new Azumi curved beginner flutes

Dear Flutists,

A great piece of piping whose time has come. :>)
Just love this new kind of curved flute for beginners.
Check it out (German text and photos in pdf).

Azumi Wave-Line flute (English translation)

A perfect flute, right from the beginning
AZUMI Wave-Line flutes: opening new dimensions in young student development with excellent sound quality, richness of tone colours and ergonomic design.

AZUMI flutes offer teachers and non-professional flutists a range of instruments which individually facilitate optimal musical development through instilled motivation and success in teaching/learning. Through continual technical development and exceptional craftsmanship, the brand AZUMI has been regarded as a standard for exceptional quality in the flute market for several years. The support and levels of quality one would expect from ALTUS Handmade Flutes is inherent throughout the AZUMI product range.

Thus, flutists of all ages have the opportunity to profit directly from the innovation and knowhow of Shuichi Tanaka's ALTUS flute making tradition.

Close collaboration with experienced music educators (led by Prof. Barbara Gisler-Haase from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna) has allowed AZUMI to innovate further than has previously been achieved resulting in individually perfect instruments for performers of any age.
This revolutionary new patent allows AZUMI to build specially designed instruments for an early start on the flute. Not only do flutes of the AZUMI Wave-Line series offer an excellent playing experience but they further provide a solution to the, previously unresolved, problems which occur when using conventional flutes with curved head joints.

The AZUMI Wave-Line flute is evenly balanced along its length, experiences no tilting and plays in every way the same as a standard concert flute.
The AZUMI Wave Line flute, with patented O head joint, permits the building of a reduced length flute for beginners of an early age whilst maintaining all the playing properties of a standard concert flute. Problems in balancing the flute, as experienced playing flutes with curved head joints now belong in the past. In addition to this, the AZUMI Wave-Line flute features the same sound quality as a concert flute - the hissing produced when using curved head joints is completely eliminated. A further design feature is the level finger buttons which are positioned as close together and are as accessible as is technically possible. Allied to this, the light build, without trill key pivot and E-mechanism, further allows neat and non-restrictive fingering for players with small hands.

The O head joint model with C Foot features finger buttons which are set a little further apart to allow every player to find an individually perfect instrument
which meets his/her personal needs.

In broadening the range of instruments, the models with V head joint and C foot now facilitate a gradual change to a standard concert flute. The finger buttons are set further apart and the resulting comfortable playing experience also allows young intermediate players to achieve musical expression supported by an ergonomically comfortable play. From the beginning on.

Models AZUMI Wave-Lie Series
Head joint: Nickel Silver 925 Sterling Silver Plated
Body: Nickel Silver 925 Sterling Silver Plated
Mechanism: Nickel Silver 925 Sterling Silver Plated
Tuning: A = 442 Hz

Model AZ-WLOD
AZUMI WAVE-LINE flute with O-head joint and D-foot joint for the perfect early start
O-head joint
Finger buttons positioned as close as is technically possible
Simplified mechanism without additional trill-key pivot and split E-mechanism for unrestricted handling for small hands
Low weight and easier balance with D-foot joint

Model AZ-WLOC
AZUMI WAVE-LINE flute with O-head joint and C-foot joint with increased button spacing for taller players for whom the weight of the flute only represents a minor concern.
O- head joint
Increased button spacing
Simplified mechanism without additional trill-key pivot and split E-mechanism for unrestricted fingering even for players with small hands
C- foot joint

Model AZ-WLVC
AZUMI WAVE-LINE Flute with V-head joint and C-foot joint for comfortable and ergonomically correct play facilitating a smooth transition to the standard concert flute.
V- head joint
Increased button spacing for an easier transition to the standard concert flute.
Simplified mechanism without additional trill-key pivot and split E-mechanism for unrestricted fingering even for players with small hands
C- foot joint

Ideal balance of the AZUMI Wave-Line flute
Stability at the embouchure

The AZUMI Wave-Line is played like a standard concert flute

Ergonomically correct and relaxed flute playing
The AZUMI Wave-Line flute allows the spine, the shoulders and the neck to relax.

No more tilting and turning as experienced with a conventional curved head joint

The right flute for any age

O- head joint with D / C - foot joint
V - head joint with C - foot joint
AZUMI Z-cut series

Excellent sound
Richness of tone colours
Ergonomically correct playing experience.

Just thought you'd all want to know about this new flute.
(I'm not related to the company or sellers in any conceivable way.)
Comments welcome.
Best, Jen