What is a flute? The flute is the smallest and highest pitched beginning band instrument. It is a member of the woodwind family even though it is made of metal and doesn’t use a reed to create the sound. The flute produces sound when a stream of air is directed against the edge of a hole, causing the air within the body of the instrument to vibrate. It uses the same principle as a whistle or blowing across a soda bottle.
Physical Characteristics Needed When positioning lips as if blowing through an imaginary straw, pay attention to a "teardrop" shape in the middle of the upper lip (found in the circled location of the picture). Flute tones are produced by being able to focus an extremely small air stream to an exact location on the tone hole. The tear-drop-shaped lip will make it difficult to direct the air so precisely. Smaller teardrop shapes possibly can be managed but larger ones can be problematic. Students with extreme overbites should avoid choosing flute as this makes it difficult to produce quality sounds. What role does the flute play in band? Being a high sounding instrument, the flute tends to play most of the melodies, or main musical lines, of the band. There are frequent opportunities as flute players get older, to play solos in the band music if the flute player wishes to.
Other details The flute is an instrument that is rented from the store, not provided by the school. Flutes are very light instruments that compact into a very small case that is very easily transported.
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