Not sure why it seems so, but this has been a long winter for me and seems to never end. Used to be I adored winter and the bleak,cold and darker aspects of it. But that has changed for I now really love spring and autumn the best, tired of the continual rain and downpour we seem to have every day here in my pacific northwest location. Still, it is a beautiful place and I have no intentions on moving (unless a Scottish or Welsh home is given to me for free !!
:-D So that means I must take matters into my own hands....playing hands. And the last two months have NOT been good to me in this regard. Especially February and March as I have been lacking in the practice department. Was supposed to be playing some Celtic music and getting ready for the arrival of my transverse flute (more below) but so much of LIFE has intruded that I simply have been lazy about it. Ok, I confess: I could MAKE time and really be diligent. Alas, Welsh language study along with family genealogy, running and other activities have taken over. Therefore I need to schedule my practice time and keep up.
Not sure how I will set it up but it is necessary and needed for my improvement and in maintaining breathing,control and sound.
Now, on the flute front....I have a new transverse flute being created for me!! The new flute is bamboo but is constructed as a transverse and with many add ons and extras, such as a black walnut lip plate, end cap and reinforced hole ring. The black walnut piece came to me courtesy of Robert Guerassio , my sweethearts father, and how cool to have it be part of this beautiful creation. Here is an early photo of that lip plate.
Eventually the flute will take on a Celtic look and so this is not the final result. But Michael Howard Monroe is doing such incredible work that I'm giddy to get this flute in my hands to play! If you are interested in a custom, bespoke flute, send him a message !!
Kolbe Bamboo Flutes
So, until the flute arrives, I have been digesting more Celtic flute tunes and grasping the dynamics that are so completely different from Japanese shakuhachi music, as that was mu focus the last few years. It will be a great journey when this beauty arrives and will be the beginning of some great times ahead!!
That's the update for now. More will be posted when the flute arrives and then some photos can be taken and music made. Till then, happy playing and namaste!!! __/|\__
