A Winning Choice

Anushka Malhotra

For flutist Anushka Malhotra, a junior at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, the choice of a new flute was most definitely a winning one.  Anushka has been studying with Powell artist Lois Herbine for just over a year, and within the first three months of 2016, her accomplishments are certainly something to celebrate!

Anushka's family purchased her new Powell Sonaré PS-705 with KT headjoint from Windworks Studio of Philadelphia in October 2015.  In December, Anushka placed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators District 11 audition.  Jeremy Correnti, Anushka's band director at Germantown Academy, was present for the sight-reading portion of her audition and commented, "I was particularly impressed with her sound, which gave her an incredible presence in the audition room.  A tone like that will definitely get the judge's attention."

Anushka performed in the Pennsylvania District Band Festival on January 28, 2016.  In March, success came once again as Anushka placed first in the senior division of the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia's Young Artist Competition.  Lois Herbine shared, "Anushka has developed a beautiful tone over the last few months since getting her new Sonaré flute.  She is a quick learner with a lot of potential, and she absolutely loves her flute.”

Powell introduced the KT headjoint in August 2015 as one of two new professional options for the Powell Sonaré PS-705 model (a C# trill key was the other new option). The KT headjoint is a Powell Signature headjoint made of 9k tubing with a sterling silver wall and Aurumite 9k lip plate. Powell's patented Aurumite material consists of one layer of gold and one of silver.  Aurumite 9k, specifically, has an outer layer of 9k rose gold and an inner layer of sterling silver.  Clickhere to read more about the KT Aurumite 9k Signature headjoint on our Flute Builder blog.

KT Aurumite 9k Signature headjoint

"Silver and Gold" with Paul Edmund-Davies

There is a rather large selection of materials when it comes to flutes – and headjoints.  The multitude of choices between silver and gold (along with the different karats and types such as rose or yellow gold) can make choosing your flute and headjoint a daunting task.  Some flutists then wonder if one type of material is better than another.  Luckily, we had the chance to speak with Powell artist Paul Edmund-Davies about this topic during his recent visit to Powell…

Paul has two Powell flutes – one silver Custom and one 19.5k Custom with a 14k mechanism.  Just like tone holes or any other option on a flute, one type of material is not better than another – the materials are simply different.  Silver and gold each have their unique characteristic qualities, and Paul appreciates these qualities and differences.  From his perspective, he finds that in his own playing, the silver sound is “closest to the human voice,” and the “brilliance of gold is breathtaking.”  And, as he said, it all depends on the player and the player’s preferences.

Powell Custom 19.5k with 14k keys (left) and Powell Custom silver (right)

However, for flutists who are currently playing a silver flute and considering moving over to gold, Paul presented several suggestions on how to experiment with gold.  Since it can be a huge change to shift over to a gold flute, he finds that Aurumite® is a “very good middle ground to investigate gold,” given its composition of one layer of gold and one layer of silver.  In terms of “experimenting” with gold, he suggested the following:

1) Try your silver flute with a silver headjoint that has a gold riser.

2) Try your silver flute with an Aurumite headjoint.

3) Try your silver flute with a gold headjoint.

Even with Aurumite, you will have choices.  The “Aurumite 9k” and “Ruby Aurumite” have rose gold on the outside.  The “Aurumite 14k” has silver on the outside and 14k rose gold on the inside.  Moving along with the progression of steps Paul suggested should, however, give you a logical method for testing just how much gold is right for you!

Coreisa's Conservatory

Coreisa trying her new Powell Conservatory. Photo courtesy of NBCUniversal/ "The Meredith Vieira Show."

Last Friday, Coreisa Janelle Lee experienced many surprises -- including the gift of a new flute -- on national television!  Ms. Lee is a sophomore at the Manhattan School of Music and had dreamed of owning a Powell Handmade Conservatory Aurumite^® 9k flute.  Coreisa had been playing the same student flute since the 8th grade, and ownership of a Powell seemed like a mere dream given her economic circumstances.

Luckily, Ms. Lee shared her dream with The Meredith Vieira Show and the show's producers contacted us here at Powell.  We agreed to help Coreisa with the gift of a Powell
Conservatory built to her exact specifications.  It was a bit tricky to get the specs from her without spoiling the surprise, but with the help of the show's producers who were in contact with Coreisa, we got them!  The flute was made and hand-carried to the show's producers at NBC Studios in Rockefeller Center just a few days before the taping.

The day the show aired, September 26th, we gathered around to watch the clip here in the office and were thrilled for Coreisa.  If you missed the clip, follow this link to view it.  Amidst all the excitement, we were anxious to get in touch with Coreisa and find out how she liked her new flute!  In the section below, she described some of the qualities she enjoys about it the most -- and the story behind its name...

My new Powell Aurumite Conservatory Flute, which I have yet to name - some say name it Meredith, some say name it Ferrari because my last flute was named Mercedes. I'm not sure. - it's one of a kind. I have tried many flutes but never felt as natural as I feel when I'm playing the one that I received from Powell on the Meredith Vieira Show. I can not seem to stop playing on it. It just makes me so very happy!

On October 6th, I will be performing at the Harmonie Club here in New York City. For that performance I will be playing Benjamin Godard's "Valse" from his Suite of Three Pieces. In this piece there are moments where I have to play scalar runs starting from the low register all the way to the high third register. When ever I get to these moments, I get this sense of soaring. It really feels as if I'm playing on two flutes - feeling the warmth of a gold flute, while having the brilliance of a silver flute - this flute is amazing! The low register is very warm and so well spoken, while the high register makes me feel as if I am Anna Netrebko beautifully/brilliantly singing my high notes. Gosh, it's just a wonderful flute!

You know, I think I will name my flute Cadence because a cadence is a very important/special moment in a classical piece of music. It is the most highlighted part of a phrase as well as the most important because it establishes the key. This makes me think of how I acquired my new flute. Being surprised by coming on The Meredith Vieira Show and receiving an amazing flute will forever be a special moment in my life. It will also be the most important moment because I feel unstoppable. I just established myself as an aspiring professional musician and that is what I will be! Every time I play "Cadence" I will be filled with so much joy! Thank you so much Powell for working alongside Meredith Vieira and giving me the flute of my dreams!

A Trial Run

We recently had one of our Powell artists here at the shop to try new flutes and headjoints.  He tried several headjoints and flutes made from different metals -- gold, silver, platinum, and Aurumite.  First, the artist tested the flutes in a small office.  Then, the artist moved on to a larger conference room.  Finally, he moved to a large "auditorium."  Obviously, the sound varied depending on the acoustic space, so it was important for him to try the instruments in different spaces.

The artist was particularly concerned with projection.  The auditorium would create a space that served as a a better gauge of how far the sound would carry than a smaller room could provide.  For the artist, projection was a key factor because many of his current performance engagements are solos with orchestras.  Orchestral performers are often looking for equipment that will allow them to blend with the section as well. 

When it comes to trials, sound is really central to any test.  However, there are other factors that the player needs to evaluate, such as resistance and ease of articulation.  Metal properties and characteristics will factor into the mix as one considers price range as well.  The ability to customize the flute and headjoint components allow players to have "a bit" of metals that create certain qualities while staying within a price point that is comfortable (such as a gold riser on a silver headjoint).  When considering metal choices, players may have allergies that need to be taken into consideration as well.  Our Customer Service Manager recounted one customer with a silver flute and headjoint who eventually developed a rash under her lip, which was indicative of an allergy to silver.  When it comes to headjoints in particular, other players may simply have older headjoint styles and find that a variety of newer cuts provide them with all the characteristic qualities they are looking for in something new.

Our artist had an idea of what he thought he would choose and then went with something quite different after several trials in different rooms.  He also asked for feedback from staff members in a "blind test" in the auditorium.  If you are interested in a Powell flute or headjoint trial, you can submit a request at https://powellflutes.com/schedule-trial.

Christina's Flutes

Left to right: Christina's Powell, high school flute, beginner flute.

Flute players may begin on one flute, but how many do they have between that very first beginner model and a pro model?  Well, it all depends on the player.  We caught up with Powell Flutes’ Marketing Director, Christina Guiliano-Cobas, and took a closer look at her personal story of “flutes through the years.”

From her beginning days through the present, Christina has had a total of four flutes.  In addition to her administrative responsibilities at Powell, she is also a professional performer and educator.  Her first flute was a popular closed hole, C foot, student model.  It served her well in the formative years, and when she began high school, she progressed on to another flute – this one being a popular step-up flute with open holes and a B foot.  She continued on with her studies, majoring in flute in college.   In her second year of college, she purchased a pro flute with a solid silver headjoint, solid silver body, and drawn tone holes.  The very next year, she purchased an additional professional, custom headjoint for this flute. 

Christina mentioned that most beginners play on a closed hole, C foot flute, because it allows them to focus on developing a good tone and facility.  The C foot flute is lighter than a B foot, and the additional range of the low B would not be critical in a beginner’s studies.  Some teachers feel it is best to start students on an open hole flute because it helps them establish proper hand position from the get-go.  There are different schools of thought, and they are all valid for their points.  However, Christina mentioned that there is always a point in the development of a flutist where you need to make a change in equipment.  She says, “With flute, you progress to a point where you are providing more air than the instrument can take.  You may start cracking and splitting notes.  At this point, it’s best to go to a solid silver flute --- or at least a solid silver headjoint.”  For those who have started on a closed hole, C foot, beginner flute, this next flute is also usually an open hole, B foot model.  Her point became very clear when she shared the following story with us:

I had a student who came to study with me after having played for three years.  After her second or third lesson, I felt that she could not continue to play on her closed hole, C foot flute, because it was really holding her back.  You could hear that she had much more air than the flute could hold and was advancing quickly.  There were 16 flute players in her school, and she was 14^th chair.  She went with her parents and bought a new solid silver flute with open holes and a B foot.  She instantly sounded better without having to use more air.  She went back to school with the new flute and moved up to 2^nd chair.

Open hole flutes with a B foot are important when stepping up from a beginner model, but material is important as well.  The material of the flute needs to be firm and solid enough to hold the air that an advancing player can put through it.  Eventually, when one goes to a fully professional model like a Powell, you have many choices on customizing the material for multiple parts of the flute – not just the body and headjoint, but tone holes, ribs, posts, and rings as well.  You can also customize the material for the lip plate and riser of the headjoint. 

When Christina began working at Powell in 2002, she decided that it was time to purchase a fully professional, Handmade Custom Powell.  She had the opportunity to choose exactly what she wanted in the design and materials, and the choices were quite overwhelming.  She tested a few solid silver models and was interested in the 14K Aurumite but was a bit concerned with the weight.  With her previous pro silver flute, which was inline, she developed severe pain and problems in her shoulder.  However, she picked up a 14K Aurumite with an offset G and had absolutely no problems with the weight, and she felt no discomfort.  She played for her colleagues, and they agreed that this was the perfect flute for her.  At this point in the process, it was September, and her birthday was approaching.  She came to work and was immediately called to the president’s office, where the entire staff was gathered.  They handed her a box with a pamphlet that came with all the 75^th Anniversary flutes.  As she recalls, “They asked me to read it, and I thought, ‘Why should I read something I wrote?’”  Well, as she read through it, the specs at the bottom of the form said, “to be determined…  Happy Birthday, Christina!”  Her parents came through on the speaker phone to wish her a happy birthday, and at that point, she said, “I knew I was getting the flute for my birthday!” 

So, there are certainly no “correct” number of flutes to own as one progresses from a beginner to a pro, and the specs will differ based on many factors, including a family’s budget and the popular question of “will my child continue on with the flute?”  What is most important to remember is that the right flute at the right time will certainly make a difference.  By the time one chooses a custom, professional flute, no two flutes (like no two flutists) are the same.  The flute should always be comfortable for you so that you can enjoy many years of healthy, happy music making!