Cass-

Our middle daughter Brittany has played flute for several years in the high school concert & marching band. She's also studied for a little over two years. Usually, newer students will begin with a closed hole model then move up to an open hole flute after a few years. Her teacher would be able to recommend whether to go open hole or not.

Yamaha would be a very safe brand to go with...Go for nothing higher than an intermediate model. It will serve her well through jr. high and high school and perhaps into college. If she's playing seriously come college, then it'll be time to look at the thousand dollar flutes...

Good luck-


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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 01-05-2009).]