The flute can chirp like a bird, float like mist, and race like the wind. These 14 pieces show all of it. Start with the Badinerie by Bach, which lasts a minute and a half.
Start here
1. Badinerie, from Orchestral Suite No. 2, by Bach. A flute races through a short, playful dance. The word means a bit of fun. Listen for: how many times the opening tune comes back. Read Bach for kids.
2. “Dance of the Reed Flutes,” from The Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky. Three flutes play a rolling tune together. See the Nutcracker Suite guide.
3. “Morning Mood,” from Peer Gynt, by Grieg. A flute plays a rising tune, and an oboe answers. The sun comes up. See the Peer Gynt guide.
The flute as a bird
4. “Aviary,” from The Carnival of the Animals, by Saint-Saëns. The flute flutters high above the strings. See the Carnival guide.
5. The bird in Peter and the Wolf, by Prokofiev. High, quick notes that hop and fly. Read the Peter and the Wolf story.
6. “The Goldfinch,” a flute concerto by Vivaldi. The flute trills and warbles like the bird in the title. Read Vivaldi for kids.
Slow and dreamy
7. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, by Debussy. A flute opens the piece alone, with a tune that slides down and back up. Listen for: the first breath of the piece. Read Debussy for kids.
8. Syrinx, by Debussy. Three minutes for one flute, with no other instrument. It is named for a nymph in a Greek myth who was turned into reeds.
9. “Dance of the Blessed Spirits,” by Gluck. A calm flute tune from an opera about Orpheus.
10. The Minuet from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2, by Bizet. A flute sings over a harp. Read Bizet for kids.
Mozart and the flute
11. Concerto for Flute and Harp, slow movement, by Mozart. Two soft instruments share the stage. Read Mozart for kids.
12. The Magic Flute, by Mozart. In this opera, a prince carries a flute that can tame wild animals. Listen for the scene where he plays and the beasts come out to hear. See The Magic Flute for kids.
Show-off pieces
13. Concertino for flute, by Cécile Chaminade. Eight minutes of sweeping tunes and fast fingers. Read Chaminade for kids.
14. “Flight of the Bumblebee,” by Rimsky-Korsakov. Flute players borrow this piece to show their speed. See what to listen for.
What the flute can do
| Sound | How it is made | Where to hear it |
|---|---|---|
| A long, smooth tune | One slow breath | Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun |
| Fast, clean notes | The tongue taps “tu-ku-tu-ku” | The Badinerie |
| A trill | Two notes, swapped as fast as the fingers can go | “The Goldfinch” |
| Flutter | The player rolls an “r” while blowing | Some modern pieces |
| High sparkle | Tight lips and fast air | “Aviary” |
Three things to know about the flute
- It is a woodwind made of metal. Flutes were once made of wood. The sound still starts the same way, with air blown across a hole.
- It has no reed. The player blows across the hole, the way you blow across the top of a bottle.
- It has a small sibling. The piccolo is half the size and plays an octave higher. Read the piccolo for kids.
Read the flute for kids.
Watch as well as listen
- The flute is held out to the right side.
- The player’s fingers press keys, and the right little finger is always busy.
- Watch how often the player breathes. A flute uses a great deal of air.
Games to play
Bird or not? Play five flute pieces. Ask which ones sound like birds.
Bottle flute. Blow across the top of a bottle. Add water, and blow again. The note goes up.
One breath. Play the opening of the Faun. Hold your breath for as long as the flute holds its first phrase.
Race the Badinerie. Tap a finger on the table for every note you can catch.
Flute or oboe? Play “Morning Mood.” Raise one hand for the flute and the other for the oboe.
Print and play
Use a listening journal page for one piece. Read famous violin pieces for kids, famous cello pieces for kids, and flute vs clarinet.
More from this guide
This article is part of How to introduce kids to classical music.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.