The ‘Lizzo effect’: has the star made the flute ‘cool again’?

Lizzo’s endless effervescence and body positivity make her a role model for many, and a consensus is forming that she may also have succeeded in making the flute ‘cool again’.

According to the BBC, that’s the conclusion of the British Flute Association, which says that there’s been a ‘Lizzo effect’ that has seen a surge in the instrument’s popularity. The singer is a classically trained flautist and frequently demonstrates her playing prowess during her shows, notably at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

A survey by the British Flute Society found that one in five flute fans say that Lizzo has had an impact on their playing or their attitude to the flute itself. The society’s survey indicated that she’s inspired players to embrace a wider range of musical styles, motivated them to keep going with their lessons, demonstrated how much fun the flute can be to play and provided representation in important ways.

Of the teachers of young and beginner flute players who were surveyed, half said that they had students who were aware of Lizzo, though only one in four of these teachers said that they used Lizzo as an example when working with these students.

Of course, Lizzo isn’t the first flautist to have crossover appeal - Ian Anderson has been tooting his with Jethro Tull for more than half a century. Anderson was inspired by Roland Kirk, the legendary multi-instrumentalist who took the lead on Quincy Jones’ classic Soul Bossa Nova.

And, of course, who can forget Ron Burgundy, the all-action anchorman who took jazz flute playing to a whole new level…