Okay so I'm a senior in high school I currently play an OH emerson but it's not mine so I need another of my own. I'm thinking of buying a pearl but I've never played one, flute world has a buy and have 7 days to send it back if you dont want it, so I'm thinking on doing that but I dont know crap about pearls, anything weird/random I should know abaout?
btw here's link to flute I'm looking at

https://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=14288&ppk=flut

Hi HaleyJo,

Are you planning on pursuing flute performance in college? My suggestions for you will vary based on your plans. Have you tried out any Pearls yet? That is the only way to really know if you like them or not. I wouldn't settle for one particular brand just because it seems like everyone else "a step up" might have them.

-Sarah

I want to go for music education, majoring with flute. and from what I know pearls have a good reputation and the site I'd buy it from will give my money back after 7 days if I sent it back in that time(trial period)

There was another student in our college orchestra who had a Pearl with a Lafin headjoint. She later replaced the Pearl with a Brannen-Cooper and completed her Masters in Flute Performance.

I also know another guy who has a Pearl as his backup flute (and a Brannen-Cooper as his primary flute).

So Pearl flutes must be pretty good (although I have never played one).

The 525 is a lot of flute for the money. The quantz models are all the same design. The differences are in materials. Essentially, that means various components are made of silver. The 525 has a small of sterling at the embouchure hole where it counts most.

Joe B

so are you guys tellin me i should look at this cooper flute yall talkin about? and it looks like alot of people just like the body and get another head joint...is this normal? i mean flutes in general. I have till like march to offically buy something but im just new with all this

The Burkhart is a very expensive professional flute, is that what you need? Since most professional headjoints are hand cut and usually sound different even within the same brand and model, it's unlikely that the headjoint that comes with the flute you buy will be the best headjoint for you, unless you go to the dealership and try numerous ones. So as you go along the musical path it is likely you will find other headjoints that you prefer.

<Added>

I meant to say Brannen-Cooper flute, not Burkhart

a professional flute would be great but i could deal with intermedant (sorry for spelling) i have $723 to play with and im trying really hard to end up in debt. I need a flute that can get me good through college and longer if need be, of course someday im going to try for an amadaus or something (i love those flutes!) but for now i need something cheaper but good

This is a newer version of the Pearl 511E flute that I have as a backup instrument.
I would say that it may be a step up from your Emerson, especially if the Emerson is more than 10 or 15 years old.
This Pearl was designed with a newer scale, if the Emerson is older.
My Pearl flute has the same sized barrel as my handmade (expensive) flute, so I can swap flute bodies and keep the same headjoint if I have a leak or other problem on my fancy flute.

A handmade headjoint (from a well known maker such as Miyazawa, Brannen, Sankyo, or another high end brand) will give your playing a big boost without having to replace the entire flute.
Most headjoints can be played in most flutes, though you may have to have a tech resize the tenon. Sometimes, though, a particular HJ with a particular body can be oil and water- it just won't play right.

Since the Emerson isn't yours, you could definitely go with the Pearl. In another year or two when you have more money saved, you can look at eBay, usedflutes.com for used, handmade headjoints (a less risky move than buying the whole flute used, online, since there are not a bunch of moving parts), or save a little longer and shop new headjoints from Flute World.

That way, you won't really need another upgrade, this setup would be adequate through college level work.

HaleyJo,

My advice will always be to try different brands and models. I personally think Pearls are great, but there are lots of other great brands out there too in the same price range. I would set up a trial and play as many as possible so you know what the difference is between them. You can always upgrade your headjoint after college, but you want the body to be something that feels comfortable in your hands.

Good luck!

Another model to try would be the Yamaha 674.

Okay.

I know this is an old post ...

I'm personally a music education major ... my advice is talk to the professors of the schools you are looking at : they may want you to get a certain flute.

^ Yamaha 674 is nice ... I have an 684. I love it.

Let me know if you have any questions about being a music education major!

For whatever reason I keep getting alot of people telling me to get a yamaha, but I just really really don't like yamahas. It's not pride or anything I just don't like how they feel.

That's perfectly okay! But yeah ,wait until you talk to your flute professor at whatever school you go too -- for example, one of the professors (used to be both, but one died...) at my school, is a big Powell advocate, etc.

If you have any questions about majoring in music ed, feel free to send them!

I started out on a beginner pearl. It had a very sweet sound....BUT the intonation STUNK. No matter what I would do to try to fix it, it was always off. I'm not saying all Pearl's have this issue, but just make sure before you pick one that you play it with a tuner to check. Also, don't limit yourself to one brand! Try as many flutes as you can to make sure you pick the perfect one. Some favorite brabds of mine:

Powell
Muramatsu
Sankyo
Altus
and Haynes

All of these companies have lower model flutes that are good enough instruments to take you through college.

Hope this helps.