This month, our wonderful prize drawing features a branch flute made by Dale of Fallen Branch flutes! This amazing creation is made from a Red Cedar branch with an antler totem and is in the key of F#. There is a sound sample below these pics.
FallenBranchSounds
This month we will also be featuring a second place prize for the drawing, courtesy of our good friend Marsha from Standing Flutes. Last months winner did not require any more flute stuff, so he graciously withdrew his claim to this prize and Marsha generously allowed us to offer it again this month for our lucky runner up in the drawing! It is a $100 gift certificate for any item that is offered by Standing Flutes, and there is a lot to choose from! The winner will be contacted regarding their many options in redeeming this prize.
The prize drawing is open to all subscribers. Not a subscriber? Learn how you can participate in the drawing and support the Flute Portal at the same time! Click HERE for more information.
For the month of July we didn’t manage to collar a donation flute, so I went into the shop, dusted off my NAF making hat and put it on again. It is a little late, but the drawing will be held this week.
This flute is made from Black Limba, featuring inlay rings of Minnesota Pipestone framed with burn rings and a Bear Claw block made from Black Walnut. It is in the key of mid/low D.
This month we will also be featuring a second place prize for the drawing, courtesy of our good friend Marsha from Standing Flutes!
Thanks Marsha! Someone will get a treat (I have a pair of those rattles and they are sweeeeeet!).
The prize drawing is open to all subscribers. Not a subscriber? Learn how you can participate in the drawing and support the Flute Portal at the same time! Click HERE for more information.
This months prize has been donated by Tim Blueflint of Shades of Rez Custom Flutes. This is one of Tims’ new Hybrid Warbler flutes. Here is a blurb about them from Tims website:
“Introducing the all new Shades of Rez Hybrid Flute. Perfect for new students and those who like to take their flutes into the outdoors, it is a fusion of PVC with a hardwood mouthpiece and bird. They all are tuned to the key of A… and here’s the twist… as with the majority of my flutes, when pushed a little on the …fundamental note, they produce our Signature Warble! Because of the nature of the construction of this flute, they can be left in the car, thrown in a backpack or boat without the worry of damaging it, yet still gives a traditional look and feel, crystal clear voice and spot on tuning into the upper octave of a more expensive flute costing hundreds of dollars. “
You can see a great YouTube video of Tim demonstrating this flute HERE.
The prize drawing is open to all subscribers. Not a subscriber? Learn how you can participate in the drawing and support the Flute Portal at the same time! Click HERE for more information.
Congratulations to Charles Koci, winner of this months prize drawing!
This months prize flute has been donated by Alex Marshall (aka “The Flute Doctor”). Alex and Ed Easter have recently joined forces to create Sierra Flutes, and the collaboration is bearing fruit! The May prize is an Alaskan Yellow Cedar low B, and this is as nice a flute as I’ve ever played. Very clear voice and highly responsive.
Alex has earned his nickname of “The Flute Doctor” by modifying and repairing hundreds of flutes over the years. Whenever someone had a poorly voiced flute, or one that had succumbed to time or neglect and lost its voice, or a flute that was not properly tuned, Alex could be relied on to tweak it into life again! And now he has applied his talents to a flute making enterprise of his own (however, he no longer “doctors” flutes, so if you are thinking of making an appointment for your favorite “wall hanger”, he is no longer available 
The prize drawing is open to all subscribers. Not a subscriber? Learn how you can participate in the drawing and support the Flute Portal at the same time! Click HERE for more information.
Here are some pics:
This month there will be two prizes up for grabs, which means that two lucky subscribers will receive a special treat!
The prize drawing is open to all subscribers. Not a subscriber? Learn how you can participate in the drawing and support the Flute Portal at the same time! Click HERE for more information.
Prize # 1: Keith Oberdieck of Burning Wood Flutes has contributed a gorgeous creation in the key of G# made from Padauk, with custom burn rings, woven and beaded ties, and Bear block with turquoise inlay. I’ve played this flute and it is very sweet, with a full, strong voice and clear tone. Absolutely top notch. Here are some pics:
Prize # 2: A contribution from Earth Tone Flues (me!). This flute is made from Black Limba with a Raven block and endcaps made from Wenge. It is in the key of mid-F. Here are some pics:
Congratulations to Charles Koci, the winner of this months drawing!
This months subscribers prize has been donated by John Kulias of Meadowlark Flutes. John specializes in creating his beautiful flutes from clay, and using the ancient technique of pit firing them to make them into unique works of visual art that look as good as they sound! You have to see and hear these flutes to believe them–totally amazing.
John explains: “The process begins by creating the shape of the flute and finding its voice. Once the flute is kiln-fired and tuned for a second time, it is then pit fired to attain its earthy colors. The pit firing process is one that is done in a large, outdoor open pit. This fire gives the flutes their color by infusing gases from organic materials being ignited in the fire. Using this process, no two flutes will ever look the same! Another feature of a ceramic flute is they will never have issues with “wet-out”. The clay absorbs the moisture from the breath. They can be played outdoors in widely varying temperatures and never have “wet-out” be an issue. There is no special care required except to give them lots of playing time and enjoyment.”
This flute is in the key of high B. Would you like to see some more pics and hears some sound samples? Just click HERE to go to the Meadowlark Flutes web site.
The prize drawing is open to all subscribers. Not a subscriber? Learn how you can participate in the drawing and support the Flute Portal at the same time! Click HERE for more information.
We have our February winner! Congratulations to Penni Hall!
This months Subscribers prize drawing features a hard flute case donated by Mark Slater of The Flute Case Store (www.flutecase.com)! After talking with Mark we decided that an empty flute case really needs something to fill it up, so I donated a custom bird head flute to go with it
Not a subscriber? Want to qualify for the prize drawing? To learn how to subscribe, click HERE.
Case Details: The single tube flute case was designed for the flute player who wants to transport a single small to moderately sized flute. It consists of one 3-inch crush resistant PVC pipe covered in dense Cordura Nylon and lined with a soft tan polar fleece. Each has a nylon carrying strap for easy transport. To reduce the risk of damage, each flute case has 3/4″ of dense foam padding in the top and bottom. Each case is 28″ long.Please note: It is highly recommended that the flutes be placed in flute bags within the tubes prior to transport. Flute damage can occur due to rough handling or from forceful contact with the PVC tubing.
Flute Details: Alaskan Yellow Cedar, key of mid A with Ebony “Fledgling” block and nipple-style mouthpiece. Custom burn rings and black leather tie. Birdhead is dyed (not painted) with inset glass eyes, and interior done in black lacquer. Comes with a soft, fleece bag.
Here are some pics:
Info about our drawing for Flute Portal subscribers!