What is a bamboo saxophone you ask?
Well, bamboo saxophones can be saxophones that are entirely built out of bamboo (excepting the reed and the mouth piece of course)... Like so:
But that's not what I'm playing. I'm playing an instrument built by a man who specialises in making bamboo flutes. He essentially stuck a sax head on a the body of a bamboo flute.
His website.
The man himself and his spiel (fun to watch, he's an entertaining guy):
Or you could watch a video recounting in fairy tale fashion the flutemaker's first steps into the world of flute making. It's a interesting story that is pretty well told.
He is also using his business to collect funds for orphans who were living on a garbage heap in Nicaragua. Laudable work!
Did you already know how to play a flute or a saxophone? Love the sound of this.
ReplyDeleteDo you look good playing it? That's the most important thing.
Erik is pretty funny.
How does it sound? Like a flute in a saxophone disguise? But would be a major or a minor detail. :)
ReplyDeleteI was waiting...scrolling...anticipating...the clip of you playing the darned thing. Now man up, and give us a couple notes! Please....pretty please....
ReplyDeleteYou always find such interesting sites. Amazing varieties of sounds to be made from wood and bamboo. I used to play clarinet, and now my son plays so I always appreciate a wooden instrument.
ReplyDeleteThat looks awesome. A bamboo saxophone!! I have never seen one of those, but would love to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteAloha Kass! I tootle around on flutes (I have a couple penny whistles, and two pvc Irish flutes), though I wouldn't call it playing persay. Occasionally pleasant sounds occur when I have a wind instrument in my hands. : j
ReplyDeleteIt's my first single reed instrument so it's a new and fun experience.
Yeah, the flutemaker is a funny charmer all right! : j
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Hallo Carolyn! It sounds entirely like a sweet saxophone... That's basically what it is... It just has a shorter range because it doesn't have mechanical keys or cross-fingering.
Details are part of the American way... or are they? They are certainly part of of the Japanese way, and I am part Japanese so I might get away with it. Certainly better than getting carried away with myself. ; j
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Heya Annie! Tell you what, I'll man up if you do! No pressure... I'm still wondering about you and that piano. : j
Counter requesting set aside, I may try to record something at some point. I haven't tried my recording hardware since I got my new computer last week. It'll be an adventure!
Of course, if I can't produce something at least pleasant there won't be a point to it. (ﾟｰﾟ) We shall see/hear...
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Wie gehts, Theresa? I would have betted that you studied a musical instrument at some point, it matches with the image I have of you! Wouldn't have guessed clarinet though. Did your son just pick the clarinet coincidentally, or did your previous experience provide him with favourable circumstances (ie having a clarinet in the house)?
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Greeting JA! I've found it very easy to play, once I got over the different feel of having a reed in my mouth... If your used to using flutes or saxophones, you'd pick it up almost right away.
You might also be interested in having a look at xaphoons which are pocket saxophones that are well on their way to becoming recognized as a standard instrument in their own right.
That was so cool how he burned the holes in the flutes. Neat stuff, thank you for sharing something I probably wouldn't have seen anywhere else!
ReplyDeleteWow! That was an awesome video - and I love how he's using this for a good cause!
ReplyDeleteNow we just need a video of you playing your bamboo sax and this post will be complete... :-)
I wanted to play the piano, but (just like ballet), my mother refused. At the end of 3rd-grade we could take a band instrument. So I had a had a choice to take woodwinds, brass, or strings. I thought my braces (getting a picture here) and the flute would be weird, so I chose the clarinet. In 7th-grade, I switched to sax. But it was much harder and I wasn't that dedicated, so I quit soon after.
ReplyDeleteI should mention that my mother didn't want me to take the clarinet either, but it was only $30 for the whole summer, so I stood my ground.
My son had the same band/orchestra choice in 5th-grade. Maybe because I took it or because it could lead to sax, he choose clarinet. He also takes piano lessons.