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Trevor James Privilege flutes are designed specifically to ensure your transition - or ‘step-up’ - from a blossoming student to an experienced intermediate player is as easy, smooth and enjoyable as it should be.
Privilege flutes are extremely free blowing instruments. Available with a range of features and essential options needed to help you master new techniques and see you breeze through your Intermediate Grades 4-6.
Why choose a Privilege flute?
Headjoint options.
The headjoint is the most important part of the flute as it’s where the sound originates. So, a nice, shiny new instrument with a sub-standard headjoint will have substandard playability. This is why Trevor James have worked continuously to create the very best quality headjoints for their flutes and are proud to offer more headjoint options than any other student to conservatory flute manufacturer.
Trevor James understands how these options have their own distinct characteristics and can therefore make a big difference to your learning and playing experience, and so offer Privilege flutes with both CT & CS options.
This Privilege flute features a CS headjoint (Enhanced Design)
On the CS headjoint, the shoulders of the lip plate have been raised to facilitate a very free-blowing instrument. This makes it a little easier for you to explore the instrument’s lower registers and also offers enhanced dynamic possibilities.
Open Hole Design:
This TJ privilege flute features some open holed keys. Open hole flutes (or French Key Flutes) are often considered the choice of more proficient players, with many teachers suggesting that players of grade 6 standard or above invest in this type of instrument. Of course, there is no imperitive to play an open holed flute at a certain grade. Many professional players choose to play closed-hole instruments.
However, an open hole design does offer a few benefits. Firstly, it encourages better finger positioning, as you need to cover the holes exactly in order to get the ideal tone, and beginners - or smaller-handed players - will find this more challenging. Secondly, and more importantly, an open hole flute allows the confident player the opportunity to more precisely control their intonation, and experiment with more advanced techniques such as obtaining quarter notes.
925 Silver Lip Plate & Riser:
Privilege flutes feature 925 silver lip plates & risers to give you the benefit of having an immediate & free blowing sound, especially in the lower tonal range. Using this precious metal helps to open up the lower register and gives a huge advantage over other intermediate level flutes because it’s not only easier to play in general, but it’s actually easier to get a great tone too. Plus, the ‘925’ silver delivers a warmer sound and an extended range of tonal possibilities.
Hand over-cutting and undercutting of the embouchure hole:
The embouchure hole is a very important component of any flute as it’s where air is initially blown into the tubing. This is entry point for the instrument’s energy source. If the embouchure hole is imperfect or uneven, the air cannot flow into the instrument smoothly which ultimately results in an imperfect and uneven tone.
Many flute headjoints feature machine-produced embouchure holes – which although functional – do not necessarily allow the flute to perform at its optimal level. Machine-production can leave rough and misshapen edges that mean flutes don’t sound their very best.
A perfectly cut embouchure hole requires an expert eye and human hands to ‘over-cut and under-cut’ the exact angles, smooth any rough edges and fill-in any irregular shapes.
The good news is that all Trevor James Privilege flutes feature hand over-cut and undercut embouchure holes. This extra attention to detail ensures that from the first time you blow into your new TJ Flute, you can be confident that every subtle nuance will be within your full control.
The key-arms are the parts of a flute which connect the keys to the body of the flute. Traditionally reserved for much more expensive flutes, French-style pointed key arms feature an arm that extends to the centre of the key and helps to strengthen the mechanism, making for a stronger and tighter key placement, which means no leaks and squeaks
These key arms also result in excellent note intonation; reward speedy playing; and aid the development of faster techniques - so you’ll be well-placed to take on those more challenging pieces.
Silver-plated beauty, that will last:
You can be safe in the knowledge that Privilege flutes have a triple plated finish on their tubing.
To ensure that the sliver-plating on your TJ flute will last a lifetime – unlike inferior instruments- Trevor James developed their own method of coating flutes. After much research they discovered that by copper-plating the nickel tubing first, the subsequent two (yes two!) layers of silver-plate are rock solid, giving you the most durable finish of any step-up flute.
Heavy weight engraved crown as standard:
The crown is another piece of a flute’s anatomy that plays a crucial role in the quality of the sound produced. It acts as a plug that seals the top end of the flute and directs air – or the sound, if you like – down the flute past the keys.
A heavier weighted crown offers greater air resistance and therefore centres and focuses the airflow down the length of the flute more uniformly and efficiently - which results in a more resonant and responsive instrument. This is particularly important as your repertoire requires you to retain optimum tone when playing ever more tricky pieces.
All Trevor Privilege flutes feature a heavy-weighted engraved crown as standard – so there’ll be no need to look for a crown upgrade anytime soon.
Setup in the UK by experienced TJ Technicians:
And don’t forget, each Trevor James Privilege Flute is crafted to exacting standards with the best components from around the world, with a final hand set-up in our UK technical workshops based in Kent, south-east England.
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Mainland UK Delivery Services
Next Working Day - £7.95 - £9.95 (DPD, Next Working Day)
Standard - Free for orders over £399, £6.95 otherwise (DPD, 1-3 Working Days)
Order before 2pm, Monday to Friday, for same-day dispatch of in-stock orders. Very heavy items such as pianos may take longer to deliver. In-stock orders placed over the weekend will be dispatched on Monday. Estimated delivery times for out of stock items are to be used as a guide only, these items may take longer than estimated to arrive. While we try our best to ensure rapid delivery of your order, delays may occur which are outside our control, and delivery of large or bulky items, or to remote or non-mainland addresses may take longer than estimated.
Courier Tracking
Most UK deliveries are shipped by our trusted courier, DPD. You'll receive an email with a delivery day, tracking and a one hour estimated delivery window on the morning of delivery. While we can't specify the time of the delivery, if it's not convenient, you can arrange directly with DPD for an alternative delivery date or request the parcel be left with a neighbour.
For heavier items, we usually ship UK deliveries by TNT. You will receive an email with tracking details when we ship your order.
Delivery Charges
Delivery to mainland UK addresses is free on all orders over £399. Delivery charges are based on the size and weight of your order and, in some cases, your location. A standard next working day carriage charge for UK mainland addresses is shown on the shopping basket page, but you can change delivery service later in the checkout.
Delivery Couriers
We use a few different delivery couriers, depending on the items being sent, your location, and the delivery service you've chosen:
UK inc. Northern Ireland: Most items will be shipped by DPD. Note: all items in your order must be in stock for all of your order to be dispatched on the same day.
UK inc. Northern Ireland: Most smaller items will be shipped by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery.
UK inc. Northern Ireland: Most very large or heavy items such as pianos are delivered by TNT, or by our in-house delivery service. Orders shipped by TNT are usually on a next working day service, whereas items using our in-house delivery service may take longer. Note: Delivery to non-ground-floor addresses without a suitable lift will cost extra.
Europe: Most orders will be shipped by DPD International. Delivery times and charges depend on your location - these charges will be displayed in the order basket.
Most orders will need to be signed for and we advise you make sure to check your parcel/s for any damage before signing. If no-one is available at your address, a card will be left so you can arrange a re-delivery directly with the courier. Redirection of an order after it's been dispatched may incur an extra charge from the courier.
Delivery Areas & European Shipping
Delivery charges displayed apply to most UK mainland addresses. Deliveries to Northern Ireland, UK non-mainland, and European addresses will cost more, and carriage charges will be shown at the checkout before you place your order. Free delivery offers may not apply to some remote/Scottish Highlands addresses.
Returns
Replacement process for items damaged in transit or faulty items
It doesn't happen often, but occasionally an item can get damaged on the way to you. Don't worry! If your order is received either damaged or faulty, just let us know, preferably using the returns request form within 30 days of receiving the item, and we'll arrange for it its return and for a replacement or refund.
Returning an undamaged item
You can return most items bought online or by phone within 14 days for a refund (provided that it is unused and returned to us in New Condition – including packaging). You will need to return the item at your own expense. When we receive the goods back undamaged and with the correct packaging we will refund the cost of the goods.
Software or products that include software that needs to be registered are not eligible for this 14 day return period if opened and installed, and due to hygiene reasons we can't accept certain used in-ear headphones, microphones or harmonicas.
Faulty items under guarantee
The repair procedure for items which are under guarantee varies from manufacturer to manufacturer - please refer to the documentation which accompanied your purchase or complete the returns request form and we will advise you of the appropriate process.
