In an increasingly diverse and multigenerational society, the challenge for performing arts organizations is to create programming that speaks to everyone—young children, teens, adults, and older adults alike. At Central Arizona Flute Ensemble (CAFE Flutes), this challenge is central to our mission. We strive to create inclusive concert experiences that welcome listeners of all ages, musical backgrounds, and life experiences. We don’t simply play music; we design every concert to be accessible, engaging, and memorable for every audience we meet.
From libraries filled with curious children to senior communities where music evokes cherished memories, CAFE Flutes adapts its approach for each setting. Our goal is simple: to make music meaningful and interactive, no matter who is in the room.
Understanding Our Audiences
Creating inclusive concerts starts with understanding who we are performing for. Before each performance, we consider the age group, the venue, and the broader context of the event. We carefully curate playlists that resonate with our audience. A concert at a senior community, for instance, may feature well-loved oldies, show tunes, and classical favorites that spark nostalgia and conversation. These performances are more than entertainment—they’re opportunities to relive memories and make emotional connections.
By contrast, concerts at public libraries often include a mix of Disney classics, movie soundtracks, and interactive tunes that appeal to families and children. These concerts aren’t quiet affairs; kids are invited to play sleighbells, maracas, or other small percussion instruments during upbeat numbers. Laughter, curiosity, and movement are all part of the experience.
CAFE Flutes believes that thoughtful programming is a key ingredient to inclusivity. When listeners hear music they recognize—or are given a new way to engage with unfamiliar music—they become active participants in the performance.
Accessible Music Education
Education is another core part of our inclusive approach. CAFE Flutes concerts aren’t lectures, but they do provide learning opportunities in a way that’s accessible and engaging. We introduce each piece ourselves, sharing brief, interesting facts about the composer, the musical style, or the history behind the selection. This spoken approach replaces traditional printed programs and allows everyone, regardless of background or reading ability, to follow along and understand the context of what they’re hearing.
We also introduce the audience to the entire flute family, from the tiny piccolo to the rare contrabass flute—an instrument that stretches 10 feet long and never fails to impress. During concerts, we pass around demonstration flutes and piccolos so audience members can touch the instruments and get a sense of their unique roles in the ensemble. These hands-on elements are especially appealing to children and adults who may never have had close contact with classical instruments.
Personal Connection Through Interaction
Another defining feature of CAFE concerts is our focus on interaction. We greet audience members at the door, invite questions during our Q&A segments, and often celebrate milestones like birthdays during performances. For birthday celebrations, we decorate a music stand with a paper cake banner and play a creative rendition of the Happy Birthday song—complete with the contrabass flute wearing a party hat.
These small gestures humanize the performance and make our audiences feel seen. They also reflect our belief that music is not just something you listen to—it’s something you share, participate in, and celebrate together.
Concerts as Community Events
Whether we’re performing at a museum, senior residence, church, or arts center, we treat each concert as a community event. This spirit of inclusion extends beyond age demographics. Our performances welcome individuals with varied cultural backgrounds, musical knowledge, and physical or cognitive abilities. By using a conversational tone, visual demonstrations, and participatory elements, we make sure that everyone feels they belong.
And our efforts don’t end when the concert does. We encourage audiences to stay connected by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or attending future performances. We often hear from listeners who appreciate that CAFE concerts feel warm, personal, and approachable—qualities not always associated with traditional chamber music ensembles.
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
A hands-on experience with flutes
At its heart, CAFE Flutes supports lifelong learning through music. For older adults, our concerts can help combat social isolation and stimulate mental engagement. For young children, they provide an early exposure to live music and encourage curiosity. For adults, they offer a chance to learn, relax, and be inspired. Music truly is for everyone, and we’re committed to making sure our concerts reflect that truth.
In every performance, we hope to offer more than just notes on a page. We aim to create moments—of joy, reflection, learning, and connection—that speak to the diverse lives of the people in front of us. That’s what makes music inclusive. That’s what makes it lasting.
Interested in seeing how we do it? Visit www.cafeflutes.com for upcoming concerts and learn more about how CAFE Flutes brings music to the community—one inclusive concert at a time.
About CAFE Flutes
CAFE enriches, enlightens, and inspires Central Arizona residents by presenting interactive concerts and educational programs that showcase the flute family’s diverse instruments.
The 7-member group offers interactive concert programs that feature various musical styles: show tunes, patriotic, folk, oldies, pop, and classical. They demonstrate all their instruments, including the 10-foot-long contrabass flute, and introduce each piece with interesting tidbits about the music and composer.
The flutists take it a step further during the concert by passing around demonstration flutes and piccolos, allowing the audience to experience the instruments firsthand.
Since 2014, they have performed over 250 concerts, including Desert Botanical Garden, Mesa Art Center, senior communities libraries, art galleries, Tempe History Museum, Arizona Broadway Theatre, and Peoria Center for Performing Arts.
With a music library of over 150 pieces, CAFE Flutes can customize their concert to fit the occasion. Themed programs include a selection of Patriotic, St. Patrick’s Day, Summer, Show Tunes, Singalong, Mother’s Day, and Winter Holiday melodies.
Are you looking for a fun, educational experience? “Fascinating Flutes” is a 2-person demonstration of flutes worldwide through live performance, storytelling, videos, photos, and sound clips. Diverse flutes are sent around the room for listeners to examine up close in this 1-hour presentation.
Music creates community while activating memories, movement, and emotions all at the same time! Research confirms that listening to live music, especially with others, enhances overall health. CAFE harnesses the power of music to connect people in our community.
Connect with us!
Sign up for our monthly newsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafe_flutesaz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafeflutesaz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/central-arizona-flute-ensemble/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/cafeflutesaz
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsDt1Wl0IIQ7OJhfeHhU2g
