Hi,

I play a concert flute (orchestral type), I also teach people to play....... and like a lot of things.. you get what you pay for........ there are cheap flutes that, yes you can learn to play on but you will never get a good tone........ and there are expensive ones that sound wonderful.... and there are lots in between.... my advice is go to a reputable shop with either someone who knows how to play one..... or get the assistant to demonstrate several...... appearance doesn't change much between them but tone certainly does.

I have been playing my current one (obscure German make) for the last 22 years and it cost 250 pounds sterling back then.....it has never given me any trouble. I have a friend who picked up a beautiful Yamaha flute for $250 AUS, in a second hand shop a few months ago... they probably cost thousands new. You can be lucky.

If you go for second hand.. check the pads don't stick and that all the little levers work.

Good luck

slainte

alison