i have been playing the flute for about two years with instruction and people told me to rent in the beginning to see if i like it but in retrospect if i had taken that route i probably would have dropped it for something easier since it takes weeks of mind numbing practice just to learn how to produce a nice sound however i stuck it out and now it sounds awesome particularly enjoy playing with an accoustic guitar
also whoever was interested in purchasing one should be constantly shecking craigs list i recently upgraded to an intermediate level flute and got a beautiful solid silver yamaha that goes for no less then 1700 for 800 and it sounds amazing