I've been a member for a few months, but haven't posted an introduction. Now that I've started talking in the forums, it seems appropriate that I introduce myself...... (hope you're not bored with it).

In December of 2008 I received a community education brochure in the mail. Leafing through it I saw that there was a class on learning to play the Native American Flute. Well, I'd always enjoyed listening to NAF music, so I thought I'd give it a try.....

The class started the first of January, 2009 and was taught by Marty Lisonbee (of NativeEcho Flutes). It was a class of week for 4 weeks. Well, needless to say I was hooked after the first class. At the end of the four weeks, I found that there was another 4 week session on "advanced" NAF playing (also taught by Marty). I asked if I could join, and was encouraged to show up. That's where I met "Kat" and "Utah Chris" (frequent posters on the portal), as well as other local fluties.

In case you can't tell, I was hooked!

One of the lessons I quickly learned was that you can't have too many flutes (in fact, you NEED several to be able to effectively learn). Well, limited budget and my own "cheapness" led me into flute making........

My flute making started slow....... I decided to take it one step at a time. I found several websites that offered pre-tuned kits (all you needed to do was shape and finish the flute). I was able to quickly learn that I had the ability to shape and finish a flute AND that I ENJOYED working with wood.

So, the next step was to buy "flute blanks". These were pre-bored hunks of wood (not really flutes, yet) on which you needed to create your own TSH (true sound hole), cut the flute to length (tune the fundamental), and add playing holes (tune the flute). Oh, you also had to do the shaping and finishing of the flute (the same type of procedure as I had done before).

Okay, this was working. I was actually producing flutes that sounded OK. Maybe it was time to take the final step....... so, I bought a router+table, ($99 at sears), went to Lowes and bought some 1x2x2' poplar (didn't have a table saw, so I needed something that was close to the right size). Well, low and behold I turned those 2 pieces of raw lumber into a flute! So, I was on to something.......

Well, this intro is getting way too long...... Let's just say that I'm up to flute #60, and I haven't yet reached my 1 year flute making anniversary. Is it obvious yet that I'm hooked on both playing AND making NAF style flutes?!!?!?!?

At the end of 2009, on my facebook page, I posted a note about how good 2009 was to me. Not only did I find the ability to play the NAF, but I found the ability to make them. I can only hope that the future continues this wonderful Native American Flute playing/making path whose journey started a little more than a year ago.........

Anyway, I'm very happy to be a member of the portal and look forward to meeting all of you in this virtual community! Here's a quick piece so you can get to know me (and my flutes): Click to view attachment

-tom-

Hey Redrocktom..great intro! 60 flutes made in your first year, Wow! No wonder you haven't been
posting much. Good to meet ya, the sound clip sounded very nice.

Welcome to the Portal, Tom!

DancingBear

Hello Tom, Great to have you with us! Look forward to your posts. Many Blessings...Robert

Welcome Tom,

Thanks for sharing your story. Parts of it sounded awful familiar. .

Glad you joined the forum,
Ed

Hi Tom,

You have been busy! Playing AND making flutes, how fun. I’ve been on the verge of trying to make my first flute but can’t seem to pull the trigger.

60 flutes! What did you do with them, how do you store them?

Happy Flutin!
Steve

Hello Tom,

Welcome to the Portal. Thanks for sharing your story and sound clip. I hope to meet you soon at a flute event.

Art

Hi Tom! Welcome to the forums!

Sounds like an addiction problem to me!

Don't worry! We all have it!

Well, if you're really interested in making, I suggest you start small, kind of like I did (at least it worked for me). There are several makers that sell kits (I found them via a google search). This is an easy way to find out if you have the talent for shaping/finishing (I've met many who don't). Then, the flute blanks are the next step, at least for me. That gets you into creating the voice of the flute without investing in equipment. If that all works, then you can "make the leap"......

As for what I've done with the 60 flutes, many of them haven't seen the light of day for a while, and will probably be used as firewood (when camping seasons starts again). But, they will exit the world with prayers and thanks for what they taught me as I've been making this journey. Others have been gifts to friends, and some have actually been purchased by some of our local fluties.

One of my greatest joys is listening to someone play one of my flutes........

And thanks for all the welcome messages, I'm looking forward to learning more about all of you!

-tom-

Hey Tom, You might want to keep the "First" Flute you made even if its not a real "Player" as it is always good to be reminded how far you have come down this Ol' Flute Trail. I know every time I pass by or pick up my first flute it brings fond memories and smile to my face even though I haven't been as prolific as you my friend! Many Blessings...Robert

Tom, welcome friend. Glad you found us!

Welcome Tom, You song was beautiful and I loved the mellow sound of your flute. You certainly have accomplished a lot in a year. You sound a lot like me. Once you get into something, you go all the way. Your journey with the NAF is just like mine with the autoharp.
Bonnie

Welcome Tom. Your playing and your flutes both some very nice. How about posting some pics of your flute "creations". :-)

-Mark

Welcome aboard Tom. Love that Poplar from Lowe's. It's cheap and if you are willing to spend a little time looking through it, you can get some nice pieces of wood.

dd

Mark, I am going to add something about Tom's flutes, as I think he probably never got a chance to photograph these two. That's because as soon as I saw and heard them, I snatched them up! Poor Tom, he tries to make flutes for himself, but when he brings them to our Circle, the feeding frenzy begins!

I have two wonderful drones from Tom. (See Photos) They both have three qualities that I look for in drones:

1. Double blocks that can be adjusted in order to produce an overblow, or octave jump, on the drone side
2. Drone side sound is not as loud as single side, in order not to overwhelm the melody.
3. Single side, when played alone, has as much responsiveness and tone as a single flute would.

Photo:
Top: Poplar Drone in Fm (used on the "Coyote's Calling" recording below) very light and user friendly
Bottom: Figured Cherry Drone in Em- note claw blocks and "claw marks" in the pattern of the wood

Song "Coyote's Calling" was a collaboration between Tom and myself, although we constantly debate who has the better version.

60???
I only have 25 so far... but I still have a few months in my first year... guess I better get off my butt and make some more, huh??? hehehe

Seriously, I've been buying poplar at a Home Depot near here... I like it, it's a good wood to work with...

And good for the player too, Jim, especially for a drone or bass flute! A lot less to drag around.

I am wondering if the poplar that is mineral stained, like my drone and another two flutes I have- does the mineralization make the wood harder? I suspect it might, as all 3 of mine have a crisper sound than one would expect from soft poplar.

Sorry, I guess I've been asleep...... Didn't notice the new posts until this evening.....

Anyway, thanks to all for their comments, and especially to Kat whose opinion I greatly respect because I know her and love her playing. I'm very happy that some of my flutes have found a home with her (I know its at least 5 flutes, including the 2 drones she showed in her post).

Besides being a "flutaholic", I'm a "woodaholic". Whenever I go into Home Depot/Lowes, I have to check out the poplar that they have. Then there are the internet stores, more expensive, BUT they really have some interesting woods. And, I'm lucky to have a flutie friend who stops at the "wood store" in San Diego and picks up interesting pieces for me. Oh, and then there's our local "wood store" where I can pick through the pallets looking for the perfect piece of maple (including ambrosia stained maple), walnut, aromatic cedar, cherry, hickory, and others. My wood pile is currently so large that I could make flutes for the next year and still not get to the bottom of it (but that doesn't keep me from buying more....).

As for posting pictures, I just took some of my "January flutes" that I'll try to get up here on one of the forums (not sure which one).

As for my next flutes, well I want to try making a Low A, and I'm fascinated by the idea of a triple drone, especially one I saw on one of the other forums that has 2 playable sides and one pure drone side in the middle (made by Dana Ross). Its on the forum "NAF General Discussion/12 Hole triple drone". What an AWSUME flute, plus a YouTube video that shows you how to play it!

I recently converted an "A" drone that I'd made to a "harmony" drone (3 playable holes on the drone side, normal 6 hole flute on the other side). Kind of interesting, and a challenge to play (but I'm learning).

Well, this post has become longer than I anticipated...... Once again, thanks to all for their kind comments. What a great community to be a part of!

-tom-

Nice to meet you Tom! And your flutes look and sound Gorgeous! Man this is a really fun hobby to be into isn't it?!?!?! Cheers....Ed

Good to have you here Tom! Welcome!