16 Keys Closed Hole C Flute Kit for Beginners - Black

This flute has a nice clean tone. The keys all work as they should. A great beginner or travel flute. My original flute needs refurbishing but this flute is so affordable. I'm very happy I purchased it.

I'm giving this flute 5 stars because it is perfect at being what it is: a cheap (and fun colored!) flute. If you want a pro-grade flute, go pay for a pro-grade flute. But if you want to play flute for under $100, I see no reason not to buy this one.I'm a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher. I'm new to picking up flute. I've had this flute for two days, and I can already play my scales on it. Prior to this, I had literally one week of experience with flute over a decade ago in college.I'm reading some comments here like "it's overly difficult to play because of poor construction." I don't have the experience to say whether other better flutes might be easier, but I don't see this flute as being at all non-functional. One person claims to be a flute maker, and laments that some girl isn't playing songs within three weeks. That girl is obviously not getting requisite training and practice. I can play songs on this within a day. There's even a review here that says the instrument is "out of tune with itself" (that reviewer also says that his previous rental flute was out of tune with itself; which tells me he probably just doesn't know how to play and has trouble with any flute you hand him). That, of course, is a problem with online reviews for ANY musical instrument. People who don't know how to play complain that they can't play and blame the instrument, but that doesn't follow.I'm also reading comments here that the flute is falling apart, or that it broke quickly. Again, this is often less a problem with the instrument and more a problem with the shipping or the user. Mine came with no screws loose (and it comes with a screwdriver to tighten them even if it did). Nothing is broken. Nothing is bent, and frankly, I think you'd have to do something to it before it would bend. Every woodwind student is instructed on day one to be careful when putting the flute together so as not to bend the joints and the keys. I'm not saying that this flute is made of the world's highest quality materials or that it is more durable than more expensive flutes. I'm not even saying other reviewers didn't get theirs in some kind of bad condition; what I can say though is that mine is in good shape and looks for now like it will stay that way. When I read "this flute sucks because my 12-year-old broke it" I don't find that review to be helpful.So, to sum it up: if you want a really nice flute, go pay for a really nice flute. I don't doubt it will be better than this one. If, however, you want a cheap flute that will get the job done, buy this one, and then don't blame it for your inability to play or failure to care for it.

I purchased this mainly on a whim. I was wanting to get back into music, and stumbled on this while searching for a decent Irish whistle.I took the chance and got this flute for $80 tax and all, and I am glad I did.A decent beginner flute will run you ~$500+. . . FOR A REASON.I had my initial practice session with this flute blissfully unaware of how precise and expensive these instruments are.After the first 6 hour long session, I went to clean the flute and dropped the body. Despite barely hitting the floor hard, it was enough to completely ruin the lower body keys to where, even with an attempt to repair, it leaks too much to learn more than the left hand note register. This is the main drawback of this flute, and quite frankly the others in this range. They are cheap for a reason, though this is less a flaw with Mendini and more a problem with the whole cheap flute options.This leads me to the kind part of this review. This is a great and cost safe method to get started. The accessories you get are quite nice, and should be compatible with better quality instruments going forward. Even as a total beginner, it was really easy to get going and get a good sound. Even a week in I can hit upper C, BAG with flawless precision. Will this win you contests? No. Will this get you past a year? No. What this is, is a cheap way to determine if you truly want to pursue the flute, and thanks to this I can genuinely understand, appreciate, and stomach spending $500 on a higher grade reliable flute.I have to circle back and point out the biggest drawback though. These cheap flutes are made thin with cheap materials. Repair shops won't even look at these typically, and cost of COA or, God forbid, repairs will immediately exceed the cost of this flute. One good drop like I had and you are stuck with a wall decoration and some accessories you can almost certainly use later.There are a few videos on YouTube where professionals have tested these low priced instruments, and I can reiterate the same thing they did. If you fear you or your kid will not continue beyond a month or so, or need a super cheap placeholder, this is sufficient to get started if you treat it like fragile glass (so none of the abuse crap we did in band class that would make me cry watching it now). If you are aiming to play long term and just want to save a few dollars, AVOID. Get a $500 range Yamaha or Gemeinhardt. You genuinely do get what you pay for here.The thing about flutes is that going less expensive than $500-1000 will actually work against you, but as with all instruments, especially flute, you are more important to the result than the instrument itself. I got a chance to try a $12,000 flute today and the grand result was that I sounded about the same as I did on a $500 Yamaha, and that was barely better than this $80 flute. You will only feel the price initially in build quality and how soon you will need to trade it because eventually the instrument quality does begin to matter. So just keep this in mind, that $80 is a good test, but ~$500 is the starting point.As for me, I will keep practicing the CBAG and see what other few notes I can still play while I save up over the next few months to replace it with something that will be more reliable and last me the next few years before I outgrow it. When I do, this will make a nice wall decoration piece, and an emergency head and foot.

I am an advanced (but not professional) flute player with over 25 years of experience. For reference purposes, I own a $2500 dollar Pearl open hole/b-foot flute, and a $600 Yamaha student flute. I honestly bought this Mendini simply for the cool black color. Reviews are mixed, but it was cheap and had a return policy which eliminated any concerns about wasting money on a piece of junk. I had low expectations for quality playability, but I am more than pleasantly surprised!The pros: This Mendini has a beautiful, clear, and consistent tone across it's entire range. The high register is crisp, clean, and effortlessly responsive, which is unusual in cheaper flutes. It has offset G keys (easier to reach with left ring finger), and a split E mechanism (makes high E - a notoriously difficult note in the flute world - easier to play and control). These are features that usually drive up the price of student and professional models by a few hundred dollars. The key pads are decent quality with no leaks, no airy sound, and no stickiness. I daresay the Mendini surpasses the performance of my Yamaha, and comes decently close to my Pearl. This flute is perfect for a beginner through intermediate/early advanced player, and will carry a student through middle and high school bands, orchestras, marching band, ensembles, and chambers. It would also be great for a casual hobbyist or adult learner. The case is durable and functional, and the flute fits snugly with no wiggling (but it's tacky as heck...see cons below). The accessories are a nice addition, and would cost about $40+ to buy separately if they weren't included. The colors are a cool option. I LOVE the black body with silver keys. It looks unique, but still respectable.The cons: The black body color is a plastic-like coating which might peel right off if scratched or damaged (think shrink-wrap). The lip plate is nickel, which will probably cause a bruise-like stain under my lower lip after repetitive use and exposure to sweat/moisture - don't worry, this cleans off easily with an alcohol or baby wipe, and can be prevented by applying a layer of clear nail polish or tape to the lip plate. The case that is included has a massive and tacky logo embroidered on the front, and the zip pouch is too tight to hold the cleaning rod, cloths, and stand that is included. These cons are purely aesthetic, have easy fixes, anddon't impact the sound quality of the instrument. I stand by my 5 star rating.For less than $100, this flute far exceeded my expectations. It's perfect if you have a kid interested in playing, but don't want to invest a lot of money in case they lose interest, and it's cheaper than rental programs.I would also recommend this flute for marching band players because it's cheap enough to not worry about damage from weather, being set down in the grass/dirt, and from drops or collisions.It would be great to have as a reliable back-up flute to keep on hand in case your main instrument is in the shop for repairs. Ever drop your flute 2 days before the recital, and have to watch as your rival plays the solo you practiced all semester?!?!...Never again!In my opinion, the nay-sayers that gave negative reviews fall into one of 3 categories: Elitist flute snobs expecting the quality of a $14,000 Nagahara or custom Powell for 75 bucks, poor players, or someone who received a genuinely defective instrument. "It doesn't play in tune" is not a defect, its a skill issue - adjust the headjoint and correct your lip position like all flautists have to do! LOL.

I received this flute quickly and in good order. There were no stoppers holding the keys in place (a feature other bargain flutes have) but the instrument arrived with no key problems. My flute had a little glob of glue on one key that was irritating my 3rd finger. I contacted customer service and we worked out a solution. I filed it down with a nail file and now it is barely noticeable. I didn't want to return this flute because my specimen was perfect otherwise and, at this price point, they might send a bad one. I really like this flute. I like the nickel plating (no allergy to this metal). I have an expensive silver plated flute and it tarnishes somewhat. I'm getting good color from the low notes, better than expected. I LOVE the split e lever. I have never had a flute with split e, but I sailed up the scale freely. The action of this flute is heavier than my expensive one. It feels like a flute I played in High School. I have no idea how long this instrument will last. I got it as a back up to my better flute. Student usage that's rough on instruments could shorten it's life. I understand that band directors don't have time to fix flutes. A better and fixable instrument is probably better for school band use.The case for the flute is adequate, but no more. Same with the stand. The white gloves I wore at handbell practice and they are perfect for rehearsals. I do have small hands but these gloves fit well All in all I am pleased with my purchase. Can't beat the value. Good customer service for a minor problem. I now want a piccolo and will probably choose this brand again for a "try it" instrument

It’s a decent flute for a beginner – I bought it for my sixth grader who was going into band. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money as I did not know if she was going to stick with it. However, after a year her teacher reached out to me because several of the pads were leaking and the sound quality was quickly deteriorating. The teacher had tried to make some adjustments to the keys to see if she could salvage it, but it was impossible.So now a year later, I’m buying another flute. My daughter seems serious so I am definitely going with a higher quality instrument this time.I’m not at all sorry that I purchased this flute but you definitely get what you pay for – if you’re buying it for someone who is serious about music, it probably is not a good choice as you will be replacing it quickly.

Low price, high quality, good for beginners

My granddaughter was very pleased with the flute

One of the tandem keys for the F wouldn't shut completely, and thus, made the notes requiring it unplayable. Getting it fixed at a professional would be 100$ an hour. Might as well buy another. Very Disappointed.

Muy buena flauta para aprender

Easy to use, great for beginners. It does stain easily but produces a good sound.

Do not buy. Several notes will not play in scale. Several flutists attempted with no success.

Muy bonito sonido.