Flute

The flute is the smallest of the beginner band instruments.  It is a member of the woodwind family of instruments.

Physical Characteristics

Flute players should have a slight “frown” to the upper lip with no tear drop shape in the middle.  Flute tones are produced by being able to focus an extremely small airstream to an exact location on the tone hole. The tear-drop-shaped lip will make it difficult to direct the air precisely and will "split" the airstream.  Flute players should also have agile fingers for moving this multi-keyed instrument through a fast musical passage.  Students with extreme overbites (receded jaw) should avoid choosing flute as this makes it difficult to produce quality sounds.

Other Considerations

It will be more difficult for students with double-jointed fingers to play flute as double-jointedness can cause lack of agility in the fingers.