playing a/the flute

[Tan Elaine]

The boy is playing a/the flute.

Which article should I use?

Many thanks

[Anglika]

Either, depending on the context.

The boy was playing a flute. The music he made was beautiful. [general statement]

In the orchestra, the boy was playing the flute. [specific statement]

[Tan Elaine]

Either, depending on the context.

The boy was playing a flute. The music he made was beautiful. [general statement]

In the orchestra, the boy was playing the flute. [specific statement]

Thanks, Anglika.

Can the above be applied to other musical instuments like piano, violin, etc?

The boy was playing a piano. The music he made was beautiful. [general statement]

In the orchestra, the boy was playing the piano. [specific statement]
[/quote]

Thanks in advance.

[tedtmc]

A: My son is active in the school.
B: Oh, what instrument does he play?
A: He plays the saxophone (or any other instrument).

not a teacher

[Tan Elaine]

Hi Ted

Can I conclude that you think, with any musical instrument, 'on' should used with 'playing'?

I am playing with a flute. ('an' should be used instead)

Many thanks.

[tedtmc]

Elaine
I am not sure about your question(on and an)
You say 'I am playing a/the flute', not 'with a flute'.
You play 'with a flute' (fiddling with it) if you don't know how to play the flute!
You can also say 'I play on the flute at the concert'.

not a teacher

[David L.]

In the orchestra, the boy was playing the flute. [specific statement]

'specific' because we are specifically referring to the instrument he plays in the orchestra, as opposed to all the other types of instruments found in an orchestra; and hence, in any composition the orchestra performs, he will specifically play the part of the score written for 'the flute'.

[Tan Elaine]

Hi Ted

Can I conclude that you think, with any musical instrument, 'on' should used with 'playing'?

I am playing with a flute. ('an' should be used instead)

Hi Ted

I am playing a flute.

My apologies. I inadvertently added 'with'. I've amended the sentence as shown above.

The question again is, with musical instruments, we should use 'the'.
He is play the flute/piano/violin, etc.

[tedtmc]

The question again is, with musical instruments, we should use 'the'.
He is play the flute/piano/violin, etc.

No, as mentioned above, it depends on the context.
There's a man playing a guitar and singing on the stage.
a - general the - specific

[Whatsthatthing]

I am playing with a flute. ('an' should be used instead)

Not from what i've been told ;).

"A" goes before all words that start with a consonant. "An" goes before any word that starts with a vowel.

I am not a teacher.