Thanks, kaflute... I just don't want to pass up the Yamaha in the case that it is sold before I try out other instruments. Anything would sound better than my Deford, esp. a proffesional Yamaha with a good hj.

I wish that I have upgraded from student flutes beforehand, so I would not have had such a difficult time getting where I am today. Any upgrade is a good one, unless it is bole weevil food like mine or a mangled instrument like Micron's

If the Yamaha is a 584 that Liz is selling then she is not correct by saying it is all silver. The 584 only has a solid silver headjoint. You can look up the specs on the Yamaha website. She may be confusing the models. You may want to double check and see exactly which model she is referring to. Definitely try both the EC head and the haynes before buying. I am not much of a fan of either headjoints.

Personally, I think the Muramatsu EX is in a whole other league and is 10 times better.

I may be the one that is mistaken. Besides the hj, I don't think it makes all that much difference. She did say that she could send both headjoints over for me to try out and return the one I do not like for a refund. The extra headjoint will require that I have about an extra $400, even if I do get the money back. I would very well like to try both out, but I do not have the money!
I still need to make ends meet to even afford the instrument .
Liz prefers the Amadeus, but which hj do you enjoy that lies at around the same price range?

There is simply no way to tell which headjoint suits you until you PLAY them.

Kara is right, the specs for a 584 is silver head, plated body. Now, I do think that this is an appropriate choice of flute to try, and if it works for you, buy. A plated-body flute will not have an appreciable difference in sound. But it should have a lower price tag compared to an all-silver-tube model, and it will have a lower resale value. I guess I'm just saying, just make sure you know what it is.

Liz usually has a fantastic selection of flutes that would be appropriate for you. Some will sell, other new ones will come in. If you wait, and that Yamaha 584 sells, another appropriate flute for you will come into her shop.

I have played two Amadeus HJ's, last Christmas. One looked to be not well finished, it was rounder/more oval on one side and rectangular on the other, and the overcutting looked uneven. (It was paired with a plated-body flute). The other looked much better, it was paired with a silver-tube flute. The one that looked funny was my choice, as well as the player who chose the flute (after not liking the Sonare, or Yamaha 300 and 400 flutes she tried in her budget), AND the choice of her flute teacher (my friend). I do like the Yamaha EC headjoint, having tried a couple of different ones.

But ultimately, YOU must play the thing and figure out what works best for YOU.

Liz will get more great flutes in. Have patience, Grasshopper!! Go contact your prospective flute professor.

And look HERE, so you can be prepared to play-test a flute thoroughly:
http://www.jennifercluff.com/blog/2007/01/testing-new-flute-on-trial.html

You will want a tuner to test a flute. They're cheap, no more than $15 or $20, or you can borrow one.
I would also say that money spent on a flute teacher that can help you pick the right flute could save you a BUNCH of money.

Is it $400 more with the extra headjoint and you keep the EC also? If it is $400 more and you DON'T get to keep the EC headjoint then I would pass on the deal. The EC headjoint sells better than the Amadeus and is sought after more. I suppose for $400 I probably wouldn't find a headjoint that I would love as that would be hard to come by. I have seen Miyazawa, Altus and Sankyo heads before for that price that I would prefer much more. The Amadeus is more of a student line headjoint. They are hit and miss. My niece has one on her flute that is pretty good and then I have tried a few that were horrible. You are just going to have to try that one out for yourself. Even if you really like the Yamaha you can always upgrade it later with a handmade headjoint as the body of the Yamaha is built sturdy and will get you through college. You will find that you will progress and change as a player while in college and is when your tastes might change and you may want to go for an upgraded headjoint. Just a thought..

Dude, hold off on the flute until college. What if you decide music isn't the path for you? I mean, in my first semester of college, 3 of the 4 flutes accepted in the studio dropped. I'm the only one left!
Besides, a new flute really isn't going to make you better overnight. I would invest the $1000 you have in your pocket into flute lessons (they aren't that expensive. a local university will probably have many students willing to give you lessons at a reduced rate for both credit for their pedagogy class as well as quick pocket money). IF by then you actually accepted into the university of your choice, talk to your professor about a new flute. Chances are you will be taking out student loans anyway, take a couple grand extra out and buy a high quality flute then with professional ears at your side. If you are still struggling with your current instrument to the point where playing is rough, TAKE IT TO A REPUTABLE REPAIRMAN!!! Robert Johnson at Flute Specialists is GREAT and prices fair. He is out of Michigan. If you go down that route, be sure to tell him Miranda sent you.

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Note:

By reputable, I mean someone who specializes in flute repair. NOT Mr. John down the street who fixes flutes. And saxes. And trumpets. And that one digeridoo thingy. SPECIALIZES IN FLUTE REPAIR!!

I can't decide...

I would like to move up from my Deford, so I can improve a considerable amount before college. True, the transformation won't be overnight, but there are many such overnights until this fall, and three months of good practice on a quality instrument will make things SO much easier.

On the other hand, I could get lessons and stick it out on my Deford, regardless of how I feel about the instrument. It is simply holding me back. I scored a pure tone, for instance, on the Gemmie, even though I had not warmed up. Considering the craftsmanship of the instrument, I could do very well with that Yamaha, if I do put it on trial and I am satisfied.

The differences between the two will mostly be costs, and I would like to keep away from student loans as much as possible.

On a lighter note, my high school band went to Hillsborough, near Raleigh NC yesterday, and we performed at contest. (Not really a contest, just critiques from a panel of three judges, together with other bands). We scored a SUPERIOR in all areas, and I am very happy about it !

OK, so we need to prioritize here:

1)Your current flute is definitely holding you back.

(This, in my opinion, is only a valid statement if you have had an expert flute technician look at your flute and declare it in the best condition it could be in. The fixes-it-all, band-instrument repair guy will have different tolerances and methods to repair a flute; the flute expert can make a serious difference.)

2)You want to play the flute at college, presumably as a music major or minor.

As far as I know, you must audition and be accepted into music major programs in most schools. These auditions are either happening right now, or are over, for the Fall 2009 entry.

There may be community college music programs that have to 'fill seats' in their program, that could or would have to take your admission based on where you live in a particular district.

But you really need to work this whole Flute in College thing out, and it probably needs to be done BEFORE you buy your Flute in College Flute.

Alieanne gave you some fantastic advice, above.

Most High School Band programs unfortunately do NOT adequately prepare members for college. I tried it, and was in way, way over my head. At my audition, they didn't even tell me to come back later once I'd had lessons. I'm pretty sure they figured it would be three years of private lessons before they could even let me in the Symphonic Band. I WAS first chair, District Honor Band, all that...you are going to need some help if you want to participate in a serious college program.

The good news is that a)the Flute Professor at the college you want to go to will probably give you an interview, so you can find out EXACTLY what you need to do to get there, and b)the lessons that you NEED to get there can be found, especially with referrals from the Flute Professor at the college you're already talking to.


Best advice: don't buy a flute until you've talked to your prospective flute professor.

Get the Haynes Amadeus flute AF 700 or the Af600 (cheaper)

He is looking for a professional flute. You can't just tell someone what model to get. You can advise or recommend. The Amadeus line is good, but he is not looking for that particular level of flute if I am not mistaken. *Shakes head*

Going to be honest here. You will HAVE to take out at least one student loan at some point within your college career. Trust me. You will. It will happen, it will be inevitable, and there's nothing you can do about it, really. Ask any college student here (or am I the only one??)
Scholarships in the music dept. are few and far between. I have all the scholarship money allotted for the woodwind dept. at my college - $2000 a year. Mind you, that's out of clarinets, saxes, flutes, and oboes. I have ALL of it and the music school I go to is a very competitive, high quality music school with reputable professors.
Academically, unless you somehow got a 4.0 and a full ride scholarship, you'll probably get $5000 at most for grades. Especially if you're going to a state university.
Be realistic here. Student loans are required if you plan on attending college and youre from a middle class family with a 3.5gpa or so and white. It happens.

Liz' site is too expensive.
www.sheehans.com is way too cheap. Not the all flutes but most of them are. And u dont have to pay for tax.

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mbrownie has right!!!