Hello Toddyboy,
I don’t think that you’re alone in that regard. The low D is one of the hardest notes to hit on any flute. Here is my Olwell](http://www.tullberg.com/d.mp3%22%3EOlwell) D playing around the low D. You can hear that it’s a bit slower than the other notes and I can barely tongue it, but that’s probably me, not the flute itself. If you are just starting out, give it time. It probably took me a couple of years to be able to blow the low D.
Peace,
Erik
Actually, I find the lower notes on the Dixon to be pretty responsive and consistant. However, when I was a teenager, I speant many hours practicing between low B through low E (on a modern flute).
One thing I’m having trouble with however, is the third octave. How high is an irish flute realistically supposed to go? I can get a High F# and sometimes a high G, but that’s about it. I go back to my Powell, and I can hit high B’s and C’s without a problem. Any hints/ideas?
Thanks,
Frank
One idea,
It sounds like you’re using your Powell as a crutch. Why not send it to me so that you aren’t tempted to use it 
Erik
No Problem… You send over Sir Jimmy’s platinum Muramatsu and I’ll send you my golden crutch. 
Hey, speaking of being off topic and platinum, have you seen Landel’s flutes. ( http://www.flutes.org/landell/ ) Everything from Silver to Titanium! I’d love to learn flute making from him (he has a school). Anyone want to sponser me - I’ll make my first flute for you
Erik
Actually, I’ve played a Landell flute. I have a friend at the San Fransisco Conservatory of Music who swears by hers. To me, it feels like a Wm. Haynes. The keywork is solid, the unbleached pads sealed well, and the response was fine… but gosh darn it! it felt like a Haynes!!
…anyway, back to the diatonic world Irish Music… Another Quick Dixon Question: He calls his 3-piece flute flute “tunable”. Which I guess you’d tune like a clarinet. Aren’t most irish flutes tunable in this manner? If so, what’s the advantage of a tuning slide?
Thanks,
Frank