Ruffles and flourishes

Okay kiddo, do you know what ruffles and flourishes are? No? Well, ruffles are like little waves or bumps you see on fancy clothes, like on a princess's dress in a storybook. And flourishes are like funny little squiggles or decorations that people add to writing or drawings to make them look fancier and more special.

But when people talk about "ruffles and flourishes" in grown-up talk, they usually mean something else. They're talking about music!

You know how sometimes, when important people walk into a room, there's a special song that plays, like "Hail to the Chief" for the President? That's called a fanfare. And ruffles and flourishes are like a special kind of fanfare.

They're played by musicians, usually on some kind of trumpet or horn, and they go like this: (the grown-up standing next to the little one raises two fingers and pretends to play a trumpet)

duh-duh-duh-duh-DUH! (that's the ruffles)

And then, after a pause, they go:

dee-dle-dee-DUH! (that's the flourishes)

And then the whole big band starts playing the important person's special song. Isn't that cool? It's like a fancy musical greeting, to make someone feel extra special and important.