Workshop by Danny van Hamme

Workshop in the Druid forest

What could be better than playing on your self-made flute?

To achieve this I have to leave the country. No, not to America, my piggy bank is to small for that. Just across the border in Belgium in the Druid forest near Stekene, a workshop of two days was given. During this workshop you will create your own NAF-style flute. The teacher Danny van Hamme learned this from Sky Walkinstik Man Alone an native american flute player and maker.

Flute workshop G E and B

The workshop

The E and G flutes are made of Cedar wood and consist of two halves that are glued together. First, the two holes that provide the sound of the flute are made square with a sharp knife.

Holes were drilled in the front and 1 at the mouthpiece. Then the hard work began for the students. With a grater and sandpaper, the flute should get its round shape and the right wall thickness.

The whole room smelled like a sauna because of the cedar wood ,we were busy all afternoon. After we had a delicious dinner with the group that stayed the night, we made some nice music. The next day Danny started the biggest job all the flutes had to be tuned every hole has to be the right size to ensure that the flute has the right pitch. With a well-tuned flute you can play in the same key with other instruments. We were also able to make an extra totem for the flute Danny had a few more with which the basic shape had already been made.