I'm a clarinet major in my sophomore year of college. I knew that this semester I'd be taking a woodwind methods class as part of my major, so I borrowed a flute from a friend to get a head start this past summer. We've just finished our flute unit in my class, but I really enjoyed playing it and would like to continue in some form. Obviously my friend will probably want her flute back eventually, however! My parents said they would be willing to shop around for one of my own. My friend's is just a student model Gemeinhardt, I think. I don't quite know what direction I'll end up going in with flute, whether I actually try to get gigs (probably as a doubler), maybe teach beginning lessons, or if I'll just use it to supplement my clarinet playing.

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to flute brands and models! I think I'd like to get some kind of intermediate model, but just for the sake of price, I might have to settle for a student model. I'll probably try to look into used too. From what little I know, it seems like Yamaha might be a good brand for a decent price. Which models, either student or intermediate, seem to have a good reputation? Are there other brands I should look into? Are options like open holes and the B footjoint worth the extra cost?

Obviously I'm going to do a little more research, and I'll probably ask some of my flute playing friends. I just bought a new clarinet last spring, so I'd like a nice flute, but also a nice price! I'll see how much my parents are willing to chip in. Anyway, any flute-buying advice that anyone has would be appreciated!

As you said, Yamaha have a good name for student and intermediate flutes. It seems to be the most popular brand for student flutes, but interestingly in an article I read recently, a professional blind tested a selection of student flutes, and Yamaha ended up some way from the top of her list. I can't remember which she liked best (not much use I know!) but I guess the moral is to get to a shop and try all the brands in your range. Unlike a beginner you come to this process with the advantage of some playing experience behind you so can buy your first instrument with the chance to try out which instrument suits you best. If you are looking at basic student instruments, Trevor James and Pearl are also worth a look off the top of my head.

However, as you are wondering about what would be the most beneficial extras to consider if you were to go for a level above basic student instruments, I would recommend that a student instrument with a solid silver headjoint may be worth consideration. The quality of the headjoint is the single most important factor in determining the sound quality. A student instrument with a solid silver headjoint can be equal in sound quality or in some cases even better in sound quality than a more expensive intermediate flute. For example, the Yamaha 311 is a considerably better instrument than the Yamaha 211, but the only difference is that the 311 has a solid headjoint.

The other extras you mentioned - open holes and B foot, have far less immediate benefits. Neither of these necessarily make the instrument better, just different, and these differences are preferred by many players.

Open holes feel different under the fingers, making the fingers feel more in contact with the vibration of the air in the flute (I know it sounds pretentious, others will know what I mean!). When players become accustomed to playing with them, it is something they tend to like and can find the keys on closed hole flutes somewhat cumbersome. Also, they can help to encourage good hand positions, and enable certain note bends (but which are only ever required very rarely in some contemporary music). For certain of these reasons, many professional and advanced amateur players prefer to play on open hole flutes, but in reality the instruments are no better. Closed hole flutes are mechanically and in terms of tone quality just as good, and some professionals choose to play on them. In fact, some have no choice as some people with a combination of a certain hand shape and slender fingers cannot play open hole flutes as they cannot reliably cover the holes.

The B foot merely enables you to play a bottom B, which is called for very rarely, and on the rare occasions it does appear in parts is usually pretty unimportant and if you don't play it, it's likely to go unnoticed. The entire experience of playing a B foot flute is rather different to playing a C foot flute. I would describe a B foot flute as feeling like a broader, fuller tone, whilst a C foot feels lighter and more flexible. Depending on the player, some prefer one while others prefer the other, it's entirely a question of personal preference.

Both of these options tend to only be available on more expensive models anyway, and I would consider them unnecessary for your needs at this stage, whereas if you are able to find the extra money for a solid silver headjoint, you are likely to enjoy the benefits of this far more.

Having said that we are all different . . . I heard of a top professional player who went to one of the major London flute shops to try headjoints out and came away with a basic plated student headjoint convinced that it was the best one for them in the shop (which stocked all the very top models), so until you try things out you'll never know what works best for you.