Flute recommendations

[MovingtoEssex]

Hi

I had some excellent help here when buying dd1 her clarinet.
I'm back looking for a flute for dd2!

Any recommendations or tips of what to look for?
She is a beginner but likely to progress quickly as already grade 5 piano. I'm happy to bypass a total beginner instrument rather than replace in a year or two.

Thanks in advance for any help!

We have my sister in law’s oldYamaha 211 for dd2. Taken her from grade 1 to grade 7 so far and teacher seems happy- muttered something about upgrading a mouthpiece post grade 8. All the teachers who’ve taken her ensembles so far have nodded approvingly at it and it hasn’t broken. Would recommend

I suspect the word I actually need is headjoint not mouthpiece… sorry, can you tell I’m not a musician?

Thanks! I'll look that up. We were similarly lucky with DS and a hand-me-down trumpet. This finding our own is stressful!

I'd recommend buying a decent one 2nd hand on Ebay. With the right to return it. Pearl is a good make.

Yamahas are good but if you're confident she will progress I'd go for a better model than a 211. Agree about headjoint being an easily upgradeable option.
Have a look at justflutes.com website. Lots to look at there.

What's your budget?

DD was in similar position, pianist already when she started flute, and we got a 2nd hand Yamaha to begin with. It actually took her up to grade 7. Her current flute was purchased through the school, to reclaim the VAT - I can't remember what the scheme is called, sorry.

Yamaha 212 is a winner here with my 2 DS. They both play flute👍

You can make a VAT free purchase via your child's school.

Yamaha, Pearl, Trevor James, Azumi (Altus) and Di Zhao are all good instruments with a mechanism that lasts at a fairly sensible price point. Maybe consider open holes (with plugs to start with) in case she gets interested in exciting modern stuff as the body should last very well.

I'd get a standard headjoint (silver plated) with a silver plated flute body as head joint taste will definitely evolve with experience, and a super responsive hj is less forgiving and friendly than a "beginner" one from a decent brand.

I got to G7 on a silver plated Buffet and then upgraded to a solid silver head/plated body Azumi for G8. I'm playing just beyond G8 level and the flute (especially my sound) is not the limiting factor.

If you get the classic silver plated Yamaha or equivalent the body should last to G8+ although an upgraded/more personal HJ might well be useful around G6.

Open holes get interesting around G8 for some modern repertoire and extended techniques and a B foot is mostly useful for flute choir and a very few pieces.

I have my silver plated Buffet that got me to G6/7 here and it’s over a quarter of a century old now. Still works well, never had an issue with it. Considering letting my children learn on it (they haven’t really expressed an interest in it but would be welcome to if they wanted to try learning).

Thank you again! Lots to check out there.
Thanks for the really clear explanation @randomsabreuse