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  • Writer's pictureLilly Yang
    • Oct 14, 2021
    • 4 min read

Best Beginner Flute Models/Brands

Updated: Dec 1, 2023

Hello! Today I'll be sharing with you the brands and models of beginner flutes models that I recommend to my flute students.


These beginner flutes are just what I'm familiar with so they might not be perfectly suited for every beginner student, but I hope they can provide you with a place to start.


For those of you who would like to skip to a purchase list, I'll compile all the links down at the bottom of the blog post.


There are three main types of flutes that I generally recommend for beginners based on their age and size.


1. Fife

The fife is best suited for young children under the age of 7 or those who are physically too small to hold a full-sized flute. In terms of make and size, it is almost the flute equivalent of a recorder.


There are no levers/keys on the body of a fife, so it's very low maintenance and affordable.




🎷Nuvo Toot 2.0 - https://amzn.to/3RyRxS8



2. Plastic Flutes

Plastic flutes are great affordable alternatives to full-sized metal flutes. They are also a good option for those who want to test out the instrument before committing to a real flute.


Students between the age of 7-10 who cannot hold a full-sized flute are best suited to a mid-sized beginner flute, made of either plastic or metal.


It is absolutely fine for teenage and adults students who want to test out the flute in an affordable way to acquire a full-sized plastic flute.


Plastic flutes don't play as well as metal flutes, however they are much more affordable and require less maintenance.


Generally students reach this stage when they get to the age of 9 or 10, however it is best for them to visit a music store and try out a full-sized flute in-person.


🎷Mid-sized plastic flute with a curved head joint (students aged between 7-10)

Nuvo jFlute 2.0 - https://amzn.to/3C6f5rT


🎷Full-sized plastic flute with a straight head joint (ages 10+)

Nuvo Student Flute - https://amzn.to/3e2ck2L



3. Metal Flutes

Metal flutes are the ideal type of flute for the student to acquire eventually, however it is not worth it to purchase a low quality metal flute. You are better off using a plastic flute in the meantime and upgrade later when you are ready financially.


This is because a low quality metal flute can end up costing more money/time if you need to have it repaired frequently. Plastic flutes are much more low maintenance and therefore why I believe is the best budget option.


At the time of writing, the lowest you can expect to pay for a brand new good quality metal student flute is around AUD$800 (straight head joint only).


For students who cannot hold a flute with a straight head joint comfortably, there is the option to use a curved head joint and upgrade to a straight head joint later.


Generally, students under the age of 11 are best suited to playing with a curved head joint.


However, each child grows differently so the best way to find out is to try out different sized flutes in-person. You can do this by heading into a music store that stocks different sized flutes.


I usually recommend students who need to play on a curved head joint to purchase flutes that also include a straight head joint.


If you already own a Yamaha flute and need a curved head joint, you can purchase one separately.


🎷Full-sized metal flutes with both a curved and straight head joint (students aged 9+)



🎷Full-sized metal flutes with a straight joint (students aged 11+ or those who can hold a straight flute comfortably



🎷Mid-sized metal flute with a looped head joint and shorter body (students aged between 7-10)

Jupiter Student Flute JFL700 WDO - https://flutesandflutists.com/store/p/jupiter-jfl700wdo


So those are the brands and models of beginner flutes models that I generally recommend to my flute students. If you'd like to find out some other products that are useful for a beginner flute student to own, head to my blog post 5 Things Beginner Flute Players Need.


For more flute-related resources please feel free to check out my other blog posts. Happy fluting and see you in the next article!




For those who've skipped ahead to the purchase list, the links are below:

🎷Nuvo Toot 2.0 - https://amzn.to/3RyRxS8


🎷Mid-sized plastic flute with a curved head joint (students aged between 7-10)

Nuvo jFlute 2.0 - https://amzn.to/3C6f5rT


🎷Full-sized plastic flute with a straight head joint (ages 10+)

Nuvo Student Flute - https://amzn.to/3e2ck2L


🎷Mid-sized metal flute with a looped head joint and shorter body (students aged between 7-10)

Jupiter Student Flute JFL700 WDO - https://flutesandflutists.com/store/p/jupiter-jfl700wdo


🎷Full-sized metal flutes with both a curved and straight head joint (students aged 9+)



🎷Full-sized metal flutes with a straight joint (students aged 11+ or those who can hold a straight flute comfortably




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