Todd Chaplin - Enchanted Beginnings: The QuickStart Guide for the Native American Style Flute

Enchanted Beginnings The QuickStart Guide for the Native American Style Flute

Published by Saraswati Publishing NZ

Book design by Todd Chaplin

Photography by Matt Hunt

Flute fonts by Clint Goss

Song arrangement by Clint Goss

Video icon by Appzgear

First Edition, published 2014

Copyright 2014 Southern Cross Flutes LTD

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 978-0-473-32178-9

Printed by Fuji Xerox, Victoria University of Wellington in Aotearoa New Zealand

Contents

The Native American Style Flutes that I craft are played by diverse people, for many purposes. Sometimes we play for heartfelt expression, sometimes we play for the deep resonating tones that soften the mind and bring peace, and sometimes we play for the healing of self and others. Southern Cross Flutes invites you to journey with us on these interweaving paths.

As a New Zealander, I had never met another flute player until I went to Australia in 2010. Matt Shooting Star, my first flute friend, was also my first flute teacher. It wasnt until I left for the USA in April 2010 that I entered into a fabulously vibrant and diverse NASF community. How lucky and excited I felt! I met my NASF heroine, Mary Youngblood; I camped in the desert; and for weeks I played music with new friends, climbing in the mountains where wild bears listened and the canyons echoed to our music. It was a dream, and I feel such a deep sense of happiness and thanks for the NASF world and its growth here in Aotearoa/New Zealand. We are part of a new wave of musicians exploring an old instrument that captivates, fascinates and uplifts us.

Trusting in my journey with the flute, I was led towards two mentors: my new friend Matt Shooting Star and Guillermo Martinez, kind and compassionate men who opened their lives to share their craft. It is to these two generous people I offer my greatest respect, as they gave me the opportunity to develop my Southern Cross Flutes and further the NASF community in New Zealand. The name Southern Cross Flutes refers to the spirit, the deeper meaning and inspiration, behind these flute creations; the constellation that enchants my imagination under the Southern Stars.

Today the NASF is played widely throughout the world, though mainly in the USA, where NASF communities exist in most states. Flute players gather monthly at flute circles, where people share their new flutes and new songs, where they play together and experience the beauty of their flutes and their souls creations. There are also many professional recording artists who teach flute workshops and give one on one tuition. Here in Aotearoa/New Zealand we have our local flute community, an annual residential Flute Camp, and flute circles growing and developing in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch; be sure to check our website for updates, as well as our Facebook pages: Southern Cross Flutes and New Zealand Flute Circle.

This book is a beginners guide to flute playing and maintenance. Youll find the Free Video Flute Tutorials useful, available via the Southern Cross Flutes website and YouTube Channel .

Use this clickable button on you device to navigate to the Free Video Flute Tutorials page. Here you can choose the video you need from the playlist selector (top left-hand corner of the video).

Navigate the book using hyperlinks from the contents page or as part of your devices e-reader software.

It is the opinion of the author that the book provides the most pleasant reading experience when viewed in a Sans Serif (Seravek) font. If you choose to view the ebook on your smart phone, please note you may be able to view flute notation icons at a larger size by rotating the phone horizontally and setting the reader to scrolling view.

I welcome any feedback and questions from you, and am happy to offer further guidance and support on your flute journey.

Todd Chaplin - Southern Cross Flutes | Founder | Flute Craftsman

Treated with love and understanding, your flute will last for several lifetimes, and can be passed down to your descendants.

The main care required, you will notice, is the wetting out of your flute, which means removing moisture thats developed in the flute while youve been playing. Youll need to do this during your playing session as well after. This is because warm air from the lungs mixes with the cooler air in the environment and, as the flute is cooler than the breath, condensation develops within the slow air chamber and pools under the totem. It may happen after only 5 minutes of playing for hard woods or may take up to 15 minutes with softer woods. As your flute warms up, and also as you improve your playing, you will notice less condensation develops.

Heres how we do it: untie and remove the totem first, and then with a few powerful puffs into the mouthpiece youll have most of the excess condensation out. Using a cloth, wipe clean the air channel and underside of the totem. Then replace and tie the totem in to position.

It is important to keep your flute out of hot environments, especially prolonged direct sunlight, as this may otherwise warp the wood and cause the flute to split.

When travelling with my instruments, I choose to use one of the Southern Cross Flutes soft bags with shoulder strap, or a Harakeke Flute Case. The latter provides the best protection from bumps and scratches. When flying, I use my harakeke case, or a hard protective case (a postage tube with bubble wrap inside will do the job).

Some people ask me if oiling their flute is necessary for maintenance. It is, and I oil my flutes once a year. I recommend you return your flute to Southern Cross Flutes for a regular service. This will allow me to inspect the tuning, and lightly oil and wax your flute.

If youve been testing your flute out and found some things are a bit confusing, you might be wondering uh-oh, is this just me? No, its not just you we just need to iron out one or two fluting crinkles.

Im having trouble tying the totem back on.

Have a look at the photos below, they show you how to use the leather strap and tie the single knot underneath the flute.

My flute is squeaking like crazy, though Im sure Ive got the holes covered.

Its likely that there is still an air leak underneath one of your fingers. This is common, and over time your fingers will develop the requisite muscle memory and never miss a hole.