My Story
I started playing the native American flutes in 1996 and started making them in 2007. After purchasing and playing several flutes from some very good flute makers I decided it was time to start making my own. I am completely self taught and use only hand tools to create the flutes I make. I choose to go up to the forest and gather my wood from there. I am using two types of cedar right now. Western Red Cedar that I salvaged from a downed tree as a result from a fire not too far from where I live and Port Orford cedar that I salvaged from a ranch on the Oregon coast. I feel that by salvaging the wood I am able to be more present with the wood as I have to take the time to be very personel with the wood. Cutting it into lengths and splitting it to a size that I can then cut down into blanks. It is all very rewarding.
All of my flutes are carved using only hand tools and I also inlay ceramic into the windway and the bottom of the fetish. This helps to prevent moisture buildup ( wetting out). It also prevents wood warpage due to moisture. Ceramic will always give a clear voice as it will not change due to moisture. My flutes are tuned using an electronic tuner in both 440 and 432 Hz
