Finger Placement

There are two approaches to playing a native flute. One has to do with your frame of mind and the other with your fingers. In terms of your mindset, it's helpful to visualize certain things while playing. Spring Shine of Cedar Spirit Flutes suggests gazing upon a bird in flight and following its path with your music. You can gaze upon an actual bird or visualize one. Do this with other natural scenes. Ward Stroud of Stroud Flutes was advised early on to envision the tree-tops as a melody line and play notes according to the varying heights of trees. If you're not at peace when you begin playing, you soon will be. R. Carlos Nakai has said that he often becomes mesmorized when playing and forgets all but the music. Any player or maker will tell you that the most important aspect of playing is breathing and breath control. Basically, breathing from the diaphram is essential as is controlled exhaling through the flute. Most breathing exercises for singing are also applicable to native flute playing. Fingering technique to cover the holes is absolutely critical in consistently producing melodic notes. Any "daylight" (partially covered holes) will result in out-of-key notes and those "second octave" notes that sound shrill and unpleasant. Fortunately, this really isn't diffcult. It involves keeping your fingers flat across the holes. If you notice, your fingers aren't the same length, so don't worry when starting out that it's not the ends of your fingers covering the holes. Learning to bend your fingers correctly to use the widest part of your finger ends (not the tips) will come in time. Finally, like all things, your flute needs nurishment. It feeds on air, so the more you practice and play, the greater the gift the flute gives in return. And, as Kevin Locke has pointed out, the flute maker takes out the heart of the wood, it is up to the player to give back the heart of the flute. For additional techniques, such as breathing and tonguing, refer to Scott Loomis' Flute Forum.

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Block Adjustment

At the mouth end of the flute are two holes, known as sound or fipple holes. The one closest to the end is (and must be) covered by the block (also called the bird, totem, or fetish). Its placement is also crucial to the tone of the flute. The block is attached to the flute most often with a deer or elk hide strap. There are different methods of attachment used by flutemakers, but the most predominant method is to wrap the strap around the flute and block twice, cinch tight and tie it once (as with shoelaces before you tie the loop). The block should cover the first hole completely and leave the second hole completely visible. Exact placement is different on every flute. You'll have to slightly move it around to find the right position. Right up to edge of the second hole is a good place to start.

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Care of the Flute

The finish of the flute determines how it is cared for. According to Tom Stewart of Stellar Flutes, if it has a polyurethane finish inside and out, you can dip it in water to clean and shake off the excess water. Of course you would want to remove any water sensitive decoration and the strap/block. If the finish is oil, wax or a combination or you don't know what the finish is, you don't want to use water. Instead, use a soft cloth to dust and nontoxic oils, such as cutlery oil, and/or beeswax. Buff it til it shines. Also, regardless of the finish, you NEVER want to use alcohol or an alcohol-based product to clean your flute. It will damage the finish and the wood. During playing, your flute may have condensation build up in the air chamber. Depending on how long you have been playing, this moisture may get up into the fipple area and affect the sound of the flute. To temporarily cure this problem, if one wishes to continue playing, simply plug all the holes and blow hard into the flute to purge some of the moisture. You may even wish to slide the bird back or even remove it to wipe the fipple area and wind chamber clear. When you are done playing be sure to always store the flute in a position where the moisture will not pool in the flute. To do this store it with the mouthpiece pointing down in a vertical position on a soft cloth. For longer sessions I suggest removing the bird to help let it air dry. Do not store your flute where it will be susceptible to extreme temperature conditions, such as in the sun, or in the car in the winter.

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