Well, I've got some money saved up, and I've decided that it is time to buy myself a wooden flute that works. By that I mean one that plays whenever it's blown, not just when it feels like playing. It should have a range suitable for traditional tunes, say from D below the staff up to the B or even C above.

I'm not interested in a modern silver flute, one with all those levers, cams and sprockets. For one thing, I'm too old to be competing with all those little Alexises and Courteneys with their designer haircuts and flute lessons.

I have small hands, so I need a flute that's not too big. Not, let us say, the Matt Malloy football-player model.

Does anybody knowledgable (sp) have any suggestions as to brand and model?