First of all let me say that I am NOT a flute maker. I am a Flute Addict! I love Native American flutes, I eat, breath and sleep flutes. When I started my joruney with the NAF I learned a few lessons the hard way - I bought a couple of flutes not knowing what I was buying and I got burned a couple of times. You'll hear some people say that all flutes have a voice and that it is up to the player to find that 'voice'. That's all well and good but just because the flute has a voice doesn't mean that it is a pleasing voice!

I really don't want to denigrate new flute makers who are, or may become, wonderful makers but the oversaturation of woodworkers who bought some tools and an instruction book on how to make flutes, whittled out a tube with some holes in it, tied on a bunch of feathers and beads and declared themselves a "flute maker" is about to make me crazy. The really sad part is all the people being duped into thinking they are buying a playable instrument when what they get is an untuned piece of firewood that more often than not isn't worth hanging on the wall as "art".

Let's face it folks, price is not always indicitve of quality, BUT do you really think you are buying an instrument for $45.00???!!?!?

If you are buying a Native American Flute for a beginner, the VERY worst thing you can do is give the beginner a poor, untuned, piece of wood and expect them to get any enjoyment out it. Try giving a $19.95 guitar to beginner and see how long they practice. Granted you don't want to pay top dollar for an instrument before you know if you are going to enjoy or want to play it but starting with a cheap imitation is just throwing your money away.

A lot of flutes being sold on eBay are what decent flute makers refer to as "Wall Hangers" or "Pow-wow" flutes. Wall Hangers are just that, they might look pretty so you can hang them on the wall to look at because it certainly isn't worth the effort to take them off the wall and try to play them. A lot of Pow-wow flutes are just that - something to buy for the kids so they can say they have a flute and after squeeking and squawking in the car on the ride home, you'll wish you would have bought them the little dreamcatcher.

Not all Pow-wow flutes are junk, this is where new makers should be selling their flutes while they are honing their craft. Practice is the way a wood worker becomes a flute maker. If you attend a pow-wow intent on buying a flute, a good honest maker will play the flute for you, show you the scale and give you a little lesson in playing and you should be able to buy a "starter flute" at a reasonable price. If the flute has a bunch of feathers on it and beads and is painted and adorned with jewels the guy behind the counter is a "wood worker" He/she is putting their effort into making the flute pretty rather than making it sound good. One of the very best flute makers in the world now refuses to put a leather wrap on his flutes because he says "decorations distract the listener, they should be listening rather than admiring the flute".

How do you buy a flute? If at all possible attend a "flute circle" meeting. These are groups of people who enjoy the Native American flute and who usually hold monthly meetings to play, share and discuss the Native American flute. These groups are popping up all over the United States. I suggest going to the INAFA, International Native American Flute Association, website and see if there is a flute circle near you.

Attend a meeting, talk to the members - I can guarantee you'll find at least one, full blown, 'flute addict'. This person will have succumbed to the disease and will have an abundant knowledge of flute makers and will have flutes from many different makers. They will be GLAD to let you try all their flutes and can recommend decent makers who sell flutes for a fair price.

You'll also find newbe flute makers at the circles, but again, take care. You'll probably find the wood worker who has just discovered how to make a flute but you also just might run into the next new "flute maker".

RESEARCH - being a beginner and not knowing very much about Native American flutes, if you can buy a flute, for $150.00 from a well established maker who has been making flutes for 10-15 even 20 years, why would you plunk down the same amount of money to a guy that last week was making little boxes or turning ink pen blanks? A good flute maker will be able to tune his flutes with consistancy... an A is an A is an A. New makers will sometimes say their flutes are 'tuned to itself' WARNING this means 'woodworker' and they haven't quite got the knack of tuning or they were too busy thinking about which feathers they were going to tie on the wooden tube. Sure you might find a great sounding flute tuned to itself and that's fine, buy it - but don't get upset when take your new A flute and try to play duets with another player and it sounds like cats fighting, and trust me you are eventually going to want to play with other flute players, unless you are just buying a flute for meditaton and/or prayer. If that is the case that is a different topic altogether.

Flute makers are also "Flute Addicts". If you get recommendations for a flute maker, call them, tell them you are new and need help. If you call and they don't 'have time' - call another one. All of the flute makers I know or have talked to on the phone, will talk your ear off and give you great advice. They might have a line of beginning flutes that are just a little more plain than their top of the line flutes.

Last - whoever, wherever you buy a Native American flute if you are unhappy with the flute you should be able to return it or trade it for a different flute, obviously in the same condition you purchased it in. If the maker says "All Purchases Final" I would recommend seeking a different flute maker.