If you’re looking for an intermediate flute, you likely have a bit of musical experience under your belt. The best intermediate flutes are versatile and have a solid construction that’s made to last for as long as you wish to play the instrument. These six flutes are the best that you can find for an intermediate flutist.
Contents
Our Recommended Intermediate Flute
- Glory Intermediate Flute
- Silver-plated instrument with cupronickel construction
- Real leather key pads
- Open hole 17 key design
- Includes: cleaning cloth, tuning rod, white gloves, and protective flute case
- Price: See Here!
- Jean Paul USA Intermediate Flute
- Silver-plated
- Made in the USA
- Closed hole key system
- Includes protective case, cleaning cloth, and cleaning rod
- Price: See Here!
- Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute For Students
- Neoprene key bumpers
- Made by trusted band instrument company Yamaha
- Closed-hole structure for easier playing
- Includes case, cleaning cloth, polishing gauze, and cleaning rod
- Price: See Here!
6 Best Intermediate Flute Models:
1. Glory Intermediate Flute
FEATURES
- Silver-plated instrument with cupronickel construction
- Real leather key pads
- Open hole 17 key design
- Includes: cleaning cloth, tuning rod, white gloves, and protective flute case
The Glory Intermediate Flute is an economical flute that is easy to control which makes it great for beginner and early intermediate flutists. It’s the best intermediate flute for those looking to spend under $200 or who want a quality instrument to get started on.
Consumer Opinions
For the price, the Glory Intermediate Flute is a great option. It’s comparable to a high-quality beginner flute and will last through early intermediate days.
The cupronickel construction is a little flimsy and the f-key especially is prone to bending. Due to the construction, it’s also more difficult to find a shop willing to work on the instrument.
However, if handled gently, this flute is a great way to save money on a flute with the acceptable sound quality for an intermediate.
- Affordable
- Comes with extras including cleaning cloth and case
- Decent sound quality
- May require earlier upgrading
- Cupronickel construction is weak and makes the keys more likely to bend or break
2. Jean Paul USA Intermediate Flute
FEATURES
- Silver-plated
- Made in the USA
- Closed hole key system
- Includes protective case, cleaning cloth, and cleaning rod
The Jean Paul USA Intermediate Flute is the best quality flute made in the USA. It’s got the best price to quality ratio. You can support American-made instruments with this flute which costs under $300.
Expert Opinions
Flutists everywhere are loving the Jean Paul USA Intermediate Flute. The sound quality of this instrument far exceeds expectations as it’s a decent budget flute for the dedicated musician or a great backup for those who don’t want to travel with pricier flutes.
- Amercan-made
- Affordable
- Silver-plated
- Good sound quality
- Repair service isn’t very reliable
- Zipper on case is a little flimsy
3. Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute For Students
FEATURES
- Closed-hole structure for easier playing
- Top-quality sound
- Made to last
- Made by trusted band instrument company Yamaha
- Neoprene key bumpers
- Includes case, cleaning cloth, polishing gauze, and cleaning rod
The Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute is the ideal flute for a high school student. This top-quality instrument is made to last and won’t need upgrading unless going on to become a professional musician.
It will last through college and remain a trusty flute that serves well throughout all stages of life. This flute costs under $500 and it’s the perfect instrument to last a lifetime and even pass on to future generations.
Consumer Opinions
Consumers are loving the Yamaha YFL-222 Intermediate Flute for Students. This is an option that lasts and the band directors are always happy to see a Yamaha in the hands of their students. It’s a great flute that will last through all points of musicianship and will likely never require upgrading.
- Made by trusted Yamaha brand
- Silver-plated
- Includes carrying case, cleaning rod, cleaning cloth, and polishing gauze
- Highly responsive flute with impressive sound quality
- Strong and durable neoprene key bumpers
- Long-lasting instrument
- A little on the pricey side
4. Gemeinhardt 3OB
FEATURES
- Open hole key design
- Silver-plated
- 4 post foot joint for stronger construction
- Includes case and cleaning rod
- Unique embouchure hole design
Gemeinhardt 3OB is an intermediate flute with less name recognition than it deserves. This silver-plated intermediate flute is made extra strong so it lasts a lifetime. For under $700, this is one of the highest quality instruments that money can buy.
Expert Opinions
The Gemeinhardt 3OB is an amazing flute that won’t break the bank. It’s the kind of instrument that you can hold onto for a lifetime. It’s an amazing intermediate flute and even professionals think it makes a perfect practice or travel piece.
- Very responsive keys
- Silver-plated construction with 4 post foot joint
- High-quality sound
- Includes case and cleaning rod
- Comes with 5 year manufacturer warranty
- Not all consumers are happy with the quality for the price
- Somewhat expensive
- Warranty is highly limited
5. Pearl 505RBE1RB Quartz Series Flute
FEATURES
- Open hole key design with plugs for those who prefer closed hole
- Silver-plated
- Includes carrying case
- High-quality sound
- Great control for beginner to intermediate musicians
The Pearl 505RBE1RB Quartz Series Flute is the most expensive flute on this list but still runs under $1000. It’s well worth the price with its shiny pinless construction. This responsive flute is ideal for just about anyone to play. From beginner to professional, this is a beloved instrument.
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Expert Opinions
Consumers don’t have a single negative thing to say about the Pearl RBE1RB Quartz Series Flute. It’s a high-quality flute with options that suit all musicians.
There’s really nothing wrong with this long-lasting instrument. It’ll likely never need upgrading unless you go on to become a professional musician and even then this makes a great backup or travel flute.
- Silver-plated
- Top quality instrument that produces full-bodied sound
- Choose between playing the open hole design or adding plugs for simplified closed hole keys
- Includes carrying case
- Great for musicians of all skill levels
- Expensive
6. Jupiter JFL710 Student Flute
FEATURES
- Silver-plated
- Includes ABS molded case
- Intermediate student flute
- Closed-hole key design
The Jupiter JFL710 is an advanced flute made with students in mind. It’s an ideal instrument for beginner to intermediate student musicians looking to produce nice full-bodied sound on their instrument. This is a great choice for under $700.
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Expert Opinions
The Jupiter JFL710 is generally well-liked. It’s a high-quality student flute that’s a great choice for intermediate musicians as well. This instrument is built to last and has a nice closed-hole design to make playing easier.
- Easy to play for beginners and intermediate musicians alike
- Decent quality sound
- Includes protective case
- Not the best for higher level intermediate to professional musicians
- Somewhat expensive when compared to quality
Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Intermediate Flutes
If you’re ready to upgrade to an intermediate flute, you’ve likely been playing for a while. The right intermediate flute will help you to play more advanced flute music that goes higher and faster than you’ve previously felt comfortable performing.
Flute keys
The layout of flute keys can vary somewhat and effect personal opinions on different instruments. Open versus closed-hole flutes are one of the biggest debates. Many musicians prefer the sound quality of the open-hole instruments and the ease of playing a closed-one one.
Protective case
Whether or not the items are included with the flute purchase, ensure that the flute is kept in a protective case.
Also, try to keep cleaning materials and a small screwdriver for quick repairs on hand as these tools will regularly come in handy.
Not properly servicing your flute may increase the probability of larger problems that may require your instrument to spend time in the shop.
Material
Always consider the material make-up of a flute before purchasing. If you can afford a high-quality instrument, it’s likely to spend less time in the shop.
Cheap instruments are more prone to mechanical issues and harder to fix due to the metal being weaker. Even on a budget, try to find an instrument that has a quality construction to save yourself time and money in the future.
Budget
Your budget is almost always important to consider. While just choosing an amazing instrument without looking at a price tag would be great, it’s just not realistic for most people. Look at what features you need in an intermediate flute and what you’re able to spend. Find the best option within that price range.
If you aren’t happy with what you can get within your budget, try to stick it out with the beginner for a little longer while you save up for a better instrument.
If you choose a flimsy flute, you’ll likely end up spending more in the long run when you have to replace it or constantly send it in for repairs.
Research
Do your research before purchasing any flute. Just because it’s called an intermediate flute, doesn’t mean that the quality lives up to the label.
Many manufacturers label low-quality instruments as intermediate to mark up the price. There’s also a wide range of what companies consider to be an intermediate flute.
A high-quality student instrument is often better than a low-quality intermediate flute.
You may just be buying an overpriced beginner instrument if you don’t look into the flute before buying.
Use reputable sources such as windysounds.com to confirm that you’re choosing an appropriate flute for an intermediate musician such as yourself.
Intermediate Flutes FAQ
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when picking the best intermediate flute. One of the most important things is that the best flute for someone else isn’t necessarily the best flute for you. So how do you choose the best fit intermediate flute? This FAQ may help point you in the right direction.
Is it better to get an open-hole or closed-hole flute?
This is one of the biggest debates between flutists of all skill levels. Some prefer the ease of the closed-hole as it requires less precision while fingering which helps them play faster.
Others prefer the open-hole key design that’s known to increase sound quality. Think about your own precision and which area you need to improve more.
If your precision isn’t spot on or you play a lot of fast-tempo music, a closed-hole may make your performances drastically better. If your style has more sustained or soaring notes, an open-hole flute may improve your performance.
If you’re unsure, an open-hole flute with plugs so you can play closed-hole is a great choice to get the best of both worlds.
What’s the ideal construction for an intermediate flute?
Ensure that the instrument is at least silver-plated. The thicker the silver-plating is, the more solid the flute itself will be. However, more silver requires more budget but it’s one of the most important features to consider.
Avoid cupronickel if possible as it’s fragile and many shops won’t even both trying to fix low-quality flutes make from this weak metal.
Does the brand of my intermediate flute matter?
The brand matters and doesn’t at the same time. The brands that are well-known and loved are marked up for their name which makes it hard to want to spend for the name.
However, these brands have made a name for themselves by being consistently high-quality.
If you can find an instrument that’s comparable, you can forgo the brand names, but the brand names give a sense of security in your investment.
People will pay for a second-hand flute from a well-known brand, but a used off-brand flute will pretty much worthless should you choose to sell it for any reason in the future.
Making The Decision
Choosing the best intermediate flute is a very personal decision. Your own preferences may result in the best for you being a different flute than the most generally beloved instrument. The more you play, the more you’ll be aware of what your preferences are in a flute.
The overall best flute for an intermediate flutist is the Yamaha YFL-222. It’s a reliable instrument with great sound quality that retains its value.
The price point is moderate making it a reasonable choice for most flutists looking to upgrade. This responsive flute has neoprene key bumpers.
The neoprene is stronger and more durable than the common cork ones and they’re less prone to getting worn down. The Yamaha YFL-222 is an all-around great pick that you and your musical instructors alike will both be happy to hear you play.
