Jacques Hotteterre is regarded one of the most outstanding French musicians of the 17th and 18th centuries. Hotteterre was member of a musical dynasty. Hotteterre started his music career playing bassoon in the Grands Hautbois and flute, at the same time writing music for the royal court. Hotteterre was a respected teacher. Hotteterre's methods of playing the transverse flute and many other wind instruments, including musette (French bagpipe) were considered the best instructional material of this kind.