What’s the consensus on the best flute for a beginner in the $400 range?
OK, I’ll start…
Copley delrin…
Next?
Pat
As for best, well thats always going to get mixed opinions.
Copely is usually on the top on many lists.
PM sent.
I would consider one of M and E Rudall and Rose Model D flute Polymer Flutes if I was flush 
M and E Website
Crock of Gold played on M and E Polymer Flute (YouTube Video)
I’ll pile on in favor of the Copley delrin 3 piece model.
Casey Burns Folk Flute. That’s a good flute for a beginner to a seasoned player.
Copley Delrin, Forbes Delrin, Casey Burns Folk Flute (wood). I hear the Walt Sweet flutes are good.
JGilder
Just wanted to say I really enjoy your flute playing on your album Jody’s Heaven. I still play it on a regular bases.
Tjones
My vote is for Dave Copley’s delrin! In my opinion best bang for the buck.
Well, I AM a beginner: I got my M & E delrin Rudall and Rose in January. I don’t know about Copleys or other models (which may be better than my flute) but I am really happy with what I have. It’s forgiving but not too forgiving. The tuning slide came in handy in my group classes, and I love the fact that it’s low maintenance delrin: I can leave it around assembled and practice whenever I have a spare minute. That’s really helped. Again, I am ignorant of most other makers, I just wanted to put in a good word for the M&E.
And again, a mention of Walt Sweet’s Shannon model. At $275 it’s a great sound, easy to play and finely tuned.
Best wishes.
Steve
Second that. I started off with an M&E R&R in ebonite 2 1/2 years ago after not playing for about 18 years. It was a great flute to start back out on. Easy to play and with a lovely dark tone. eventually i moved on to larger holed flutes as that was what my teacher was playing and i admired the sound she was able to create. I will be selling that M&E soon because i don’t play it anymore but when i do play it i am always surprised at how lovely sounding it is and how responsive and easy to play with plenty of volume.
I don’t think the M&E are beginners flutes just because they cost less and are easy to play. Ease of playing is something many folk seem to seek in a flute.
Gary Somers gets my vote. Great flute with a real tuning slide and rings for $400.
Vincenzo Di Mauro, you can read my review a few threads back.
Shoulda mentioned this one myself! My current backup flute is a Garry (yes, 2 "r"s) Somers Pratten in delrin with no frills. Great sound and the cheapest of the lot at $265 (from the Irish Flute Store).
Pat
Ditto on the Somers. I’ve had M&E, Tony Dixon 3 piece, Sweetheart wooden and the Somers is the winner hands done. Easy to play, rich tone and for $265 (Irish Flute Store) a steal.
Ron
A student of mine has the Walt Sweet “Shannon”, $275. from Doc, she got a nice sound right away, I wish I had one of those as my first, I struggled a bit with what I had. The Burns “Folk Flute” is a really nice option too, and it’s a real wooden flute.
Funny, what no one ever seems to comment on directly (as compared to indirectly via a recommendation) is small holed vs larger holed types of flutes for beginners and whether or not people feel that a beginner should only start on a smaller holed flute that is easier to finger or if a pratten model is ever suitable for someone just starting out. I often recall that Matt Molloy started out playing his Father’s anonymous German flute with “Small holes, sweet tone” but who’s to say that, given the resources he would not have gone right for the Pratten’s Perfected. I guess Matt Molloy could answer that particular bit but the greater question still exists (well in my head, at least).
Bob
This is a core topic that I deal with on a regular basis and its no big guess what type of flute that I would recommend. However, I’ll distill a few general principles from my practice:
- The flute should be easy to play and get a tone out of. I’ve tried flutes that are difficult for me to get a decent tone out of - even some top of the line flutes by top of the line makers. Beginners commonly don’t have the chops and the toned muscles to get a decent tone out of the flute. A maker who plays regularly in sessions will tune and voice a flute that works for his or her settings and works for people who have the chops and play in sessions regularly.
But for a beginner, these muscles are undeveloped. Then its best to make the flute do most of the work for you. Although I play several instruments I’ve long since stopped playing flute recreationally and my flute playing chops are chronically weak and I prefer to keep them that way. However, I know what kind of tone and power I want out of my flutes and thus I have iteratively forced the the flutes to do the heavy lifting for me. A flute that takes much effort in learning how to even make the sound come out of it will be discouraging. A forgiving flute that doesn’t require much heavy lifting will be a joy to play for the beginner. For the seasoned player these easy to play embouchures work very well.
- The flute should be easy to finger. Many makers follow the wide fingerhole spacings of Prattens and Rudalls and for many players including myself these are just too large. The flute should feel comfortable to finger and grip. A guitar analogy is that may prefer narrower fingerboards and lower actions, and even shorter actions which narrows the fret to fret distance (I sought these preferences on my hand made $4200 Shelley Park Model Encore Gypsy Jazz Guitar).
I’ve heard other makers (I heard this just the other day even) though say that one should learn to play piping style and in some cases insist that one trains the fingers with cloth or wooden wedges between the digits to stretch them (seriously!). This might work for someone still growing but it works poorly for older players who decide to get into a new type of instrument after many years. A significant portion of my clientele are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. Also, many beginning flute players approach the flute from the modern flute and other woodwinds where they are accustomed to playing with their fingertips. Since most of the shape responsible for tone is in the embouchure, smaller holes do not necessarily impede the tone. Spanish bagpipe chanters have tiny holes and are plenty loud. Flutes work the same way.
- Material used - I see frequent recommendations for Delrin flutes as something that the beginner doesn’t have to worry about caring for. Heck its probably even dishwasher safe. However, using the guitar analogy again, one doesn’t see too many Delrin Guitars around or other Delrin stringed instruments for that matter. A blackwood instrument is not difficult to maintain and the beginner should be encouraged to get an instrument that they may actually want to be encouraged to care for some since its usually hand made, rather than foster a careless attitude about it. The level of personal investment in an instrument translates into wanting to play it more.
There isn’t one! 
None of the flutes listed here so far are just beginners’ flutes.
Seen many blackwood guitars, Casey?
and the beginner should be encouraged to get an instrument that they may actually want to be encouraged to care for some since its usually hand made
Delrin flutes turned on lathes are every bit as handmade as wood flutes turned the same way. On which note, I have both, like both and take care of both!