Tell us something.: I'm not registering, I'm trying to edit my profile! The field “Tell us something.” is too short, a minimum of 100 characters is required.
Sorry for the necro post, but I figured out what was wrong with the flute.
After randomly making holes bigger all over the flute, and trying to change the flute into something else,
I figure out the issue was with the tail section of the flute. I ended up making the three note holes bigger
on the tail section, then I tidied up the embouchure hole which had some debris from other attempted modifications,
then liberally applied oil to the flute.
The flute now plays the last three notes correctly, is louder, and I spend less time trying to get any sound at all
out of the flute than I did before.
I am very much a beginner so I don't know much, but the flute seems improved over what it was before.
I am a woman with average length fingers, but years of playing musical instruments and using them to work with tools and manipulate heavy objects have made them somewhat stronger than average and extended my reach. I'm not sure where we would compare in size, but when I shop for gloves my favorite fit is mens small. That being said, I have played every sort of modern Irish flute and a few antiques and haven't found the stretch too much. I know there are makers who specialize in flutes for smaller hands so you might research that if you find it interesting. But I have seen flute players with smaller hands than mine do very well on all types of flutes. The key may be extending your stretch over time. You can do that on a flute, a piano or on a table or an armchair. As for whistles, the lowest I enjoy playing is an F. If you want to work with a flute that you can enjoy and are on a budget check out a delrin by a good maker. They are often sold second hand as a player moves on to wood, and even their full retail price is pretty good. You will find a good wood flute is lighter than a delrin though.