and Native American-style flutes
B flat flute, NZ Rata with Boxwoodfeatures. NZ$285
1 IN
STOCK
NOW
1 IN
STOCK
NOW
Native American-style flutes
Custom-made to order. Some in stock
A flute, Roswood with Boxwood and Sycamore features. NZ$285
B-flat flute, US Maple with NZ Rimu features
The flutes are turned on a wood lathe from solid wood, the internal bore drilled out. Contrasting wood is used for the mouthpiece and end caps which are fitted together with an internal tenon joint. Wood type is selected depending on availability. The bird, otherwise known to as the block, totem or fetish, is hand carved and can be custom designed to suit. It is tied on to the flute over the flue
to form the airway.
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F# flute, Bamboo with NZ Rata features. NZ$185
Bird/block variations
Native American-style flutes.
NAF Flutes are unique in that they have two separate internal chambers, a slow air chamber SAC and a sound chamber. The player blows air into the SAC which directs it out the exit hole into a channel called the flue. Air travels along the flue and on to the splitting edge, sound is formed here by oscillating pressure that resonates inside the instruments internal chamber.
To play the flute
tie the bird/block onto the top of the flute with leather cord. Ensure the bird sits over the flue and that the front of the bird lines up with the true sound hole's rear edge. Cover all finger holes and blow. Lifting one finger at a time from the bottom to produce notes. Adjust the bird forward or back slightly untill you get the best sound. See resources below to learn more and find tutorials etc.
Flute care
1. Acclimatizing the flute
Before playing let the flute, slowly let it come up to room temperature, blowing warm moist air into a cold flute can cause swelling and possible splitting.
For the first two weeks play the flute for approx 10 minutes at a time so as to let it acclimatize to its new environment (temperature, humidity)
Dont leave flute in direct sunlight, near a heater etc or inside a car on a hot day.
2. Drying the flute
After playing, remove the bird/block and leave to dry.
dry the flute's sound chamber bore with a clean dry cloth wrapped around the cleaning/oiling rod.
Leave flute uncovered at room temperature to dry before putting away in its case or bag.
3. Oiling the flute.
Oil the flute once a week for the first month then once a month after that.
Sweet Almond oil is what I use.
A. Wrap a strip of cloth (tee shirt material is good for this) around a cleaning rod (wood dowel with 20mm slit cut into one end) Insert one end of the cloth into the slit then twist around rod until its the correct thickness to slide inside the bore. Make sure the cloth covers the rod end so it wont damage the bore.
B. Coat the cloth with oil and carefully slide into flute bore, twisting rod around to completley coat the whole bore.
C. Leave for 5-10 minutes then using a dry cloth on the rod dry off excess oil from the bore.
D. for the SAC (slow air chamber) pour oil into the SAC exit hole, turn flute around to let oil flow around the SAC until excess oil drips out the blow hole. Support flute with blow hole at the bottom and let all excess oil drain out.
E. Coat outside of flute with oil, leave for 5-10 minutes then wipe of excess oil with clean dry cloth.
A blend of bees wax with a little almond oil can aslo be applied to the outside if desired.
Informative websites
Native American Flute Wikipedia.org
flutopedia.com