The benefits of encouraging young people to learn how to play a bamboo musical instrument are varied.
For one thing, they are weaned from vices and drugs. Secondly, playing a musical instrument introduces the youngsters to experience exciting adventure in producing beautiful sounds.
The challenges to play complicated musical score using primitive and simple bamboo instruments are so compelling and entertaining that the students are completely distracted from engaging in violence, vices, and drugs.
The sound of the bamboo flute is arguably one of the sweetest in the world. Relatively easy to learn, light to carry and inexpensive, bamboo flutes are one of the best instruments to introduce to children at the onset of their musical education. Students could learn to play the flute and appreciate the flute music.
BAMBOO FLUTE
The bamboo flute and culture
The flute is one of the three original forms of rendering Indian Classical music according to ancient scriptures - Vaani (Vocal), Veena (String) and Venu (Flute).
According to Hindu mythology, the flute is the instrument of Lord Krishna and is thus very popular for playing folk music. It has always been known as the instrument of the shepherds and has been widely used in folk music. The status of the bansuri as a concert instrument was established much recently, solely by the efforts of a legendary Indian musician by the name of Pt Pannalal Ghosh.
In China, bamboo flutes have many symbolic and religious meanings associated with them. They were traditionally used to communicate peace and glad tidings and hence, this is what their sound is associated with.
In Feng Shui, a bamboo flute symbolically lifts house ch'i (energy), section by section through its hollow, segmented interior. If two flutes with red ribbons tied around them are hung on an exposed beam, it is believed that they can moderate the oppressive effect of the beam on the energy of the house.
All about bamboo flutes
The bamboo suitable to make flutes must be carefully chosen. For making Indian flutes, for instance, the flute bamboo should not have a node. This is not easy to find. In India, such bamboo species are found in Kerala and Assam.
How they are made
Flutes are made in many diverse world cultures. Most follow the same principles which are as follows --
- Seasoning the bamboo so that the natural resins strengthen it. It is then blocked with a piece of cork or rubber stopper from one end.
- Holes are then burned into it as drilling holes often breaks the bamboo. The proportions between bamboo length, bore, diameter of each hole and the location of stopper cork are critical for tuning it correctly. This requires extreme skill on the part of the flutemaker.
- Some flutes are then embellished with strings for both decoration and protection.
Bamboo Flute Music Guide
(1) Cover the three upper holes nearest the mouthpiece with the three big fingers of your left hand; (2) The four lower holes should be covered by the four fingers of your right hand; (3) REMEMBER TO COVER THE SEVEN HOLES AIRTIGHT and FLATLY with the PALM OF YOUR FINGERS, but NOT with the tips of your fingers - to understand this, please see the drawings below. This is very important because if you fail to close the holes correctly, you will not be able to produce the right sound of the notes; (4) Blow gently by spitting a slight gasp of air into the mouthpiece and by opening one or more holes following the fingering chart you will be able to produce the desired note; (5) Blow gently, again by spitting the air to sound especially the notes belonging to the first octave namely: C(do), D(re), E(mi), G(so), F(fa), A(la), B(ti), C2(do), (6) Blow a little bit harder to produce the notes belonging to the second octave namely: C2, D2, E2, F2, G2, A2, B2, C3. Practice , memorize, and master the chart.
Philippine National Anthem - Bamboo Flute
The Prayer (Chords) - Bamboo Flute
Sample Note
♥ Playing a bamboo flute is a hobby worth striving for. It makes one in tne with the sounds of nature, and lifts the spirit to a higher level of inspiration, ever trying to reach up to throne of the Great Almighty.
♥ Many believers worship and praise God by seriously playing worship songs using bamboo instruments. They feel the intensity of the sweet presence and beauty of the holly spirit. It also surrounds the worshippers and satisfy their deep desire to be with the lord.
♥ Today, people are playing their kind of music, using bamboo instruments also find great pleasure in blowing tunes of love and sadness for entertainments.
You are all invited to play the bamboo flute.
♥ Playing it is an adventure to the world of sound.
References:
Serenade (Songs in Flute) -Dante U. Ursua
