Hi!
If you know anithink about LITM Five Key Pratten Style Irish Flutes?
How do they sound? are they in tune? Please, would you tell me, it will be wery intresting for me.
Can't find a five key on their web site - I can see a 6 key from Ralph Sweet, a fairly respected maker, and an unbranded 4 key which from the price alone I'd avoid. Have a search on the Chiff and Fipple flute forum, and if you don't find anything try posting your question there. You're bound to get an opinion!
The general wisdom is that the low cost flutes with or without keys that are made in Pakistan are best avoided. I don't know if the Lark flute fits this category, but lots of them turn up on eBay. They tend to have serious problems with intonation, leaky keys etc. and are generally regarded as wall hangers rather than serious instruments.
Preferred starter flutes, in no particular order, are the Dixon 3 piece, Doug Tipple's PVC flute, Ralph Sweet's rosewood (not the maple, walnut etc), Casey Burns folk flute, and the M&E polymer. There are others, but the ones I listed get recommended over and over, and any one of them will get you started for $300 or less for an unkeyed flute. Keys really aren't necessary for most traditional music. I have a Sweetheart rosewood and a Tipple, neither of which have keys. This has not been a problem, but I will confess to lusting after an 8-keyed flute so I'm saving my pennies.
I'd be leary of these flutes, but I'm sure Lark has a return policy. Keyed flutes are not cheap. The cheapest I know of is Ralph Sweet's 4 keyed rosewood at about $700 USD. I have one and really like it, but it doesn't have a tuning slide (the tenon is long enough to tune with, though). I think you can get a 4 key M&E polymer for about $750ish or so...and that might be safer during Moscow's winters, anyway. Also, with the M&E, you can start without keys and add them later.
I bought my first student wood flute from E.Lambe, Kinvara.
I still play that thing. Its the sound of it.. I say LarkITM anything no no no. Unless you want one of those Zydico alluminum tie's always a party fave. ....... Who needs keys anyway maybe besides the occasional G#
The LITM flutes were never intended to be stellar -- they were intended as inexpensive starter flutes. Since then Casy Burns wins the prize for best inexpensive starter flute. (key-less) If you can get Rod Cameron to "hot-rod" a LITM keyed flute you'll actually have a decent keyed flute with a tuning slide for around $1000. I don't know what Casy charges for a keyed starter flute, but it might not have the tuning slide. Maybe someone knows what a keyed flute with a tuning slide from Casy costs.
Dunno how I missed that flute on their site, my bad. But for me the idea of a starter flute with keys is a bit odd. If you want this kind of flute chances are you want to play ITM. Why compromise on cheap keywork you won't want possibly for years, to get something that looks like what molloy or mcevoy plays? When you are hard up and buying your first intstrument, you want something that can reward your early efforts and lead you into real music. Unless of course the keys are just there so you can get used to avoiding them
Mickie was deluged with requests for keyed models. It was probably a mistake, but he tried to provide for the demand. I know one fellow that had a keyed model that was "hot rodded" by Cameron, and he's very happy with it to this day.
Jim I would like to add to your list of unkeyed. Brian Finneagan (sp?) of Flook plays unkeyed. I like to say if you need keys to play a certain tune that tune is not worth playing.
Well Neil, I happen to think you're right on this one, and I would have thought it obvious that Jim could add Dan to his list of keyless players, and he can add myself as well, for whatever that's worth.
They're a pain to make, expensive, require maintenance, break off and fail anyway, only get in the way of partial holing, not to mention reducing the value of the instrument as a weapon (although a tenon/ tuning slide is the chief culpret here).
"if you want something done..."
1. Do it yourself
2. Hire someone to do it for you
3. Forbid your kids to do it
My comments although not all that carefully delivered were motivated by my own experience - I am/was a pretty competent yamaha flute player, recorder player and sometime whistler when I took up the keyless a year ago - it's taken me all of that year to get a good ITM folk flute sound and to get the speed into my fingered articulations. Having no keys allowed me/forced me to focus on the rolls, slides and also half-holing and made me think of the instrument in a radically different way from my boehm, which I think is good.
Well there ya go... Casey's with tuning slide and 4-6 keys will run around $2,000, and if you get a paki-flute with 5 keys and tuning slide, have Rod Cameron "hot-rod" it -- you'll save about $800. Casey's might have better craftsmanship for the key work and such, but that's what you'd be paying for. Both Casey and Rod Cameron are excellent craftsman.
After feeling straitjacketed by the impersonal 'silver typewriter' for over ten years, switching to a blackwood keyless was like... damn... I've got the perfect analogy, but this is a family website.
For starter flutes, may I recommend Hammy Hamilton's practice flute? Cheap, easy on the finger stretching, and a good sound.
I got one to play while I was waiting for my blackwood.
Moscow! I've gotten to travel alot as a musician to Russa and Ukraine-mostly playing rock but this last year my friend and I did alot of Irish music in the streets of Poltava and the people loved it, some girls would even do a step dance that they had made up and the audience would join in. I have a Sweet unkeyed-sounds great, price is right! Jon
About Lark in the morning flute.
About Lark in the morning flute.
Hi!
If you know anithink about LITM Five Key Pratten Style Irish Flutes?
How do they sound? are they in tune? Please, would you tell me, it will be wery intresting for me.
Sorry my English, as usuall
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by Sandy3
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Can't find a five key on their web site - I can see a 6 key from Ralph Sweet, a fairly respected maker, and an unbranded 4 key which from the price alone I'd avoid. Have a search on the Chiff and Fipple flute forum, and if you don't find anything try posting your question there. You're bound to get an opinion!
)
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?forum=2&954 (seems to be down today for some reason
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by NeilC
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
http://larkinthemorning.com/product.asp?pn=IRF019&bhcd2=1132332406
thise one
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by Sandy3
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
The general wisdom is that the low cost flutes with or without keys that are made in Pakistan are best avoided. I don't know if the Lark flute fits this category, but lots of them turn up on eBay. They tend to have serious problems with intonation, leaky keys etc. and are generally regarded as wall hangers rather than serious instruments.
Preferred starter flutes, in no particular order, are the Dixon 3 piece, Doug Tipple's PVC flute, Ralph Sweet's rosewood (not the maple, walnut etc), Casey Burns folk flute, and the M&E polymer. There are others, but the ones I listed get recommended over and over, and any one of them will get you started for $300 or less for an unkeyed flute. Keys really aren't necessary for most traditional music. I have a Sweetheart rosewood and a Tipple, neither of which have keys. This has not been a problem, but I will confess to lusting after an 8-keyed flute so I'm saving my pennies.
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by KateG
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
I'd be leary of these flutes, but I'm sure Lark has a return policy. Keyed flutes are not cheap. The cheapest I know of is Ralph Sweet's 4 keyed rosewood at about $700 USD. I have one and really like it, but it doesn't have a tuning slide (the tenon is long enough to tune with, though). I think you can get a 4 key M&E polymer for about $750ish or so...and that might be safer during Moscow's winters, anyway. Also, with the M&E, you can start without keys and add them later.
Eric
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by Jayhawk
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
I bought my first student wood flute from E.Lambe, Kinvara.
I still play that thing. Its the sound of it.. I say LarkITM anything no no no. Unless you want one of those Zydico alluminum tie's always a party fave. ....... Who needs keys anyway maybe besides the occasional G#
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by dan
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
The LITM flutes were never intended to be stellar -- they were intended as inexpensive starter flutes. Since then Casy Burns wins the prize for best inexpensive starter flute. (key-less) If you can get Rod Cameron to "hot-rod" a LITM keyed flute you'll actually have a decent keyed flute with a tuning slide for around $1000. I don't know what Casy charges for a keyed starter flute, but it might not have the tuning slide. Maybe someone knows what a keyed flute with a tuning slide from Casy costs.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Dunno how I missed that flute on their site, my bad. But for me the idea of a starter flute with keys is a bit odd. If you want this kind of flute chances are you want to play ITM. Why compromise on cheap keywork you won't want possibly for years, to get something that looks like what molloy or mcevoy plays? When you are hard up and buying your first intstrument, you want something that can reward your early efforts and lead you into real music. Unless of course the keys are just there so you can get used to avoiding them
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by NeilC
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Mickie was deluged with requests for keyed models. It was probably a mistake, but he tried to provide for the demand. I know one fellow that had a keyed model that was "hot rodded" by Cameron, and he's very happy with it to this day.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
I wouldn't buy a pakiflute unless I could have Rod Cameron re-work it.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Jim I would like to add to your list of unkeyed. Brian Finneagan (sp?) of Flook plays unkeyed. I like to say if you need keys to play a certain tune that tune is not worth playing.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
There I go shooting my mouth off too quickly after a few too many beers. I'll be more careful in future
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by NeilC
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
mike mcgoldrick uses keys,colm o donnell doesnt.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by fused
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Well Neil, I happen to think you're right on this one, and I would have thought it obvious that Jim could add Dan to his list of keyless players, and he can add myself as well, for whatever that's worth.
They're a pain to make, expensive, require maintenance, break off and fail anyway, only get in the way of partial holing, not to mention reducing the value of the instrument as a weapon (although a tenon/ tuning slide is the chief culpret here).
"if you want something done..."
1. Do it yourself
2. Hire someone to do it for you
3. Forbid your kids to do it
KFG
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by KFG
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
My comments although not all that carefully delivered were motivated by my own experience - I am/was a pretty competent yamaha flute player, recorder player and sometime whistler when I took up the keyless a year ago - it's taken me all of that year to get a good ITM folk flute sound and to get the speed into my fingered articulations. Having no keys allowed me/forced me to focus on the rolls, slides and also half-holing and made me think of the instrument in a radically different way from my boehm, which I think is good.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by NeilC
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
I don't play flute, but I love looking at them; here's a link to the Casey Burns website:
http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/cat_d.php#burns
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Well there ya go... Casey's with tuning slide and 4-6 keys will run around $2,000, and if you get a paki-flute with 5 keys and tuning slide, have Rod Cameron "hot-rod" it -- you'll save about $800. Casey's might have better craftsmanship for the key work and such, but that's what you'd be paying for. Both Casey and Rod Cameron are excellent craftsman.
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
After feeling straitjacketed by the impersonal 'silver typewriter' for over ten years, switching to a blackwood keyless was like... damn... I've got the perfect analogy, but this is a family website.
For starter flutes, may I recommend Hammy Hamilton's practice flute? Cheap, easy on the finger stretching, and a good sound.
I got one to play while I was waiting for my blackwood.
70 euros: http://www.hamiltonflutes.com/
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by Q
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Looks like Hammy wins the prize then. I think I played one of these a week ago at a session. They're very good.
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Isn't Catherine Mac's flute keyed for a righty?
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Moscow! I've gotten to travel alot as a musician to Russa and Ukraine-mostly playing rock but this last year my friend and I did alot of Irish music in the streets of Poltava and the people loved it, some girls would even do a step dance that they had made up and the audience would join in. I have a Sweet unkeyed-sounds great, price is right! Jon
# Posted on November 21st 2005 by pick&bow
Re: About Lark in the morning flute.
Thank you all for good advices! Now, i'll buy Sweet's 4-keyed. I think, that is the good variant.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Sandy3