People were asking around for different flutes so i thought I'd look into the Eb flute. I know armstrong and emerson makes these flutes but i just wanted to know more about them.

1) Would it be easier for small chidren to start on these (the intonation is demanding just like the piccolo, but does it require less breath support?) or would it make it hard for them to switch to the c flute later?

2) Does anyone have any recordings of an e flat flute? I keep looking but all I can find is people playing the e flat scale or playing pieces in the key of e flat.

Any imformation on the E flat soprano flute is welcome.

You will probably find it in Flute Chorus recordings.
HEre is a little info from Armstrong.

E FLAT SOPRANO FLUTE

The E Flat Soprano flute is larger than the piccolo, but about four inches shorter than the Concert flute in C. This popular flute is rapidly gaining favor with flutists the world over be­cause of its unique tone. This sound_ combines a blend of both the piccolo and Concert flute qualities. Many teachers are finding it invaluable in training young flutists, and are utiliz­ing its ease of handling and easier blowing requirements. The Soprano flute sounds a minor third higher than the Concert flute and has, at times, been referred to as the Terzflöte, or Third flute. Many bands are incorporating this charming flute into their E Flat clarinet section.

-John (but I am not a flute player so wait for the flute pros to answer).

I thought the key difference would mess them up, but it couldn't be any different then an alto sax player switching to a soprano sax. And I guess you would have to teach the flute player how to transpose, so that when they switch to the C flute, the concert pitch wont throw them off as much.

If you think about it, people who start on flute or any other transposed instrument(a.e oboe, bassoon, low brass, ect) are missing out on learning how to transpose.

I'd actually recommend a Bb "Tenor" flute instead if you wanted a transposing flute, as it works well with a lot of music, especially jazz, and there are numerous Bb instruments out there, most notably Clarinet.

The Eb as nice as it is, it just a bit too limited and except for the top octave being a bit higher and clearer, is essentially nothing that a normal flute can't do(the last 4-5 notes on most flutes just aren't played in normal music or are moved to piccolo).

Bb, otoh, gives you extra low notes and great options a lot like an alto flute does, but without the difficulties in size and so on. almost any player can play one with a little practice - and the low end is fantastic.

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obviously the trick here is finding one. Does anybody know who makes one?

The reason I was wondering about the E flat flute is because its smaller and i was woundering if the size made it easier for a small child to sustain a steady/decent tone on, rather than the breathing problems they have on the larger C flutes. B flat flutes are larger and in theory would be harder for them to play.

Another reason is because I heard someone say that the Eb flute has a lighter tone similar to a wooden piccolo's, but not a shrill.

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heres an e flat flutes i found on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=140199469172&Category=47100&_trksid=p3907.m29

couldn't find a B flat though

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I also read somewhere that the e flat flute use to be used to take the place of an e flat clarinet, but not so much any more because of the tone difference.

Grey Larson has an A flute you can add to the headjoint to make it a Bb.

Here's a link to someone selling a G treble flute on eBay. It looks like a piccolo with a C foot. Cute! Anyone here every play one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPER-RARE-TREBLE-G-FLUTE-BY-EMERSON_W0QQitemZ150208662410QQihZ005QQcategoryZ10183QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Plekto- altus makes both a Bb flute and an A flute. flute world doesnt give a price for these flutes, but im assuming that theyd be approx. around $6000 or more.

sankyo also makes a flute in A but not in Bb. Probably around the same kind of money as the altus.

I have an Armstrong Eb flute which I have had for over 25 years. I also play a G treble flute may by Flutemakers Guild in the UK in 1974 on a regular basis.

Very rarely play the Eb as is tends to tricky key signatures with flutes pitched in C and G.