How to Test and Select a Student Flute

Choosing a student flute doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, testing and comparing flutes can be a simple and very satisfying process for a young musician, and our experienced team can guide the student through each step.

Once a student has enough playing experience to produce a reasonably consistent sound and is developing their own sound concept, they are ready to begin noticing how different flutes respond to them.

Different flutes can respond quite differently for different players. The aim is to find the flute that best supports the student as they develop their own sound and progress as a musician.

Start With Your Budget

Before play-testing begins, we discuss your budget and the student’s individual needs. We then select suitable flutes within that budget for the student to compare.

There is no benefit in asking a student to play-test instruments outside the family’s intended price range. The aim is to find the best flute for that individual student within the budget you have set.

At Tempest Music, students can compare suitable instruments from leading makers including Pearl, Yamaha, Jupiter and Eastman. Rather than beginning with a preferred brand, we encourage students to approach the process with an open mind. There is no single brand that is best for every player.

Play-Test Different Flutes

Once we’ve established your budget and selected suitable instruments, our experienced team guides the student through the play-testing process. Through our guided selection process, you’ll be surprised how clear it becomes which flute is the best fit.

As the student compares different instruments, their preference often emerges quite naturally. A student who is developing their own sound concept can begin to recognise which flute allows them to produce the sound they are looking for most easily.

Consider the Specifications

Specifications are important, but they shouldn’t make the final decision.

For younger or smaller students, the first consideration may be the size of the flute and the appropriate headjoint. A standard flute may require too much reach, while an alternative headjoint can provide a more suitable option for a smaller player.

Key configuration, headjoint design and construction also vary between student models. Our team can explain the relevant differences and determine which options are appropriate for the individual student.

The specifications help us select the appropriate instruments to test. The student’s experience of playing them helps determine the final choice.

Let the Student Choose

Parents, teachers and our experienced team can provide guidance, but ultimately the musical preference belongs to the player.

Even relatively young players can begin to recognise which flute allows them to produce the sound they are looking for most easily.

Our role is to make the process straightforward, explain the differences where helpful and guide the student through their choices. Selecting their own flute can be a very satisfying experience for a young musician and gives them a real connection with their new instrument.

Choose the Exact Flute You Tested

Even two flutes of the same make and model can have subtle differences in response and character.

At Tempest Music, the flute the student play-tests and chooses is the actual flute they take home.

The purpose of play-testing isn’t simply to decide which make or model to buy. It is to select the individual instrument that is the best fit for that player.

A Simple and Satisfying Process

Choosing a student flute should be an enjoyable part of a young musician’s development, not a difficult purchasing decision.

We start with your budget, select appropriate instruments and guide the student through the comparison. You may be surprised by how naturally the right choice emerges.

Visit our Perth showroom and let us guide your young musician through the process of selecting a student flute that supports them as they develop their own sound.