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 Buying a Flute
The only way to choose a flute is to play it. Our philosophy is simple -- we help educate our clients with all the necessary information to make a wise decision. We also provide the opportunity to play and compare as many flutes as possible. Why No Internet Shopping Basket? Why don't you see an internet shopping basket on our website? Purchasing any flute or piccolo -- whether $500 or $5000 -- is a big investment. You cannot simply click on a box and instantly choose an instrument. You need honest advice and complete information to make the best choice possible. Our staff has years of experience as professional musicians and teachers as well as years of experience in advising clients on the purchase of new instruments. You can gain access to the JB Weissman inventory in four ways:
Tone quality is the most important characteristic of a flute or piccolo. Each manufacturer produces instruments with unique and characteristic tone qualities. Words we use to describe the character of an instrument's sound are bright, dark, thin, full, rich, compact, etc. Although the variables present in each flute or piccolo are concrete, each player reacts to them differently. One player might produce a bright sound on one flute while another player will sound completely different on the same flute. We encourage our clients to play as many different flutes as possible within their price range. As a player auditions twenty to thirty flutes, they selectively narrow the field to five or six flutes. During this process, each client discovers new qualities in their own playing while they fine-tune their listening skills. The client begins to develop definite tonal preferences and ultimately gravitates to an instrument that complements their playing. A member of our sales team assists in the preliminary listening process to provide support and encouragement. When the player has narrowed their preferences, our entire sales team listens to the client from a distance. Not only does this ensure a blind voting process but allows for feedback concerning projection, tone color, clarity and beauty. Sometimes the choices are quick and easy, and one flute or piccolo stands out from the rest. At other times, two or three instruments clearly stand out with no one instrument better than the others--merely different. At that point, the choice becomes subjective--which sound is more pleasing to the ear and which instrument offers the most opportunity to grow and express musical ideas. Usually, the client is very clear when they have found the right flute or piccolo--we don't complete the listening process until the client is completely certain and comfortable with their choice. Visiting Our Shop People travel from all over the world to experience the special "Weissman private appointment." Clients have the opportunity to play everything we have in stock--sometimes 30 flutes in one price range in addition to 200-300 headjoints. Most private appointments at our shop are scheduled on the weekends and last for a period of several hours. We encourage clients to play everything available in their price range at a leisurely pace. Our staff is composed of professional flutists with years of experience and advanced music degrees. Whether you need lots of feedback or no feedback at all, they stand ready to answer any and all questions during your appointment. The client's own teacher, as well as parents and friends, are also welcome to provide objective feedback during the appointment. Travel DiscountsAs airfares have steadily decreased, private appointments at our shop have become the most popular and productive choice for our clients outside the New York area. For those who travel to our shop and purchase an instrument from us, we pay half the client's airfare up to $150. When compared with shipping two or three flutes at a time at the customer's expense, the private appointment is often the most productive and least expensive method of choosing a flute. For high-end purchases over $5000, we strongly recommend investing in a trip to our shop in NYC. We are located within 15 minutes of both LaGuardia and JFK airports. To make your visit as simple as possible, we can also pick you up at the airport. Private Appointments at Regional Festivals and Clinics Throughout the year, JB Weissman Music attends many flute festivals at locations across the United States . In addition, we present clinics on “How to Buy a Professional Flute.” Clients may choose to visit us at an event closer to home. While we won't have our complete stock on these trips, we always bring a large selection (we're always the last to leave the exhibit halls!!) By scheduling a private appointment with us at a local festival, we ensure we have the specific flutes in which you are interested.
If you are a private teacher, university professor or flute club officer and would like to arrange a clinic in your area, please email us at info@jbwflutes.com. The National Flute Association Convention The NFA Convention has become an enormous event with over 100 exhibitors. For some clients, the NFA convention may be a place to compare many different brands and models of flutes and piccolos. For this reason, we always have our largest inventory of the year available at these conventions. Because of our wide selection, we offer the opportunity to quickly compare flutes and piccolos side by side. In addition, we believe our staff provides unparalleled service and assistance.
4-Day Trial Period For the player who knows exactly what they are looking for, we can ship up to three flutes for a 4-day trial period with a credit card authorization for the value of the instruments. The customer is responsible for all shipping and handling charges. We generally ship by UPS 2nd day and charge $25 for the first flute and $5 for each additional flute. Overnight and Saturday delivery incur additional charges. When returning flutes, we ask that you also ship 2nd day through carriers such as UPS, FedEx, Airborne or DHL. We do not accept deliveries from the US Postal Service. We also recommend that you ship directly through these carriers rather than through retail mail services. We recognize that many clients are unable to travel to New York or to national or regional flute festivals. For those for whom shipping is the best option, our staff can help guide you through the selection process. Based on your playing experience, current flute, financial comfort level, future plans and artistic goals, we can recommend appropriate choices. Many times, the 4-day Trial Period may be sufficient to help you find the perfect match. Visit Us:  People travel to our shop from all over the world to experience the special "Weissman private appointment!" With airfares lower than they've been in years, flying to New York for the weekend is the best way to buy a professional flute. We can pick you up at the airport, provide you with a list of moderately-priced hotels, and help you find the flute of your dreams with time left over to experience "The Big Apple."By Air... We are only 10 miles from LaGuardia and 15 miles from JFK. By Train... Take the train to Penn Station in Manhattan . We're only a 40-minute subway ride away. Or take the Long Island Railroad to Jamaica Station and then a car service to our shop at 196-62 67th Ave. in Fresh Meadows. By Subway... From Manhattan , take the "F" subway all the way to the last stop (179th) in Queens . From there, take a car service to our shop at 196-62 67th Ave. in Fresh Meadows.
Payment Options Special orders may be placed with a 50% down payment with the balance due upon delivery. Orders for Powell flutes are placed with a 50% down payment with the balance due two weeks before delivery. Orders for Brannen flutes must be paid in full at the time of the order.
We are always interested in high-quality trade-ins. These would include vintage and previously owned Brannen, Haynes and Powell flutes. In addition, all-silver Miyazawa and Muramatsu flutes are highly desirable. Intermediate professional flutes may be used as trade-ins depending on their condition, age and special options. We also take certain student flutes as trade-ins as a service to our clients. This is a quick and easy way to save money on your current purchase, but in most cases, you may be able to sell it for more money on your own. Warranty The Parent's Guide to Buying a Flute Purchasing a flute for a child can be an extremely confusing and complex process, especially for a parent who is not a musician. So much written information is now available through brochures, websites and personal contact with dealers, that a parent should not feel completely lost as they gather concrete information about flutes and piccolos. Once a parent has done their research, they can feel confident about the "nuts and bolts" of the flute purchase. At that point, the parent may feel that the final decision is up to the student and perhaps their teacher. But we have found that parents, no matter what their musical background, are usually quite helpful with the listening process as a student chooses their perfect flute. Parents may not know notes and composers, but they know a sound they like when they hear it. The process of choosing a new instrument is a road of discovery the parent can travel with the student. We believe they will both learn in the process and enjoy the experience immensely! Beginner Flutes Most beginners start with a closed-hole silver-plated or nickel-plated flute with a C footjoint. A closed-hole flute is easier to play because the student does not have to worry about completely covering the open holes; they simply press the keys down and hopefully the notes sound! A C footjoint is also preferable because the instrument will be lighter, making the instrument easier to hold up for long periods of time.
Buying vs. renting a beginner flute Beginner flutes cost around $400. If a student starts in 6th grade, they may play for two or three years before stepping up to an intermediate student flute. Even if the parent then sells the flute for $150, the flute only cost $250 or about $20 a month for two years. However, the student will usually keep the closed-hole flute for marching band or as a backup all through high school. A $400 investment in a flute can result in years of service for less than $10 a month. To save money, parents often look for a used flute--one that might have been their own flute 20 years ago or a flute used by a relative or a neighbor. It is possible to find a used flute that has been well maintained, but the odds are pretty low. In addition, the highly competitive nature of the flute business means that flute technology has improved dramatically in the last 20 years. Innovations that were only available on professional flutes 10 years ago have gradually worked their way down to even the least expensive beginner flutes. Without a doubt, beginner flutes of today are supremely better than even 10 years ago. Refinements in headjoint design and embouchure cuts, improvements in the padding, innovations in the machining process of the mechanisms, and higher-quality metals mean the beginner flute of today is light-years away from the flute of 30 years ago. In the worst-case scenario, parents are always concerned that the student will simply stop playing the instrument. While this is a possibility, I believe as a teacher and a parent that if the student expresses a strong desire to learn an instrument, they will be more likely to have a positive long-term experience if the student has the following: Open holes vs. closed holes Some band directors and private flute teachers encourage parents to skip the beginner flute and start with an open-hole, silver-plated C footjoint flute. All open-hole flutes come with plastic plugs to close the holes. Therefore, an open-hole flute can play just like a closed-hole flute. Why do flute players even play on open-hole flutes? The best answer I can give is that open-hole flutes are the standard or the fashion in the United States. Some performers and teachers strongly believe that an open-hole flute sounds better than a closed-hole flute. Acoustically, this is not necessarily true. A generation ago, teachers felt that open holes forced the hand into an optimum position. This can be true, but plenty of students have terrible hand positions while playing open-hole flutes! On the other hand, with proper instruction and encouragement, a student can have a beautiful, relaxed hand position on a closed-hole flute. So what are the advantages to starting on an open-hole flute? Since most intermediate flutes are open-hole, you may be able to delay the step up to a full-fledged intermediate instrument (about $1000) by a few years so that the first instrument lasts three or four years instead of two or three. The other advantage is psychological and emotional. A beginner flute student may feel more special and mature with an open-hole flute. Stepping Up to the Intermediate Student Flute After playing a few years, many junior high flutists move up to an open-hole flute with a B footjoint. Every parent wants to know why the B foot is necessary or desirable. Again, the best answer is: everyone else has one! The standard or fashion in the United States is that most flutes have a B footjoint. The added length of the flute provides one more key that sounds one additional lower note. Most students will not use this note--especially in band!! However, the additional length of the flute does add to the overall power and projection of the sound, particularly in the low notes. As an investment, a B footjoint is the best option and will be much easier to sell later. It is possible to purchase an all silver-plated, open-hole flute with B footjoint for a very affordable price, but most people consider a step-up flute to also have a sterling silver headjoint. Why spend the extra money on a silver headjoint? After a student has played for a few years and has achieved a level of competence on the flute, the student or their teacher may feel that the beginner instrument is holding back their progress. What does this mean to a parent besides spending more money? It means that the student has reached a level of expertise and sensitivity where the sound they are producing matters! The reason why professionals play on silver (and gold) flutes is that the sound is more beautiful. As the silver content in the flute increases, the acoustic harmonic content of the sound will increase. Played side-by-side, a quality student flute with a sterling silver headjoint will usually sound richer, fuller and more interesting than an all silver-plated flute. For the intermediate student who shows a strong commitment to the flute, the silver headjoint is highly recommended. The Advanced Student Flute High school students or advanced junior high school students may skip the intermediate step and jump right to the advanced student flute that offers an all-sterling silver body with silver-plated keys. The added silver content will make a significant difference in the tone quality, color, depth and projection. In addition, the solid silver body will prove more durable as scratches and dents are much easier to remove from a solid silver body. The long-term value of a silver-body student flute will also be comparatively stronger because of the silver content. The advanced student flutes range in price from approximately $1200 to $1800. The Pre-Professional Flute
The Student Flute Companies In the pre-professional flute category, we talk about two different types of flute companies: student flute companies (those that focus most of their sales on student flutes) and professional flute companies (those that manufacture only professional flutes). All of the companies that manufacture student flutes also produce more expensive flutes. For instance, Trevor James offers a Master's Series flute with silver body and silver-plated keys with pointed key arms. The Weissman flutes offer pre-professional flutes with many professional-level options. Some of the companies that focus primarily on student flute sales even offer soldered tone hole flutes priced over $6,000. The Professional Flute Companies The professional flute companies include the top three American flute companies: Brannen, Haynes and Powell. This category also includes various Asian companies such as Miyazawa, Muramatsu and Sankyo. All of these companies except for Brannen and Haynes also offer pre-professional flutes. The advantages of purchasing a pre-professional flute from one of these companies are the higher level of expertise found in the design of the flute, the higher level of hand-finishing found in the pad work and mechanism and the "prestige" of owning a flute from a professional flute company. We believe each client should weigh all of these factors in their decision to purchase a pre-professional flute, but ultimately the final decision should rest on playing the flutes. Every company has a unique sound as does every flute. A pre-professional flute from the professional flute companies may have less silver content (silver head and plated body) than a pre-professional flute from a student flute company (silver body and plated keys). A student may prefer the sound of a pre-professional flute from a student flute company, and they may feel more comfortable playing that flute. Our goal is to present all of the options and then to allow the client to make their own choice. The Intermediate Professional Flute A professional flute is an investment in a flutist's career or talent. Serious flutists, both amateur and professional, and college music performance majors should set their sights on an intermediate or top-of-the-line professional flute if at all possible. The intermediate professional flute is characterized by a sterling silver body with silver-plated keys and is offered by the Asian flute companies. Especially with a heavy wall body, the intermediate professional flute provides a big, beautiful sound with rich harmonic depth. At this level, some of the companies offer options such as the 14k riser, C# trill key and D# roller which also enhance the value and versatility of these instruments. These are definitely instruments that can last a lifetime or can serve as stepping-stones to the highest levels. The Professional Flute
The Drawn Tone Hole Professional Flute All of the top American flute companies now offer a drawn tone hole professional flute. What are drawn tone holes?! Each tone hole is extruded or pulled from the silver contained in the body of the flute; then the top edge is rolled over to form a lip that provides the seal against the pads. This process is less time-consuming and less labor- intensive than the soldered tone hole process resulting in a lower price for drawn tone hole flutes. But make no mistake--these are "le crème de la crème"!! When a client makes the decision to purchase a top-of-the-line flute, we encourage them to play both drawn and soldered tone hole flutes. Some clients prefer the tone quality of the less-expensive drawn tone hole flute. The Soldered Tone Hole Professional Flute Many professional flutists, including orchestral players and university teachers, feel that the soldered tone hole flute provides the most power and projection of all of the flutes. In the soldered tone hole process, the actual tone hole is formed and then attached to the body of the flute with solder. These top-of-the-line flutes will retain most of their value throughout the life of the instrument and may actually increase in value over the long-term. Gold Flutes
Standard Options Heavy Wall C# trill key
D# roller
High E Facilitator Other Options Split E Mechanism Gold Lip Plates On professional flutes, the solid gold lip is a fairly common option. Unlike a gold-plated lip, a solid gold lip plate is extremely durable. Small scratches are easily removed, and the color will never diminish. Those who choose this option are generally purchasing a flute that will last a lifetime, and they want that special added touch of gold. Also, some flutists have skin conditions or allergies that react poorly with silver. In those cases, gold can be physically more comfortable against the skin. Engraving, Chasing & Other High-End Options Engraving on the keys is called "chasing" and is a beautiful addition to either gold or silver flutes. Although this option is purely aesthetic, the enhanced appearance does add to the long-term value of the flute for those who are looking for truly exquisite high-end instruments. Other options include gold crowns and gold rings (around the barrel, footjoint tenon and end of the body). These are beautiful and add to the depth of the tone. Another option is gold tone holes—an option that significantly deepens the sound of a silver flute. A silver flute with gold rings, gold crown, gold lip and gold tone holes will not only look spectacular--it will have a much different sound from an all-silver flute.
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For other clients, the NFA convention is a place to do valuable preliminary research. The exhibit halls are understandably noisy and provide poor acoustics. The overwhelming number of lectures, concerts and activities can prove distracting and exhausting!! Clients may decide that the convention is a great place to gather brochures and make initial contact with dealers and companies. However, when you are ready to invest money in a new instrument, we recommend you concentrate solely on that purchase. 
The pre-professional flute is appropriate for serious high school students, dedicated adult amateurs and those entering college as non-music majors or non-performance music majors. One of the cosmetic differences between the advanced student flute and a professional flute is the key style. Pre-professional flutes are set apart from less expensive flutes by pointed key arms. Why is this a desirable option? Once again, the answer is pointed key arms are the standard in the United States for higher quality flutes. Pointed key arms provide more strength to the keys and are considered more elegant and beautiful. A flute with pointed key arms will retain slightly more of its value than a student flute because of this option. The higher price of the pre-professional flute also means a higher level of hand-finishing than the advanced student flute.
Some people refer to the all sterling silver flute as a "real" flute!! As one can see by the preceding information, many different options are available to serve the needs of many different players and many different bank accounts!! But a truly professional flute is all sterling silver. The additional silver content provides more weight resulting in a larger, more beautiful sound. The sterling silver body and keys make the flute more durable--dents and scratches can be easily removed. Also, an all-silver flute from one of the top professional flute companies will always retain a higher percentage of its original purchase price.
Despite research stating that gold sounds no different than silver, any flutist who owns or plays a gold flute will tell you that nothing plays like a gold flute. The richness of the sound, the feel of the gold metal against one's skin, and the mystique of a gold instrument all contribute to a steady market in the flute industry for gold, gold alloys and combinations of gold and silver. As always, we encourage players to try as many different flutes as possible, and if they feel the differences found in gold flutes are evident in their own playing, then the financial investment is worth it.
This has become one of the most popular options in the last few years although it has been available for a few decades!! This additional lever near the B-flat lever operates an additional tone hole near the thumb keys and greatly simplifies a number of very difficult trills. It also can be used for tremolos and various special effects. Most professionals feel this is a necessary option to be truly competitive in the professional world.
The D# roller is a fairly inexpensive option which provides for a smoother and easier slide between low E-flat and low D-flat or low C. The roller is usually located on the E-flat key. This is an especially important option for those with weakness in the right-hand pinky or any history of pain in the right hand.
While some flutists may initially choose an engraved lip for its beauty, they later discover that the engraving may help the lip plate feel more stable against the chin. Especially for those who perspire under stress, an engraved lip plate may slip less.