My First Native American Flute

I picked up the Native American Flute and I love it!

Walking on Main Street in Santa Monica, we dropped by Holey Grail to get one of their fabulous donuts with a cold brew nitro coffee made with cashew milk.

It's a treat to get one because it's hard to find vegan donuts - although there seem to be more offers as time goes by. I'm not vegan, but Alitta tries to get me to make more and more healthy choices daily.

Anyway, we enjoyed a tasty treat and had time on hand, so we walked the block.

On Main Street not far from Holey Grail is Native American World (NAW).

This place has been around more than 30 years on the Venice Boardwalk. Not quite a tourist trap, but usually nothing I had to have.

I told Alitta "I always wanted a Native American Flute, but I thought they were too expensive."

"Well, there's a few here, try one anyway -- just for fun."

And so I did.

I picked up a High Spirits A minor and with a little guidance from the store keeper, began to breathe into it and lift my fingers and play.

It felt so good and was so easy!

A total stranger asked me how long have I been playing. She was very surprised when I told her it was my first time.

It didn't take me long to realize, I had to have one.

The sticker price said $225 but shop keeper said it was mis-priced and it cost $175, which I thought was a good deal.

So I decided on which one to take home, and bought it!

The shopkeeper said he played, and had been playing for many years. He had collected nearly 30 different flutes, in different keys. He told me a little bit about the makers of this flute and the founder of the company.

When he packed up my flute to carry out, he included a beginners booklet & DVD.

Ever since, I've been playing my High Spirits and I just love it so much!

It's so easy to make music! Just a little focus on the fingers and the breathing.

I began looking up other Native American flute players, reading about Native American flutes, finding other makers, and learning all I could about them.

I wanted more.

I found a Walnut G minor flute on sale at High Spirits and bought that.

Then I found Ancient Territories. The founder was a furniture craftsman who picked up a Native American flute, and decided he wanted to make them.

As a handmade leather craftsman, I truly appreciate others who put time and love into their crafts, so I knew I wanted to support this company and I ordered the largest flute of my collection from them.

I chose a cherry wood and African bubinga wood E minor flute. It's a beast at 27". I really had to learn how to stretch my fingers to be able to play it!

But the sound is so beautiful. It's become my absolute favorite of my flutes.

I read it's not appropriate to claim being a Native American flute, if the maker isn't Native American. To tell the difference, it has to be stated that it's a Native American "style" flute.

All the flutes I had are Native American "style", so I immediately looked for a flute made by an actual Native American. I discovered Navajo flute maker Jonah Thompson