Why I craft and play flutes.
And I make flutes because wood still speaks. Each tree holds its own history, its own medicine. Shaped into a flute, it becomes a voice that outlives me. My hands may fail someday, but the sound will remain. That matters more than my name.
So, why do I make flutes? Because breath matters. Because sound heals. Because peace is possible.
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Michael F.
I make flutes because somewhere along the line, sound became my medicine. Life gave me more than my share of death, loss, and detours. Rules told me how to behave, but they didn’t tell me how to heal. The flute did. When I put breath into a piece of wood, something shifted. My anger softened, grief had a voice, and silence wasn’t empty anymore it was alive.​
The Native-style flute is simple, but in that simplicity lives freedom. There are no wrong notes. That truth dismantles the programming most of us carry that we must always perform, impress, or get it right. With the flute, “right” is whatever note your breath chooses. It teaches us that our imperfections are not flaws; they are music.
I make flutes because others deserve that same doorway. Veterans carrying the weight of war, people carrying the weight of addiction, or simply anyone whose shoulders are heavy with life—they need a way to breathe again. A flute in their hands is more than an instrument. It is a companion, a prayer, a lifeline.​
The Golden Light - Bill M.
I have been playing the Native American Flute for a short time with the Flute for Vet’s through the VA Whole Health program. I have found that playing the Native American Flute with the Veteran Flute Circle has been a very rewarding. I look forward each Monday for our week Native American Flute Circle session, and the last Friday of the month for out in person flute circle session at the Anita Bowman Conservation Center.
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Prior to joining Flute for Vet’s, I was busy searching for a program that could help me get things back on track. For the last 2 years, I have been working on the battle of defeating cancer. In late 2020, I began the process of treatment for Lower Esophagus Cancer and by April 2022 I had completed my treatment, but there was still a lot of things left to do. During the last two years, there were good days, bad days, and days where I wonder if I was going to make it through everything. In September 2022 when things seem to be settling down, I felt that it was a good time to improve my eye vision by removing the cataracts on both eyes. I had the cataract removed on my right eye which was the eye that was treated for Macular Degeneration which has been dormant since 2012 removed first. I then had the cataract removed from my left eye. At my follow up exam 2 weeks later, we discovered that the Macular Degeneration became active in my right eye and I lost additional vision in my eye. The vision lost was enough to make it unsafe for me to operate a vehicle and also placed additional restrictions on other activities. While I was still working towards a full recover from cancer surgery and with the increase in vision loss, I knew that I would need a find a program that could help me keep things moving in a positive manner and get my life back on track.
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For the next few months, I was busy looking for a program that offered fellowship, friendship, support, and a rewarding experience. I tried several programs, but they seem to lack the fellowship, friendship and support that I felt I needed to get things back on track. One day I was at the VA Hospital for an appointment and I picked up a Whole Life Newsletter. While going through the programs offered, I came across; Flute For Vet’s – Learn to play the Native American Flute. No Musical Background Necessary.
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Even though I was active with my high school band and choir and more recently very active with the Heart of America Barbershop Course, I felt that this could be the program I have been looking for. Since I was not that familiar with Native American Music, I spent some time on YOUTUBE reading about the Native American Tales, and listing to the different styles of Native American Music. In a short time, I found that the music was very relaxing and a good way to come one’s anxiety. I decently felt that the Flutes for Vets program was what I have been looking for and I would be looking forward joining. One of the goals I made for myself, was to be able to play music just like I have been listing too.
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A short time after becoming active in the Flute for Vets, I quickly saw how this program was going to be a big help in getting back on track. Since starting to play the Native American Flute and joining the weekly and monthly flute circle session, I have seen a great improvement on handling stress, anxiety, depression and thinking things out in a more positive way. Much of this improvement comes from just playing the flute every day, and through the outstanding fellowship, support, and friendship that glows throughout the flute circle.
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You can feel the fellowship, support, and friendship at every flute circle session. Each session is filled with variety of activities such as opening prayer, opportunities to play, listen, learn, express your thoughts, and ideas. Each and every person is equal, no one can play his or hers flute any better than anyone else. There are times that a flute circle member will find a Native American fable and they will share it with everyone. Sometimes they will read the story and other times is could be a video. When completed, each person can express what the story meant to them and they can either express their thoughts by playing their flute or verbal.
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Support is never missing because when Michael notice that someone is having an issue when playing, he will work with them and make suggestions of different ways they can try. When Michael saw that I was having a problem trying to cover the flute note hole, he first suggested that I place reinforcement labels over the note hole, and then later he thought tying narrow leather strips between the note holes would make it easier to identify the note hole. Should a member have a medical condition that is holding them back, Michael will work with them and show them tings they can do to help them along. Support will come from all members of the circle through words of encouragement and recognize individual as they progress forward with standing ovation from all.
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The flute circle can also show other means of support. One way happened to me and another member in preparation of my first in person session. Since both of us could no longer drive we were without transportation. Ted, spoke up and told Maxine he would bring her to the session, and Elisa saw to it that I got to the session and Michael saw to it that I got back home. A few weeks later, Daniel found out that I was no longer able to drive, and he said he only lived a short distance from me and he would be more than happy to pick me up. On our way to the session, Daniel made the point that the flute players need to stick together and as long as he was able, he would see to it that I had a way to get to the session. Between Daniel and myself, a strong friendship has developed. When the weather gets a little warmer, we are going to have a jam session together at the Fresco Lake in Olathe. We both have high hopes that the Canada goose will be over whelmed with our performance and not fly away. We are also looking at having a flute circle group session at the Frisco Lake later on.
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Once you have become comfortable with the basic scale used in playing the Native American Flute, you are home free and on you way to exploring the magically world of Native American Music and a rewarding experience. The one thing to remember is, when playing your flute just close your eyes and play from your heart and if what you hear sounds good to you then That's All That Matters.
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In August 2021 when all of my health issue started, and if I would have known then what I know now about how much strength The Native American Flute had in Musical Therapy, I am absolutely positive that my long journey through treatment and recovery would have had less Anxiety, less stress, and less worries about what was the he next step. I have no doubt that I would have been closer to being back on track sooner and ready to move further ahead.
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As I had mentioned earlier, I was very active with the Kansas City Barbershop Course. There is a song tag that a lot of us would sing before going on stage to perform the evening show or before competing in district and international competition. I would like to share this tag with you:
Oh Shine on Me In The Morning
Shine On Me
Will The Light In the Lighthouse Shine On Me
Shine On Me In The Evening
I Wonder if the Lighthouse Will Shine On Me
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Deep within my heart, I know with all of the fellowship, support, friendship, and all the music that flows freely from my Native American Flute that the Golden Light from the Light House, is shining on me, ant the Golden Light is guiding me through troubled waters to the calm shore ahead.
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In leaving, one of my goals is: There is a song that I listen to just about every day being played on the Native American Flute. Someday, I will be playing AVE MARIA on my flute
So if you would like to share your story, experience, or how your flute has helped others. Contact me and I will paste it here. If you use names I will only post first name or Anonymous.