I spent Saturday making a Native American flute from bamboo. John Davis was my teacher -- he's made and played flutes for nearly 20 years. It was a beautiful process and I loved patiently sitting with each step of it -- the measuring, the drilling, the cauterizing, choosing the saddle and tying it.
I've had teachers who encourage pure thoughts throughout the creative process of instrument-making so that the music will be pure. John encouraged us to add a piece of sweetgrass to the body of the flute -- "so your music will be sweet," he explained.
I was careful with my thoughts and did my best to remain present to the moment as I did my work. And I tied my sweetgrass to the underside before I played my first note.
Aaaah . . . sweet.
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