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Sometimes the flute is made of real silver, sometimes of solid gold! To play, the musician holds the long tube of the flute in both hands and blows across a small hole at one end. The holes can be opened and closed by pressing down different metal keys. The flute can make a shrill, piercing noise as well as being able to sing like a bird. Listen to the flute Instrument Range Listen to flute play its lowest and highest note Special Effects Listen to the flute play a flutter-tongue Hear it in action in Debussy's L'apres-midi d'un faune The flute player has to play more than just the flute! Look below to find out more.      Piccolo - like the flute but much smaller, the piccolo sounds very high.  Listen to the piccolo play in Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kijé     Alto flute - this sounds lower than the flute and is a little longer. Listen to the alto flute play in Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring'              Meet the Orchestra! Rosie Elliot plays the flute with the BBC Scottish Sympony Orchestra. Read about her below.       Rosie Elliot, Flute How old were you when you first started playing? I was eleven. Why did you choose this instrument? I already played the piano and took up the flute as some of my friends played it. My mum also thought it would be quite cheap to buy. She was wrong! Do you play any other instruments? I also play the piano.  What do you like most about playing in an orchestra? I love the social aspect of being in a large orchestra; there are lots of friends to be made. I love the wide variety of music we have to play. No day is the same! Do you play any other kind of music? I play solo concerts from time to time as well as playing in small groups. What other music do you like? I love jazz. Do you have any other hobbies? I like to keep fit. I recently ran in one of Scotland's major running events, the Women's 10k. What would you have been if you weren't a musician? If I hadn't taken up the flute I'd probably have worked in a hospital.                   All pictures are copyrighted - picture credits     Flute Trumpet Oboe French Horn Clarinet Trombone Bassoon Tuba     Violin Tuned Viola Untuned Cello Timpani Double Bass   Harp   LEARN AN INSTRUMENT Which instrument, which age, finding teachers, buying guide and the perils of practice   Get help Listening

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