The Third Oldest Instrument to Make Music

Author: Pat Scasny- IMC Representative, Retired Green Bay Public School Instrumental Music Teacher

After the human voice and the drum, what instrument is considered to be the third oldest instrument to make music?

Throughout history, what instrument has been made of bone, wood, ivory, plastic, glass, resin, nickel – silver, silver, gold and platinum?

What instrument has a head, a body and a foot?

If you answered the flute to all three of these questions, you are either a really good guesser or a music history genius!

In its most basic form, a flute is simply an open tube which makes its sound similar to blowing across the top of a pop bottle.  This reed-less woodwind instrument produces a sound by blowing air across a hole in the head joint of the instrument producing a vibration of air at the hole.  The air must be directed at the correct angle and speed or else the air in the flute will not vibrate. A flute player can change the pitch of the sound produced by opening and closing holes in the body of the instrument thus changing the length of the tube. 

The Western concert flute is the most common variant of the flute.  It is a transverse or side-blown instrument most commonly made of metal or wood.  This type of flute is used in many ensembles including concert bands, military bands, marching bands, orchestras, flute ensembles and occasionally jazz bands.

The standard student flute is usually a closed –hole (plateau keys) instrument made of nickel with silver plating.  Advanced or professional flutists tend to play an open-hole instrument made of more expensive materials such as sterling silver, silver/gold and even platinum. 

If you are interested in renting or purchasing a flute for a beginning student or upgrading to a better instrument, come to the Instrumental Music Company, 2908 Ontario Rd, Green Bay WI 54311 and try a flute from our fine selection of Yamaha, Pearl, Jupiter or Gemeinhardt instruments.

Just one more bit of trivia. If you play the flute, you have something in common with George Washington, James Madison and Leonardo da Vinci.  These three famous men played the flute too!