Dear Dorcas,
There's no substitute for going to a shop and trying instruments -
preferably with your teacher, who can advise. Inline or offset
doesn't make too much difference, but if you have small hands then
offset might be more comfortable. Open holes are more difficult to
handle, but at least ensure correct hand position, as with a bad
position you won't get any notes! Beginner flutes are
normally 'plateau' ore closed hole, and there's no shame in that - I
play professionally on a closed hole flute - it's only five holes
after all! E mech is fine, but if you learn on one without you won't
notice the difference. Robert Dick doesn't have E-mech (despite
having about 650 other extra keys), and neither do I, but it does
make the high E easier to play.

Most important is build quality. Yamaha, Trevor James, Pearl and
various others make decent beginner flutes. Silver plate with a
silver headjoint will last you longest before feeling the need to
upgrade. Nickel is cheaper, but feels it - slightly greasy to the
touch, and often put together with less care. Be careful with second-
hand flutes: again, do take your teacher to try anything. Used
flutes can be a bargain, but generally you get what you pay for, and
a really cheap flute with bad pads, bent keys or a headjoint full of
greasy fluff may put you off playing for life!

Happy blowing!

Dominy

--- In flutepastels@yahoogroups.com, "dorcas_77" <dorcas_77@y...>
wrote:
>
>
> Hi everyone out there!
>
> i'm gonna take flute lessons soon, but dunno what kind of flute to
> buy... As a beginner, would it be better to invest in an in-line
or
> offset G flute, open or closed holes, or a flute w/ or w/o the E-
> mechanism?
>
> My gosh... there are so many kinds out there & i really hope to
put
> my money to good use. it's really ex, but learning to play the
flute
> is a dream i wish to pursue, erm, at the expense of my own
> allowance.
>
> Thanks for any advice given!
>
> Cheers,
> Dorcas