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That is an EXTREMELY idiotic idea. Using a different instrument for practice and concerts/auditions/lessons will make you sound much worse than if you practiced on the instrument you perform with. You see, all instruments are DIFFERENT, as I'm sure you know, from your rant on how horrid the school piccolo is. If you practice on, say, your intermediate flute with the gold lip plate, you will get very good...ON THAT INSTRUMENT, you get used to that instrument, when you switch to a different instrument, sure you might sound alright, maybe even good....but if you practiced on one instrument, and used that same instrument for performances you would sound good, maybe even excellent. Get what I'm saying?

I get what you're saying but...Whoa...Take it easy...

I have a Gemeinhardt beginner professional. I don't own a piccolo. I really want to get a better one, though. Japanese brands are amazing.

I love my baby, Lily. She's a Sonatina brand beginner flute.

As much as I love her, I do want to get an intermediate flute to help improve how I play. She will still be my baby, and I am still taking her to Sacanime in August when I cosplay as Tayuya~!!

love mah flutes
shes a gorgeous armstrong!

Wow. I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me an idiot. I don't think you quite understand... I can't take a $9000 flute to school where there might be an idiot who will knock into it and dent it up. Things happen. I play my Powell for everything that is not everyday school rehearsals. I also played my intermediate flute for 4 years, so naturally I got good at playing that one. I don't think YOU even get what you are saying, because quite frankly, it's not helpful. You seem to forget that all PEOPLE are different. When I picked up my Powell and played it for the very first time, the results were immediate. Also, seeing as your username contains "clarinet," I assume you are most knowledgeable about that instrument. I will agree that if you play on 3 1/2 reeds normally and then try and switch to 4s, there will be some issues there and it is not a good idea to go switching equipment around like that. Flutes don't always have that problem because they are usually quite similar at the headjoint end, even if you have a $100 Walmart flute and compare it to a $100,000 flute made by one of the most renowned companies in the world. Oh, and your whole "sometimes you gotta be harsh to make people see things" and "trying to help the person" does not make you a nice person. You need to learn your facts. I meant for this to be a thread where people share the kind of flute they have and what they like about it, not a "oh, you're stupid because you want to take care of your flute" session.

My flutes:

1. First Act flute (silver plated beginner flute, used only for school practice = because it's a cheap flute, terrible company, and poorly designed. And some of the notes won't even come out!). <--- It was beyond repair due to the fact that it was poorly designed, or so the repair guy said. Declared a piece of crap. Rest In Pieces.

2. JUPITER 511S Deluxe Standard Plateau Model Flute (I had to get a new one after my First Act.) <--- Used only for practices/ rehearsals/outdoor marching.

3. PEARL 525RB Intermediate Flute (used for Sea cadet band marching, indoor playing only. Jupiter flute for outdoor practices).

4. YAMAHA YFL371H Flute (School performances/band tour/plays because I play senior band at school.) Given as a birthday present because my aunt thought that I needed a new one (After she heard my first act flute broke. This one used to be her flute. She gave it to me without knowing that I got a new flute).

I can't afford to bring my Pearl or Yamaha to practices because instruments get stolen at my school if we leave them in the band room for a period of time...

first of all, i wasn't calling YOU an idiot, i was calling your IDEA idiotic. and you can't tell me that a flute is too heavy for you to take from class to class in your backpack or even in your hand. i carry my clarinet and sax from class to class. and of course using a size 4 reed as opposed to my size 3 reeds would ruin my sound. my mouthpiece's tip opening is too big for size 4 reeds to sound as good as they would on a smaller one. and of course i know what i'm talking about, you're the one who doesn't know what i'm talking about smile also, my name has clarinet in it simply because i have a bit of loyalty towards my first instrument. it will always represent me more than the sax/guitar/piano/etc. i am by far most knowledgeable about saxes, so maybe you should stop trying to judge people simply by their user name smile . and of course i was trying to help. you will sound infinitely better if you play regularly on your "baby" flute than if you only play on it for specific occasions.

you also can't tell me that a 100 dollar flute would use the same exact embouchure as a flute that costs much, much more. i would know, i've played a 100 dollar walmart flute as opposed to my sister's armstrong flute. there's a huge difference in the embouchure required to make sound on both of those instruments.