With the many brand names available, seemingly endless variety of features, and wide price range, purchasing flutes can be a daunting decision.

With this buying guide, we hope to clarify the options available, and help you figure out the ones best for you.

After reading through this guide, come visit us at our Plainview, NY and Lagrangeville, NY locations to try out some of our fantastic flute selection for yourself!

Student Flutes

The first consideration for any flute purchase should be the experience level of the player. Beginning flute students of any age should start with a student instrument.

It can be tempting to jump straight to high-end flutes if they’re within your budget, but starting on a closed-hole student flute will set your technique in the right direction from the beginning, and you can always upgrade to a higher-end instrument later on. In addition, your playing preferences and tastes will change a lot over the course of your learning journey, and what you like about a flute now may be completely different from what you like after a few years of flute study.

Our variety of in-stock flutes include student models, such as the Gemeinhardt 2SP, Yamaha YFL-222, and LJ Hutchen flutes, as well intermediate models from brands like Yamaha, Azumi, Gemeinhardt, Amadeus Eastman, and Sonare by Powell.

 

Intermediate Flutes and Professional Flutes

As a flute player grows in skill and experience, it will eventually be time to graduate to what we call a “step-up instrument” — an intermediate or professional instrument. These instruments have finer build quality, tighter tolerances in construction, and unique features that enable additional advanced techniques. These are more appropriate for experienced students than beginners, as they require the breath control and dexterity of a practiced player to get a proper sound out of the instrument; the open-holed design of these flutes allows for greater intonation control and enhanced tone, but create difficulty for beginners who are still learning the basics of playing the instrument.

Once a student is ready for an intermediate instrument though (usually around 2-4 years after beginning their study of the instrument), it can provide an enormous improvement in sound quality and playing experience.

At Paul Effman Music, serious flute players looking to elevate their playing experience to the next level have access to brands such as Haynes, Amadeus Eastman, and Yamaha. Our Lagrangeville store is also a Yamaha Select dealer, meaning this location typically stocks professional level instruments such as the popular YFL-577HCT and YFL-677HCT level professional flutes.

 

Purchasing New and Pre-Owned

In addition to new flute sales, we typically have a selection of certified pre-owned flutes. While these flutes are used, they are serviced by our master technicians and refurbished to peak playing condition. Pads, springs, key-action, headjoint corks, head to body and body to foot fitment, and overall playability are just a few of the things that are inspected, evaluated, and repaired if necessary.

Our certified pre-owned flutes include a minimum 2-year warranty – again including adjustments, cleaning, and maintenance!

Flute Shopping At Paul Effman Music

Purchasing a flute from Paul Effman Music, at either of our retail locations in Lagrangeville or Plainview, provides musicians with the most incredible value.

All of our flutes include service and maintenance that matches the duration of the manufacturers warranty. For example, a Yamaha Allegro YFL-472H flute includes a 7-year warranty, which means you receive 7-years of cleanings, adjustments, and annual maintenance absolutely free – this is easily a $500 value!

Both of our stores offer practice studios where musicians can comfortably and privately evaluate flutes to determine which is the best option and best fit.

Looking for more learning opportunities? We also offer private flute instruction. Flute lessons are generally 30 minutes long, once a week. Please give our Lagrangeville or Plainview location a call for more information or to schedule a private flute lesson.