q_and_a_about

Q: My flute sounds "airy" what can I do?

A: You always have the option of sending your flute in to me and I can take
care of any "airy" sound it may have, but many times this is something that
you can do about it. If the flute maker is unskilled, it may of course be in the
flute's design. If, however, it comes from a skilled flute maker it may be that
there is an obstruction in the air track. To fix this is simple: carefully untie
the block and remove it, looking for anything such as a hair, wood chip, or
small particle that may be in the way if even slightly so. While you have the
block off you may as well blow through the flute to unlodge anything that may
be in the air chamber. After this, take care and position the block so that the
end of it is even with the beginning of the sound hole. Soon I will be offering
an image of what this looks like to aid you and others with this issue. As
always, feel free to email me again if you require more info on this.

Q: I am having a problem with a flute I bought at a powwow, I blow in the flute but can't
get a sound. Why?
A: The most common cause of this is the position of the "block" or effigy.
Sometimes how hard or soft you blow is the problem, too.

Q: What is the difference between a 5 and 6 hole flute?
A: The traditional North American Indian Flute, the Lakota Flute, has 6 holes.
The Quena (South American single tube Flute) is also a 6 hole flute. The best
example of a 5 hole flute today is the "modern" Cherokee Flute which has
been around for a few hundred years. Prior to that, the Cherokee Flute was
supposed to have been a 6 hole flute, some say it played transversely, but I
believe that it was more like a Quena.