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Flute making at Asbury
Chapel |
 Flute making at Asbury Chapel Patricia A. West-Volland Times Recorder Correspondent HOPEWELL -A mystical sound filled the chapel as children and adults picked up the flute and began to play. A magical gleam filled the children's eyes as the flutes came to life and surrounded them with music. A flute making and decorating workshop was held at Asbury Chapel in Hopewell with about 25 people. The eclectic mix of attendees included a musician, a writer, parents and a former flute player and a frustrated clarinet player who wanted to play the flute. These were not the standard wooden flutes but flutes made from PVC plumbing pipe. Ian Kent, the flute maker, showed the crowd how to make the flute. A little pipe, a bit of wax and a wine cork were all the supplies needed to make the flute. They cost about 50 cents to make, Ian said. "It sounds like a regular flute," Ian said. "The PVC makes it unique. I saw one a friend of mine had that someone had made for him. I have a workshop and like making things so gave it a try." Ian explained how the Native Americans made their flutes, measuring from the tip of their fingers to their elbow for the length, the width of their hand for the length of the holes and the width of the thumb for the distance between each hole. Since they were made and used to court girls, they came from the heart, he told the group. Eagerly the children, Ben Krier, 13, and Nathan Krier, 7, and others picked up the flute and started to play. The adults followed their lead and quickly filled the chapel with music. "The first thing you want to remember is you don't want to blow hard," Ian said. "Make sure your fingers cover the holes." Dale Sparlin, of Columbus, owns several flutes but none made of PVC. "I've been a musician all my life and it just feels familiar to me," he said. "I have native flutes and I wanted to do a PVC one. I know these people (referring to Gloria and Dee Krier, the chapel owner); they're good people to be with." See More Photos Even More Photos (Originally published September 14, 2007) |
While Dale wanted to add a PVC pipe to his collection others attended just for the pure please of the music and to be with friends. "Music is very spiritual so I thought I'd come," said Mary Ute, of Crooksville. Ian's wife, Judy Kent, and his sister, Gloria Kent, assisted with decorating ideas.
"This is wonderful," Gloria said. "Everyone's making their flute different and unique." "This (the workshop) gives them an excuse to do crafts like we used to," Dee said. Ben decorated his flute in scarlet and grey while Nathan used feathers and markers. Traci Deveny and Diane Carter selected the materials they wanted to use to decorate their flutes. Ribbons, beads, fabric, thread and feathers were place on the table. Each flute was uniquely decorated. "These are really cool," said Traci, as she tied some fabric to her flute. "I thought it would be a cool class." "We haven't been able to get together and do anything so this was a good idea," said Diane. "This is a wonderful way to commune." Friends, Carol Oldham and Kim Metheny, of Newark, found the class on the Internet. "I've heard about this place and always wanted to come," Kim said. "I played the flute in school and just felt drawn to come." "I always wanted to play the flute," Carol said. "I never got over that I had to play a clarinet." Jokes about the flutes being made from PVC floated through the room. "When you see this on the Antique Road Show in a hundred years you'll know how long it last," Diane said. "They'll say it was obviously made by a primitive group," Carol laughed as she decorated her flute. Complete instructions can be found on the Internet by searching for PVC pipe flutes. |
