Thanks for visiting my web site. Flute making has been my passion for many years. Those 110 degree days in the shop, covered with
sawdust and sweat, may sound like a day in Hades, but to an impassioned flutemaker, it's a slice of heaven.
There I found Hopi artist and flutemaker Ernie Northrup crafting river cane flutes in his booth. Ernie invited me down to Tucson for
a flute workshop he was offering, and it was there I learned the basics of flutemaking that Ernie's grandfather had taught him. I've
been crafting flutes ever since; Ernie I am forever grateful!
Another gentle soul who entered my life in the early years of my flute
making was Saggio.
SaggioHealingArts.com
Saggio began playing the native style flute about the time I started making them. We were
blessed to find each other, in that it allowed for a symbiotic relationship that to this day remains close and beneficial to us both.
Hawk LittleJohn once told me to share the gift. He said he "didn't care who made the flute, as long as we get a flute into the hands
of every person on the planet".
Hawk taught by example, mentoring Tony Richards
SpiritWinds.com.au of Australia who now is an excellent
flutemaker. He said the "secrets" I discover while working my craft should be shared with those curious enough to ask. I agree;
other flute makers are not my competition, they are my colleagues.
Another friend, flutemaker, artist, musician who has encouraged
me over the years is Mac Lopez
WhirlWindStudios.com. Mac shares in his dear friend Hawk's reverence for the flute, and the healing
it always brings.
My good friend Mike Gulino
MoonlightCreek.com is another of the flutemakers who shares in the vision. Our flute
journeys have paralleled in many ways, but it's his willingness to share not only his knowledge of the flute, but also his musical
knowledge, that has influenced not only me but many others.
Over the years as my flutes evolved, and improved, I would receive requests
from flute musicians who wanted native style flutes that offered more performance. These requests centered around three items that
are now central to my flute making:
voice, range and
response.
They were requesting a
voice that was big and clear. A
range that on
a minor scale flute, included a complete relative major (do, re, mi...) scale starting from the third harmony (bottom hole open);
and a
response that allowed the player to push the flute beyond the traditional limits with agressive playing techniques, for genres
such as jazz and blues.
Five flautists whose "outside the box" play continues to inspire me in my efforts are: Arvel Bird
ArvelBird.com,
Scott August
CedarMesa.com, Gary Stroutsos
GaryStroutsos.com, Bobb Fantauzzo
BobbFantauzzo.com, and John Vames
FluteJourneyWorkshops.com.
The players and makers mentioned above are only a few of the many friends family and acquaintances who have appeared along the way,
and have been part of this journey. To all of them I offer my heart felt gratitude.
Peace and Joy to all,
Pat
My search for a flute led me to a Native American arts and crafts show at the Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix.
