Yeah, I couldn't touch a Powell today if I had not gotten mine back in 1976. My flute instructor was a member of the Musicians' Union, so she found an ad in the union newspaper selling the flute. At the time, if I remember correctly, brand new Powells were selling for ~$1500, but...there was a SEVEN YEAR waiting list! We drove to Illinois to pick this 2nd hand one up for $2000 -- the previous owner had died.
Yahamas are excellent. I never got to play the alto much, but I played my teacher's Haynes piccolo in high school. I went on to be a flute major in college, too. So yeah, I know all about MANY hours of playing a day. I felt I had to lock myself in a practice room no less than 8 hrs per day. Then of course there were all the various rehearsals as well. When you leave school & have to live your life, there's just not time to practice or play as much any more. Eventually I got interested in other things & quit playing altogether since I never found any ensembles to join up. Now I gotta brush up & give lessons. This could be a good thing.... maybe! :-)
Cheers~!
PS. to Fly : Got any new tunes? Mail me a link sometime.
