I wasn’t sure where it was appropriate (or if it was appropriate at all) to introduce myself but since someone else has broken the ice, I’ll just join in.
I’ve been playing the pennywhistle (an old clarke tin whistle, actually still have one) since I was about 7 or 8, and the flute since I was 12 (the silver flute back then), thanks to generations of musicians in my family, and my mother’s desire to instill a love of trad music in us kids. I took a long break, and have recently rediscovered my love for the flute (especially) and the whistle. I also play a bit of fiddle, guitar, piano and mandolin (by way of picking it up to teach to my daughter). I love ITM but also dabble in old-timey and bluegrass.
I co-run a 80 acre botanical sanctuary and women’s center in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico, and am a practicing herbalist. I live in a river canyon (with the BEST acoustics) up in the mountains, in a tiny cabin without running water and with limited solar power and internet satellite (but delightfully, no phone).
I started back up on a couple of old bamboo flutes belonging to my partner (also a musician), and have been slowly expanding the collection to include a couple of shakuhachis, diatonic and pentatonic bamboo flutes in many keys, a beautiful one piece transverse padauk d flute and now a proper rosewood irish flute is coming too. Considering how hard this climate and altitude is on wood (especially bamboo) I probably should have opted for something in delrin or pvc, but I can’t bring myself to play anything but wood at this point. Oh yeah, and I have some whistles too, with a wood whistle somewhere in my future.
All this to say hello and thank you for this wonderful resource, it’s been incredibly educational, and wonderful to find so many kindred souls (it’s a LOOONGGG way to the closest session from here). It’s especially lovely to see so many makers and retailers on here with helpful advice and a welcoming word for beginners. I originally found my way over here from thesession.org, which has been another great resource.
However, let me suggest that you at least oil that wood flute. An oiled wood flute can withstand the harshest of climates, wet, dry, hot, cold, or whatever.
Oh yes, much oiling will occur for all the flutes. Perhaps on the obsessive side actually. When I picked out the Padauk wood flute, I specifically talked to the maker about finding a very hard, less crackable wood. I’m not as clear on the Rosewood, but that was too good of a deal to turn down.
Thank you for the welcome! And glad you liked the website, chas, I am just little crazy about plants
I have rosewood flutes, among others, and I keep them oiled. I live in conditions which might be similar to yours, although perhaps colder at times, and I’ve never had a rosewood flute crack or split, yet.
I use natural, cold pressed linseed oil, also known as flax oil.
That’s very good to know. It can get quite cold here (frightfully below 0 F at times) as well as being predictably hot in the summer. Of more concern is our annual monsoon seasons, which ratchets the normally (very) low humidity WAY up. Nonetheless, my partner has been here for 30 years and never once oiled his bamboo flutes (I know, the horror, but he didn’t seem to know any better) and many (but not all) of his did just fine. I’m hoping with added care (and much oiling) all will be well.
Hello Sweetbriar,
Welcome to the flute forum. I have camped in and driven through the Gila Wilderness many times when I live in Arizona. It’s pretty wild compared to the city where I live now. If you are ever feeling sinful and in the mood to try something plastic, I know where you can get a flute that you will not have to worry about, although it doesn’t sound like your partner has been worrying about his bamboo flutes without serious consequence. Old Time fiddle is my interest, as well. Best wishes.
Yeah, there’s quite a difference between here and Indiana… I’m originally from back East (NC) and it the wide open spaces were a welcome relief.
I do love to play the flute outside in all kinds of weird weather, so no doubt there’s a Tipple 3 piece d flute somewhere in my near future. Just as soon as I can scrape together a few dollars. All our work here is donation based, which makes for tight finances sometimes. I’ve been selling off books etc to finance flutes though.
