I am an advanced (but not professional) flute player with over 25 years of experience. For reference purposes, I own a $2500 dollar Pearl open hole/b-foot flute, and a $600 Yamaha student flute. I honestly bought this Mendini simply for the cool black color. Reviews are mixed, but it was cheap and had a return policy which eliminated any concerns about wasting money on a piece of junk. I had low expectations for quality playability, but I am more than pleasantly surprised!The pros: This Mendini has a beautiful, clear, and consistent tone across it's entire range. The high register is crisp, clean, and effortlessly responsive, which is unusual in cheaper flutes. It has offset G keys (easier to reach with left ring finger), and a split E mechanism (makes high E - a notoriously difficult note in the flute world - easier to play and control). These are features that usually drive up the price of student and professional models by a few hundred dollars. The key pads are decent quality with no leaks, no airy sound, and no stickiness. I daresay the Mendini surpasses the performance of my Yamaha, and comes decently close to my Pearl. This flute is perfect for a beginner through intermediate/early advanced player, and will carry a student through middle and high school bands, orchestras, marching band, ensembles, and chambers. It would also be great for a casual hobbyist or adult learner. The case is durable and functional, and the flute fits snugly with no wiggling (but it's tacky as heck...see cons below). The accessories are a nice addition, and would cost about $40+ to buy separately if they weren't included. The colors are a cool option. I LOVE the black body with silver keys. It looks unique, but still respectable.The cons: The black body color is a plastic-like coating which might peel right off if scratched or damaged (think shrink-wrap). The lip plate is nickel, which will probably cause a bruise-like stain under my lower lip after repetitive use and exposure to sweat/moisture - don't worry, this cleans off easily with an alcohol or baby wipe, and can be prevented by applying a layer of clear nail polish or tape to the lip plate. The case that is included has a massive and tacky logo embroidered on the front, and the zip pouch is too tight to hold the cleaning rod, cloths, and stand that is included. These cons are purely aesthetic, have easy fixes, anddon't impact the sound quality of the instrument. I stand by my 5 star rating.For less than $100, this flute far exceeded my expectations. It's perfect if you have a kid interested in playing, but don't want to invest a lot of money in case they lose interest, and it's cheaper than rental programs.I would also recommend this flute for marching band players because it's cheap enough to not worry about damage from weather, being set down in the grass/dirt, and from drops or collisions.It would be great to have as a reliable back-up flute to keep on hand in case your main instrument is in the shop for repairs. Ever drop your flute 2 days before the recital, and have to watch as your rival plays the solo you practiced all semester?!?!...Never again!In my opinion, the nay-sayers that gave negative reviews fall into one of 3 categories: Elitist flute snobs expecting the quality of a $14,000 Nagahara or custom Powell for 75 bucks, poor players, or someone who received a genuinely defective instrument. "It doesn't play in tune" is not a defect, its a skill issue - adjust the headjoint and correct your lip position like all flautists have to do! LOL.