Yamaha's flutes have earned a reputation for exceptional quality, design, performance and consistency, thanks to the craftsmanship of their brass and woodwind workshops. Yamaha's Student flutes are designed and shaped to encourage best-technique, as well as offering superb playability. They have designed the lip plate to guide beginners toward proper breath utilisation and keys with extensively tested dimensions and angles for optimum balance and easy playability. These and other details are some of the reasons why Yamaha's Student flutes have become bestsellers worldwide.

The YFL-212U is essentially the same as the YFL-212 straight head flute, but has a curved head joint to reduce the stretch for small players. The straight head is included in the case which the player can progress on to as they grow.