactly you are looking for in a new instrument and why specifically you want a new flute before purchasing one.
There are many solid reasons for upgrading. Perhaps you are unhappy with the sound of your current flute or the feel of the keys. Or maybe there are certain mechanical features that you wish were on your instrument. But there are other reasons you might question. You might simply prefer the sound of silver to gold or platinum but feel compelled to upgrade because these flutes are more expensive and therefore “better”. And there is no reason to change metals just because of looks, as pretty and shiny as some flutes can be! This same reasoning can also apply to other features of the flute that you feel like you should have whether you really need them or not.
It is also important to note that not all upgrades are necessary or even wise to have for all individuals. For example, those who have trouble with the weight of an instrument shouldn’t get a heavy wall platinum flute with a B footjoint, or those who have trouble stretching their fingers might not want open holes.
New Flute Features
One of the best ways to know if you are ready to upgrade is if you can pinpoint certain new features you want on your flute that your current instrument does not have. Examples of these features might be a B footjoint, C# trill key, split-E, D# roller, or open holes.
All of these features have to be built with the instrument and cannot be added later, but there are certain upgrades you can add to your flute which you might consider adding instead of completely changing your instrument. For example, G discs, which help stabilize high E, can be installed on most flutes after they are built, unlike split-E keys. Also, your choice of headjoint or pads can make a big impact on your sound, so if you are happy with the mechanical features of your flute but simply want to change your sound, you might just think about upgrading those instead.
Which features do you need? It mostly depends on personal preference and the repertoire you intend to play. If you will be playing a lot of contemporary music, then you might need a B footjoint and open holes, but if modern music is not your thing, then you might not. Do you want to be a soloist and have a big powerful sound or are you looking for something that is more sweet and blends in well with an ensemble? For the first, you might choose a flute made with a heavy wall, high riser, and a rectangular embouchure hole, and for the second, maybe a light wall, low riser, and a round embouchure hole.
Conclusion
Knowing when to upgrade your flute really depends on knowing why you are upgrading. Once you have a clear “why” and a budget to make it possible, you are ready to go!
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the upgrade options? Check out the free digital course “Finding Your First or Forever Flute (and How to Make It Last)!” which will walk you through all of the possible features. And if you are ready to try out new flutes, you can use this free flute comparison chart to help you make a decision on which instrument is right for you.
Have fun flute shopping!
