My journey with the flute has really just started but it is guided by the Creator every step of the way. I have been honored to be recognized in the last year at two different flute festivals for my flute making. The first time was at the Zion Canyon (Utah) art and flute festival by receiving the third place in flute makers contest against twelve of some of the best flute makers in the country. The Second time was at Musical Echoes (the only flute makers Festival in the United States) located at Fort Walton Beach Florida where I received a second place in the flute makers contest against some of the best flute makers in the country.

You can see my contest flute at my web site (MockingbirdFlutes.com) the one I won at Musical Echoes is on the main page the one I won with at Zion is at my Blog which has a link at my web site. I started the bog with the hope that I could receive any feed back or discussions about flutes.

I don't make flutes as a part time job or as a hobby, I spend my days focused on making flutes and this is how I got started:

I have been a student of philosophy and religion most of my life. I guess I started wanting to understand more about the spiritual journey, ever since my fathers passing away when I was seven years old. Being raised in a Methodist church until my father’s passing and then A Baptist church, but while in the Navy I discovered Buddhism and finally while living in Denver, Colorado I was introduced to Wicca or Goddess teachings. While in California attending my oldest daughters wedding I had the pleasure of meeting Art Running Bear who was going to perform the wedding ceremony For my daughter at sunrise the next day after sitting all night at a teepee ceremony to bless my daughters marriage. Three important things happened at this gathering; my daughter got Married, I met Art running Bear who let me play one of his Native American Flutes, and while in the teepee I asked the Creator to help me find a job that I could be passionate about. At that time I had no intention on making flutes for a living, but after getting home from the wedding I started trying to buy a Native American flute but they always went out of my price rang. I then decided that I could probably make one cheaper than what they cost on Ebay. That was an incorrect assumption but it started me on my journey to study, research and the making of my first Native American Style flutes. I spent the next six months making flute after flute and constantly studying the art of making this wonderful instrument. I still spend many hours a week studying on how to improve each flute that I make. I’m Scotch/Irish American and I have been a student of music ever since I heard Jimmy Hendrix, and the Beatles; combined with my interest in philosophy the flute just seamed like the next step in the Journey. I meditate each morning and play the flute whenever I get a chance which is more often than I should probably; if I wanted to be able to get more flutes made. I believe they need to be made only while the maker is in a cheerful, positive mood and to bless each flute with incense and cedar shavings, along with the spoken prayers while being tuned. May the Creator bless this flute and those that play it or hear it. May the Creator bless this flute with a beautiful voice. May the Creator bless this flute with healing properties for the spirit, mind and body. I speak these prayers and more combinations of them for each time my tuning causes the flute to be filled with smoke and then I blow the smoke out at the end of each prayer which is carried to the Creator on the smoke. After all I’m just the tool of the Creator that he uses to make the flutes. My only wish is that my flutes are played and enjoyed by the new care takers of them and that this brings them positive energies to be shared with the people listening to the flute music.

Enjoy the Journey,

Larry