ergonomics & flute

The oldest known musical instrument is a 43,000-year-old Neanderthal flute carved from the femur of a cave bear.  No doubt, Neanderthals heard wind producing sound as it blew over gorges, over reeds by the water, or past the openings of caves.  Having hunted down a cave bear and eaten the meet and marrow from a bone (while holding it as we hold the transverse flute), they likely realized that blowing over an opening in that bone created a similar beautiful tone to that heard in nature.  Thus, the sound of the flute is as primal as our basic instincts, and holding the transverse flute is as natural as walking, eating, and breathing.