Hi everyone!

Ok, so I think I'm getting way too into this music thing.... after starting clarinet I've realised just what I've been missing all these years by not playing an instrument! I've decided I'd like to try other instruments. Getting married this year and I think I'm having a quarter life crisis and I'm trying to fit in as many thing as poss before I end up having kids!

I've just invested in a violin, but I used to be a nurse and suffer from a bit of back pain - I was hoping the movement might loosen up my shoulders, but it seems to be making my shoulder ache a bit and so I think I'll just use it for exercises for the moment and then move on to actually playing on it later - or sell it if it makes my shoulder worse! Kill or cure as they say!

So I wanted to try a second intrument that I can actually learn to play right away! My cousin was going to give me her old school flute as it had been lying in music shop for four years without being sold... she was going to give it to me tomorrow but as luck would have it, it was sold yesterday!! So I'm feeling a bit disappointed and feel like I'd really still like to try the flute - my main drawbacks with clarinet are small fingers and slightly sore teeth - both things that I think would be less of a problem on a closed hole flute!
(Also got the urge to try brass one day... think I'm getting carried away!!)

Do people have any recommendations for good makes of flute that don't cost the earth (given that mine would originally have been free!)? It's only for fun at the moment, so I don't mind it nor being very good! Also BTW I'm going to Cambridge this week - anyone know of any good music shops there? Are there any good secong hand places on the internet that are reputable?



Any help much appreciated!

A second hand Yamaha 211 would be about £200, but is a good investment

Try looking on noticve boards in music centres, libraries etc. You can usually pick up a good deal on one.

I've seen a couple in Cash Converters (of all places!) - they are Pearl and Trevor James, which I know are good makes - but is it advisable to buy from somewhere like that?

You sound as though you don't have a firm strategy for choosing what instrument to play next. What sort of music do you want to play? Many of us enjoy playing in ensembles: orchestras, bands and chamber groups. If you expect to do that, you might consider what instruments are in demand in your area.

If you have time when in Cambridge visit Wood Wind and Reed- about halfway from the train station to the city centre. Russel St I think. New and used instruments and repairs and really know their stuff.

kenm has a good point... and also if you have back problems think carefully before going for the flute - it's a lovely instrument, but it is held in quite an awkward way and can cause tension etc just as a violin can.

John Myatt is a good music shop if you want to look at woodwind and brass. (I like it there I can get discounts through my teacher). Its in Hitchen, which is kinda near Cambridge (well kind of). Go to a Music shop and ask to try some

Just a thought, if you get very heavily envolved in the clarinet you should be careful with playing other wind/brass. I have heard (although not experienced) that if you play flute and clarinet your embouchure (sorry about the spelling!) starts to deteriorate for one or the other instrument. I play the flute and clarinet and have found that nothing is changing... its worth the consideration though.

Hi everyone, thanks for your answers - I did go to Wood Wind & Reed in Cambridge - thanks for the recommendation Erard! They were very helpful, and what a lovely shop!
I'm not really sure what to choose for a second instrument - I'm a bit like a kid in toy shop - want to try everything!- I really like the sound of the flute and I would like to learn some of the music that's played in period dramas (circa Jane Austen) - that's why I also chose the violin - unfortunately it's already having a bit of an effect on my shoulder so my sister-in-law is probably going to give that a home!

On the other hand, there seem to be many more brass ensembles/bands in this area than wind bands and so it may be worthwhile at least getting to a reasonable standard in a brass instrument to give me a few more options.

In terms of my embouchure, the man in WoodWind & Reed seemed to think that once I can play over the break on the clarinet (which I'm learning now) I should be ok to try another instrument - I'm not *too* worried as this is very much a hobby and whilst I'd like to become accomplished, I'm more ineterested in trying lots of different things - perhaps with an aim of concentrating on one intstrument later on once I've found my favourite...

the saga continues!