The flute is part of the woodwind family and is more closely related to the human voice than any other instrument, as much in terms of tone production as in tone quality. It is equally at home in an orchestra as it is in a chamber ensemble, jazz ensemble, or solo performance, and music is readily available for Flute in a variety of styles ranging from Baroque to contemporary classical, from Celtic to folk to jazz. Learning the flute is a unique way of exploring other cultures and developing the art of self expression, and plays a valuable role in improving cognitive awareness.