Welcome to KinderFlute™ of Ithaca / Studio of Lisa Fenwick

ABOUT THE FLUTES-There are options.

Depending upon your age you can rent or purchase a flute. There is overlap in age suggestions on purpose. It is more about size of child than age. Lisa would like to help you find the right size flute for your child.

Purchase of first flute: Approximately $150-$490.

Rental information below.

Age 4 or 5

Nuvo JFlute with a curved head joint would be an affordable choice for purchase. This flute is not available for rental. This is NOT my flute of choice for an older child but would be suitable for a 4 or 5 year old to begin. 

NUVO JFlute $149.00      with free Pneumo Pro Kit ($35.95) Link to Nuvo JFlute

These flutes are plastic, durable and are very easy to produce a sound on. I have one that you can see and hear. You need to get a Nuvo Junior with a curved head joint for a small child.  I suggest using these only when child is 4-5, because the sound quality of a silver flute is superior. However, there are other KinderFlute teachers who teach extensively on these flutes and they sound surprisingly good for the cost.  If you are playing in school you would want a silver flute for sure. The Nuvo flutes come in different colors. The flute caps described on the Blocki site are decorative only.

Age 4-7          

Di Zhao Mini-Di 

This flute is available for purchase only, not available for rental at this time. It is an incredible choice if it fits your budget, and I would strongly encourage you to consider especially for a 4 or 5 year old:  

Link to Di Zhao Mini-Di Flute

They cost around $489 and come with Method Book 1 and Pneumo Pro Kit. There is a special from Blocki Flutes which includes some other items as well.

Age 6-10 or age 5 but big for their age

Blocki Beginner Flute with curved and straight head joint

Lisa Fenwick, the teacher has a limited number of brand new Blocki Junior flutes to rent @ $25 a month. This is not a rent to own arrangement. Or you can buy one.  These flutes are wonderful silver flutes, smaller than regular flutes and they come with both curved and straight head joint. This is a small scale flute and your child will eventually grow out of it at about age 10. Cost is $345 and comes with Method Book 1 and Pneumo Pro Kit.

Link to Blocki Beginner Flute with curved and straight head joint

Ages 8-9

Unless they are small for their age your child could likely play a full size flute with a curved head joint. You can rent these from Hickey's.

Age 10 and up 

Full size flutes with straight head joint, silver not plastic. Talk to Lisa if you are thinking of buying but I suggest renting from Hickey's to begin if you are just starting.

You should rent a basic student flute. Not one with open holes or b foot to start.  It is cheaper to rent the regular size flutes from Hickey's even with curved head joints because they are full size flutes and more common than the scaled-down flutes that Lisa has available to rent.

After your child has played for a while and is using a full size flute I would suggest that you consider purchasing. Please speak with Lisa before you do this. I am currently very pleased with the DiZhao flutes and feel they are worth serious consideration. There are a number of other good brands.

Do you have a flute in your closet you played in high school that you think you child might be able to use?  It might work if it is the right size and is in good playing order for a child close to 10. In some cases you can rent just a curved head joint and if it has open holes, plugs could be temporarily put in. Ask Lisa.

Of course choosing the right flute for the students is ultimately determined by their size and not age.  Please see Lisa about what size flute is right for your child. There is overlap on the ages for this reason.

Lisa can help you get the book and Pneumo Pro Kit if you are not purchasing a package that includes them.

The prices for the purchase of the flutes came from the Blocki Flute Website and I assume may be subject to change.