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The very most of the flutes being offered on my websites are created by my friend Marek. 

Born in Slovakia, at young age introduced into traditional folk flute-making and now carrying nearly twenty years of experience, Marek’s craftsmanship mastery keeps maturing and covering wider and wider spectra of instruments. Since 2015 we are in close collaboration which has-until now proven to be of a benefit to everyone involved.  

how choose flute

How to choose the right flute

 

It may feel overwhelming to know which to go for especially if you have no previous reference.
The advice given to me with my first flute was: "close your eyes and open your heart."  

 

Here are some further clues that will help to narrow down the choice spectra:

 

  • Most often the first impression is the right one 

  • What sound quality or general appearance talks to you better: Native American, four holes, overtone? (Check pictures or videos)

  • Are you attracted to deep voiced flute or high pitched ones? Or something in between?*                              

  • Is the size important to you? Traveling etc.

  • Playing with another melodic instruments? (Then you need to consider the particular tuning/scale)

 

* Here is good to know that the bigger the flute the deeper the sound and opposite. I find deep-voiced flutes generally more meditative, calming, resonating in the body, somehow noble. They demand more air and fingering might be more difficult at the beginning, when it comes to play with other instruments deep flute without amplifying will easily disappear. 

       

High pitched flutes carry that specific progressive energy, calling to the sky, flying through the forests. Awakening. Their voice is bright and carry long distances.

Less air demand and smaller holes closer together makes them easier to play for very beginners.
But they are to be heard and need some courage from the player!

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how care flute

Maintenance

If you care for your flute the right way will stay with you for life. 

They are quite resistant, still there are few things you need to keep in mind.

 

1. Oil 

It is wood and it gets wet when you blow in it and it slowly dries out.

You need to oil your flute FROM INSIDE every now and then. Depending on how much you play.
Daily playing = three times a year oiling. One a year is normally enough.

This prevents it from crack and increases the sound quality of the flute.

Use some good quality oil suitable for wood. Linseed, almond..

 

There are two ways of application:

  1. Simply pour it inside the flute and make sure it covers the whole surface incl. blowing hole. (In case of native american flute untie the block first and oil both chambers)

  2. Attach piece of cloth onto a thick enough wire (just twist the cloth in) and 'sweep' the inner flute tube 
    This prevents it from crack and increases the sound quality of the flute.

 

2. Weather and temperature conditions

Again, it is wood and keeps shrinking and expanding with different conditions.

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Generally i would recommend you to avoid:

  • Exposing your flute to strong heat (by the stove, in a car exposed to the sun, sweatlodge) 

  • Play in frost (you blow warm air into frozen tube)

  • Suden temperature changes (from frost to hot and opposite)

  • Leaving it outdoors for longer periods of time ( forgetting it over night..) 

 

All of these examples may cause damage to the flute. 

 

3.  Play it!

So you keep the spirit in :)

 

Also, the more you play the more you improve the wood acoustic qualities.
Sounds get fuller and harmonious, whole.

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