Just a quick "hello".....

[Michael Howard]

Howdy Ya'll!

Just wanted to say "hello" to all the folks in the bamboo forum. I'm looking forward to sharing ideas and exchanging stories and info. I've been a flutemaker for about ten years so I have some pretty good knowledge of bamboo flutes and various types of bamboo. Look forward to chatting with some of you!

[Mark Meckes]

Hiya Michael, and thanks for writing!
Just as we all need oxygen to survive, bamboo musicmakers are essential in maintaining a level of sanity regarding issues of bamboo, so thanks for being here.
FYI, here's a link to the Gallery of Bamboo Musical Instruments (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=527) which you are welcome to upload pics to.

A category at the Bamboo Workshop Gallery has also been started for Bamboo Musical Instrument Making (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showgallery.php?cat=525)

You can also post pics into posts.
Bear in mind that the site is very much a work in progress, still in it's formative stages.

BTW, thanks for providing a link to this site from your site!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me...

Now, back to the subject of bamboo!

Mark

[Michael Howard]

Thank you Mark for making me feel welcome. I recieve many e-mails at my website concerning flutemaking, instruments folks have bought that turned out to be not so hot, various types of bamboo and on and on. I would love to open up some of these discussions here. I also want to learn. I have been doing this for a long time, but I'm constantly learning and growing. I think the day we say we have learned it all is when we start to go down hill. Good flutemakers are always striving for ways to refine their gift. I am looking forward to my time here and meeting some of the regulars.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Michael, feel free to start a New Thread or reply to on-going discussions anytime. Responses may sometimes be delayed ... as it is often the nature of artisans to disappear and reappear lol.

Yes, I think the fact that it would take a number of lifetimes of working with bamboo to really know all the ins and outs, should keep our bamboo guru status' in check. ;)

Another view which I personally have felt is the intimate experience and things learned during the process. In this manner, achieving perfection doesn't matter so much to me. (... even though I can be a stickler at trying to get some things just right, to the point of ruining the attempt ... but hey sometimes one doesn't know where the edge is till one goes beyond the point of return :( )
The experience working with bamboo has been so fulfilling that if I never made another thing it wouldn't matter

However I tinker with bamboo only as a hobby, and if I was forced to make a proper living from it I would feel other pressures and would have to face more critique of my work.

~ Mark

[Michael Howard]

Thanks Mark,

I think any good artist knows there is a point they need to simply stop and go no further. The desire for ultimate perfection can really drive us mad if we do not know when to back off and let the thing be what it is. But I must also know in my conscience that I have done the best job I could possibly do in the time allotted. I am hard on myself and hard on the people in my life when it comes to my work. It's something I'm working on.

Hey, anyone interested in winning a flute? Here is something I like to do around the holidays:

http://kolbeflutes.com/kolbeflutesgallarypage.html

It's very nice instrument and I will be proud to present it to someone. Thanks Mark and we'll talk soon!

[Mark Meckes]

Yeah I know what you mean, especially when it has to do with making musical instruments ...
The only musical instrument I've made where I totally emmersed myself into a quest for the best sound was in the making of these Bamboo jaw harps (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3034), a few years ago ...
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3034/thumbs/1Jaw_Harp_5SD_Pic1.jpg

After about 40 attempts, I gravitated to a couple of em, which have been my companions since.
Maybe one of these days I'll get the urge to pick up where I left off, as I felt I was on the verge of taking this instrument to a new dimension...
On the other hand, I'm still basking in the delight of my personal journey of discovery, and am happy to leave it to others to take it to the next level.

Your free flute give-away offer sounds cool!
If you like you can post this offer into a New Thread so it gets some exposure.

Cheers,
~ Mark