Native American Flute Tutorial: Lesson 1 - How To Play The Flute
Introduction:
Hello, my name is John Stillwell and I am going to help you get started playing your new Native American style flute. I have been making and playing Native American style flutes for more than twenty years. I basically taught myself how to play the flute. Or you could say the flute taught me. However, I now realize that if I had been given a lesson or two along the way my proficiency at playing the Native American flute would have progressed much faster. Therefore I thought that it might be a help to others if I put down in writing what I have learned.
Playing the Native American Style Flute: First Lesson - Psychology
In this first lesson I am not going to use words like notes, scales, intervals, tempo, theory or any other of the technical musical terms. Instead, you are going to learn the most important thing; how to make beautiful sounds with your flute.
A Simple Instrument
The Native American style flute is a simple folk instrument. Its simplicity makes it an ideal musical instrument for amateurs like you and me. So relax and make a little mental and emotional effort to let go of any anxieties and inhibitions that you may be feeling. These feelings are a by-product of your earlier musical experiences. This time it’s going to be different. You can easily learn to play and will enjoy playing your Native American style flute.
Relax & Enjoy
I can imagine that you feel excited and a bit nervous if this is your first experience with the Native American flute. If you are like me (and most other people) you may have tried various other instruments in school and like me you gave them up at some point. Maybe you studied piano or one of the other complicated musical instruments. These instruments were developed over centuries to meet the needs of professional musicians.
It is often the case that you will be more relaxed if you are alone. Being alone will help to eliminate your anxieties about other people’s reactions to your playing.
At first you may experience a little frustration that your fingers can’t do everything you want them to. Your fingers will need a little time to get used to dancing on the holes of the flute. This is called developing muscle memory. Be patient. Your fingers and nervous system will actually enjoy learning to play. Don’t struggle; don’t try to take on too much at one session. Play around.
The Word 'Play'
Let’s consider the word play for a moment. Play is not the same as ‘work’, ‘study’ or ‘practice’. The word play implies or should imply relaxation and enjoyment. This is what the experience of making music should be. This is what making music on your new flute will be - play.
A Playful Enjoyment
If you get into the right mood this playful enjoyment will continue to grow for as long as you play the Love flute. So, please, don’t let yourself be judgmental or frustrated. If you do begin to have some negative feelings - remind yourself to relax, and then take a few breaths. Let go of those feelings. They’re the result of some earlier negative conditioning. They don’t have to be there. They will only impede your learning. If this doesn’t work just put down the flute for a while until you’re in the right mood.
Playing the Native American Style Flute: – Getting to Know Your Flute
A Quick Anatomy
Before you start playing you should learn a little bit about your Native American style flute. This will help you to get the best sound quality. The Native American style flute is a hollow tube divided into two sections by a solid area of wood inside the tube. This solid area is called the plug and it separates the slow air chamber - at the mouth end of the Love flute - from the sound chamber or bore at the far end of the flute. The bore of the Indian flute is also called the barrel of the flute. It is where the six tone holes are. Tied on the top of the Native American flute is a small object called the bird, block or totem.
The Bird or Totem Position
The bird should be centered on the sound hole. The front edge of the bird should be just in back of the rear or back edge of the sound hole. How far back depends on the particular flute. A good starting point is about a 32nd of an inch or a little thicker than a plastic credit card.
Two Chambers (Ancient Territories Flutes)
Now slide the bird towards the mouth end of the flute by loosening the buckskin band and sliding it back exposing the True Sound Hole and the Slow Air Chamber exit hole. The hole closest to the mouth end is where the air you blow into the flute and the air stream comes out of the slow air chamber. The other hole opens into the bore or sound chamber of the flute.
The Flue
There is a shallow groove cut into the body of the flute connecting these two holes. This groove or duct is called the flue. As you can see the two holes aren’t actually connected until the bird covers the flue. When the bird is in place the flue allows air to leave the slow air chamber in a controlled and focused stream and directs it against the splitting edge of the true second hole.
How Sound is Created
When the stream of air hits the splitting edge at the far side of the true sound hole it starts to vibrate in and out of the flute. This vibration manifests as sound.
Slide the bird back over the flue and tighten it down. The bird must be tied tightly on the flute or air can escape out the sides of the flue. If air leaks this will cause disturbances in the sound of the flute.