I have just recently acquired a wooden flute made by Chris Ti Cooms in the key of D that is more like a penny whistle. On the bottome two notes I can play 3 octaves. This is really interesting. The flute has a sound more similar to the rim blown flutes and is quite mysterious and mystical. It is probably more like an Irish penny whistle but the wood makes it soudn wonderful


I also have a Stephen De Ruby shakusazi low C flute that has amazing sound, very similar to the Chris Ti Cooms flute however it does not play the otaher octaves. It was really fun to spend time playing both of these flutes back to back and trying the same song to see how the nuances could work from these two great makers. The added octave features of the Cooms flute are still a bit of a challenge and will require some ( lots and lots of practice) . It is really fun to have a bit more of a range to noodle around with.

I am currently loving both of these flutes.

Feel free to share some thoughts about flutes that you are experimenting with. I would love to learn more about what other flute players are doing.

VASHON ISLAND FLUTE GATHERING
Every year in eary October, 30 or so people gather together to learn, share, encourage, support and just have a great deal of fun in a community of like minded people who love the Native American Style Flute.

I learn more and mrore each time I go to this event.

It is always an amazing time. The instructors were absolutely outstanding, Cornell Kinderknecht, Pam Mortenson and Anthony Nativdad. They bring a true committment to helping people learn and grow as players of the flute.

This years event was the best of the ones that I have attended ( my fourth time).

Wayne McClesky, the driving force behind this event, could not attend this year for personal reasons. He was very much missed and everyone held space so that the circumstances in Wayne' s turn out to be the very best they can be.

Thank you to everyone who makes this gathering happen, to the participants who create a safe and energetic space for the great week end