How to Prevent Flutes from Wetting Out and Overcoming Misunderstandings in Flute Making
When you build or play a Native American style flute, one frustrating problem you might face is the flute getting wet under the flute block. This "wetting out", as we call it, makes the flute nearly impossible to play until it dries. After 38 years of crafting flutes at Blue Bear Flutes, I’ve developed simple, reliable and natural methods to prevent this issue. Alongside that, I want to address some common misunderstandings about flute making that often arise from incomplete
Sound, Story, and Survival: A Maker’s Perspective on the Native American Flute
by Charlie Mato-Toyela I have been making and playing what are now commonly called Native American flutes since I was fifteen years old. At that time, I spent a great deal of my life with friends and distant relatives traveling the powwow circuit and observing what other Native people were doing musically and artistically. Much of that time was spent in the southeastern United States, though my experiences also include travel and extended stays with Cherokee and Choctaw famil
Why We Never Outsource the Making of Our Flutes
A variety of Native American Style Flutes The Modern Trend: Outsourcing Everything In today’s market, many companies outsource production...
I'm (not) running out of ideas for videos!
Creating and sharing has been a part of my life for nearly four decades. As someone who has dedicated themselves to making Native...
Size Matters - A Flute Buying Guide
When choosing a Native American flute, many people dream of that deep, resonant low tone — but they may not realize the physical demands...
