Get inspired!
Take a look at how much fun other communities are having! -Unkitawa Flute Making Class, taught by Peter Ali and Lily Wilcox
Class begins with a discussion about how to carve, and then each student gets to choose their flute.
Once carving begins, students work together to shape their flutes, taking inspiration from one and other.
The tables are set up in a C shape to help everyone see and communicate with the other participants and the teacher.
The process creates a lot of cedar shavings which many students like to bring home. We like to return the rest of the shavings to the forest.
Once the flutes are shaped and sanded, flute playing lessons begin. This class was taught by Peter Ali, but we also have lessons for watching in the classroom if a flute teacher is not available.
Every student leaves the class knowing the basic scale. They each get a guide booklet to help them be successful while playing at home!
Finished Flutes or Flute Making Kits?
When trying to decide whether to buy flute making kits or finished flutes for your group, here are a few things to consider.
Flute Making Kits:
Flute making is messy but rewarding. It will require access to a room with easily cleanable floors or a nice outdoor area. It is time-consuming, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the needs of the group. The class pictured above was able to finish their flutes within 5 hours, but it is ideal if the group can take longer and allow participants to decorate their flutes with wood burning or paint. Some groups choose to teach the class over several weeks.
It is a wonderful and transformative experience to make an instrument and then learn to play it . It can bond the student with their flute.
Finished Flutes:
Buying finished flutes is a wonderful choice for a group where music is the primary focus. Get right to the good part! You can learn to play flutes in just about any classroom, library, community center etc. without having to plan for dust and wood shavings. The flutes are cleanable so you can use them for multiple classes, though many Tribes, schools, and groups do choose to give each student their flute at the end of the class, it is possible to clean and reuse the flutes.
Tip: It’s totally safe to use rubbing alcohol to clean the flutes. Remember to clean the fingering hole area, most germs are passed through hands not mouths!
Not sure what key to order?
Age and flute size
We offer Student Flutes and Flute Making Kit packages in the keys of A and G. The key of A is the smallest and easiest to play, if the students are young or older with arthritic hands, this may be the best choice. The key of G is our most popular key because the G has a lower voice which many people prefer, and we find that most people, young and old, can play this key.
Playing together? Order the same key
One important consideration is, if your group will be playing the flutes together, it is important to buy flutes in the same key so they will harmonize. Tip: Some groups like to offer several different keys and break off into smaller groups or learn one on one with a teacher.
A bit of inspiration from the Yakima Nation: Their flute class, led by Jeremy Garcia, is 10 weeks long with a concert at the end. If students attend all (or most) classes and perform at the concert then they get to keep their flute. The students began the first class with flutes in the key of A (our smallest flute). They had many students who wanted to repeat it, so they graduated them to lower the keys of G and F Sharp (the F sharp is difficult for some people to play because of the size, but with practice these students were ready for the larger flutes!). Many of the students wanted to repeat the class 2-3 times!
Guidance and Support
I am dedicated to making sure your project is successful. I can provide one on one guidance and support for the entire project via email, phone calls or video chat to make sure the teachers and staff feel confident to lead their project, even if they have no prior woodworking or flute playing experience.
I am developing teacher training videos and videos for use in the classroom to help everyone involved have a wonderful and fulfilling experience.
It is a great honor to share my knowledge of flute making and playing with the community.
-Lily