I have been very surprised at the quality, tone and ease of use of these instruments. The children have managed to easily achieve a good tone and the slightly smaller size (only slight) has allowed them to gain a greater gain of control than the more well known brands without the need for a curved head piece. They are also lighter than the Yamaha flutes, which I personally believe aids beginners in achieving the desired posture and positioning necessary for good tone. Very pleased with the tone, as even on the first lesson the children were able to produce pleasing tones for their first attempt which of course has encourgaged them to practice and are already making good progress. I think these flutes are as good as any on the market for beginners and feel the children should be able to get to at least grade 4 on these instruments before any upgrade would need to be considered. Thank you very much from the children and myself for making this opportunity possible and I hope my feedback has been useful. Regards Sonia Fraser Gateshead Schools' Music Service