Wooden Recorder Flute - Children's First Musical Instrument

A wood flute sized for small hands

Your child holds the tip of the mouthpiece lightly between the lips, blows gently and covers the holes one by one: lift a finger and the note climbs, cover them all and it drops low. Blowing too hard gives a squeak, and that is usually the first thing they work out for themselves, without anyone explaining it.

What a children's flute asks of young players

A recorder needs two things at once: a soft, steady breath and fingers that each do their own job. Children quickly hear that a long, even breath holds the note while a short puff cuts it off. Sealing a hole fully, with no gap under the fingertip, takes careful pressure: a small fingertip workout that also helps when they start writing with a pencil.

A tip for the first few days

Leave the songbook aside at first. Play two notes yourself, one high and one low, and ask your child to copy you; then swap roles so they lead and you follow. Once they can hold three notes steadily, short tunes such as Hot Cross Buns come within reach.

Choosing among our children's instruments

A wooden flute suits a child who can already control their breath, which is why we recommend it from age 5. A child who prefers rhythm to melody may start with a children's tambourine, shaken or tapped against the palm. A children's harmonica is the easier wind option, since every breath makes a sound with no holes to cover.

Like our other wooden Montessori toys, it has no batteries and no buttons: every sound comes from what your child does. That trial-and-error discovery is at the heart of the Montessori method.

• Length: 20 cm
• Weight: 45 g
• Finish: coloured, natural wood, or random
• Age: from 5 years
• 2-year guarantee