Tyler's Flutes

Tyler Martin came to me looking for help with Search Engine Optimization. I don't ordinarily do this kind of work for people who haven't purchased a website from me, but he seemed like a rather interesting guy and was really easy to get along with. During our first phone conversation I learned a bit about what his website was all about. Our conversation felt comfortable to me, since I happen to be a musician too, although I didn't divulge much of this to him right away.

Tyler makes genuine bamboo flutes by hand from within his boat. I checked out the video on his web page and felt immediately interested in knowing more about this rather interesting guy who had come to me looking for help. He invited me to come on board so he could show me first hand how its all done. I couldn't resist.

I must admit, this was the first time I have ever boarded a boat that was docked on dry land. Tyler explained to me that this boat was recently acquired and he's still in the process of fixing it up. This will serve as his office or headquarters for his flute-making business. His real boat was out on the water and by the expression and enthusiasm, I knew that sailing was probably one of Tyler's fondest endeavors.

I could see some of Tyler's bamboo flutes laying around the boat near the helm along with a pile of fresh bamboo pieces still waiting to become musical instruments of their own someday. I cracked a joke about a "three hour tour" as the boat itself reminded me a bit of the S.S.Minnow.  It's an older boat, badly weathered and beaten, but still loved.

After showing me around, Tyler grabbed a few flutes and started jamming. This was my first time really listening to a flutist, but I soaked in the experience, absorbing every tender breath that Tyler exhaled into the hand made instruments. I particularly enjoyed the Shakuhachi flute with its slightly deeper tonality. Although I'm certain it's not nearly the same, it reminded me of the flute played in "Kung Fu", the 1970's television show starring David Carridine. When Tyler asked me which of the flutes I would like him to make for me, I quickly reached for what I called the "Kung Fu flute". Tyler educated me about the flute while gathering the components.

I watched closely as Tyler went through the steps. First, he selected the piece of bamboo. The piece would need to be a certain size and width in order to produce the correct tones. He explained too that the tuning of the flute is based on the dimensions of both the width and length. While cleaning the inside of the bamboo with a sort of pipe cleaner, he explained the necessity of buffing out the inner walls. I grabbed my camera and decided to take some photographs while he worked.

Using a hack saw, he trimmed off a bit of the end to make sure the instrument was just the right length. Meanwhile, Tyler kept a propane torch's fire lit while heating up a couple of metal pokers. Care was taken to sand the end down to soften the texture. Each movement through the various steps were fine tuned and precise. Lining the bamboo rod up with a finished flute, he made pencil marks to indicate where he would need to put holes.
Once the pokers were hot enough, I watched as they burned holes through the pencil markings. I could smell the bamboo as the hot metal paved a path through the thin wooden walls.

Within just a few minutes Tyler brought the still unfinished instrument to his lips and began blowing the first notes from the newborn flute. My excitement grew as I anticipated practicing the new instrument later.

Tyler asked me how I'd like to see the flute finished. He started explaining the various choices, but I had already been eyeballing the finish on another flute that he'd played earlier.

The effect was achieved by splashing water droplets onto the flute and then carefully blowing fire from the propane torch onto the moistened wood. Tyler was careful not to over heat the wood so as to produce an even pattern of droplet shaped residue across the wood. He went back and forth across the new instrument until everything looked perfect, but there was still one more thing left to do before the flute could be finished.
To be honest, I'm not sure what he used to wax and polish the finished piece. But the finishing effect was spectacular. The newly crafted instrument shined in the brilliant sunlight. The smell of freshly burned bamboo still lingered in the air. Tyler handed the flute to me and beckoned me to try it out for myself.

Of course I was unable to make any musical tones, but the flute maker was prepared to give me a quick lesson to help me get started. He grabbed one of his own flutes and began showing me the basic technique. Before long I blew my first note!

Up until now, Tyler still wasn't really aware that I happen to be an accomplished musician with over 25 years of experience on the guitar. Tyler has an old beat-up guitar on his boat, and when I finally took a hold of the guitar and started strumming a few chords, we broke into a nice jam. It was really cool to connect like this with someone who I would be doing business with in the coming months.

After our impromptu jam, we discussed the business at hand and shook hands. I think we were equally satisfied with the new friendship that emerged on that day and we're both looking forward to more jams in the future as well as a lasting friendship and business relationship.

For more information about Tyler's Flutes, please visit his website at http://www.tylersflutes.com/