<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The flute is a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group . Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening . According to the instrument classification of Hornbostel--Sachs, flutes are categorized as edge - blown aerophones . A musician who plays the flute can be referred to as a flute player, flautist, flutist or, less commonly, fluter or flutenist . </P> <P> Flutes are the earliest extant musical instruments, as paleolithic instruments with hand - bored holes have been found . A number of flutes dating to about 43,000 to 35,000 years ago have been found in the Swabian Jura region of present - day Germany . These flutes demonstrate that a developed musical tradition existed from the earliest period of modern human presence in Europe . </P>

What type of music is played on the flute