Get the latest Flash player.
Summary: Learn about making Native American wooden flutes with expert music training tips in this free online instrument instruction video clip.
Views: 5,659 | Tags: repair, flute, wooden, flutes, nativeamericanflute, indianfluet, nativeamericanflutes, musical instruments
About the Expert
Werner John When Werner John was introduced to a small wooden flute at age 11, it was love at first note! Now, 40 years later, you'll find Werner in his workshop creatin... read more
Ask A Question
Question #1
ASKED by Airen on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 at 12:11 PM
I would like to know how to use body measurements to set up tone as the ancestors did.
So here we are in my workshop in Leverette, Massachusetts where I have been making Native American flutes for the past 16 years or so. The way I do it is to focus just on the wood and the sound of the flutes and it really is a very simple workshop as you see. I got some hand tools here and a few small power tools, but you don't find the larger power tools because I like to focus just on the simplicity of it. So over those 16 years or so I've made about 800 flutes, which is about 50 a year and I do it all in this simple way. The native flute is a very interesting instrument because it has a great history of course on this continent and I want to give thanks to all the different tribes that have developed the principles of the flute over 100's and even 1,000's of years. Today the native flute has kind of had a renaissance of interest. There are lots of flute makers and thousands and thousands of flute players all over the country and even all over the world. The great thing about the native flute is that it has a wonderful sound and also is very, very easy to play. In some of these series we'll be getting into playing the flute also later on.
Werner John is an amazing artist and artisan. I find this whole series very well done and it will allow you to make a very good sounding flute.