-Biography of Brent Haines and Woodsounds.net - Makers of fine Native American Flutes

<body bgcolor="#ffffff" link="#66190f" vlink="#920608" alink="#920608"leftmargin="0" marginwidth="0" topmargin="0" marginheight="0"> <div align="center"> <p> <img src="mainpagepics/bioheading.jpg" width="174" height="59" border="0"><br> <i>Link to <a href="http://www.newmillguitar.com/brent.html" target="_top"><e>Wood Obsession</e></A>, an article about Brent.</i><br> <br> <font size="2">The path that led Brent to becoming a dedicated Native American Flute creator, started in the foothills of the<br> Wasatch Mountains in central Utah. An observant boy, Brent ran around bare foot in the mountains spending his time<br> listening to the sounds of nature around him. The tinkling of a hidden spring, the caw of the magpie bird,<br> the falling of sand from a running lizard, and the beautiful call of the morning glory, all molded his psyche.<br> <br> Later in life he applied himself in the sciences and earned a Chemical Engineering degree, with an emphasis in Mathematics.<br> This background has served him well in understanding the mathematics of the Native American Flute.<br> <br> <img border="0" src="available/Brent%20with%20Flute.jpg" width="200" height="256"><br> <br> The first flute Brent made was hand carved from cedar stock and tuned by ear. Though that first flute was not tuned properly,<br> and had poor sound quality, it ignited Brent's creative energies, which burned within for 10 years waiting for the right time.<br> <br> Always a creator, Brent began woodworking for the primary purpose of making furniture for his family.<br> Unexpectedly, he met a person who had a collection of fine Native American instruments. The smoldering fire, started<br> from his childhood experiences and joy with building and playing his first flute,<br> ignited in full flame ... and he knew he had to build another flute.<br> <br> <img src="mainpagepics/workshot1.jpg" border="0" width="324" height="238"></font><br> <br> <font size="2">Brent applied engineering skills to study the science behind the Native American Flute.<br> He wrote a computer program that calculated the tuning for a wide range of flutes. Far from perfect the first time,<br> it was good enough to create his first E minor flute made from African Wengi wood. As time went on,<br> he fine tuned his program and his flute building skills.<br> <br> Brent gives many thanks to all of the individuals who have and are assisting him along this path.<br> Special thanks go to Gary Leatham for throwing wood on the smoldering fire and continuing to help<br> Brent refine the sound, look and feel of his flutes. Special thanks also go to Lew Paxton Price for his efforts<br> in understanding the physics of the flute and generous teaching of others through his books.<br>And above all, special thanks go to Julia Haines for her patient loving sacrifices.<br> </font><br> <br> <br> <font size="2"> <img src="mainpagepics/bioshot2.jpg" border="0" width="318" height="253"></font><br> <br> <img src="mainpagepics/fl_phil_txt.jpg" border="0" width="181" height="57"> <TABLE align="center" width="60%" border="0"> <TR> <TD align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size="2">We recognize that the novice today is tomorrow's expert. Thus the novice should receive a flute with all of the capabilities that will be desired as an expert.<BR></font></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size="2">The playing qualities of an excellent instrument:<br> <UL> <LI>Superb sound qualities <UL> <LI>Full and round with bass and treble <LI>Minimal breathiness <LI>Excellent volume dynamics </UL> <LI>Accurately tuned to the desired pitch <LI>The fundamental note should be resonate <LI>The overblown octave should index accurately with the fingered octave, meaning they should be the same note <LI>The breath requirements should be well balanced allowing the player to complete reasonable phrasing with all of the embellishments that go along with the phrase and at the same time providing maximum volume dynamics </UL></font></TD><BR> </TR> <TR> <TD align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size="2">The workmanship of an excellent instrument:<br> <UL> <LI>An excellent instrument is a work of art as well as an instrument <LI>The wood should be selected to provide interesting grain and patterns <LI>The trim wood should be selected to enhance the instruments visual appeal <LI>The finish should provide excellent low maintenance protection and should feel luxurious to the touch <LI>The finish should be clear and allow and enhance the natural beauty of the woods </UL> </UL></font></TD><BR> </TR> </TABLE> <br> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><div align="center"> <a href="index.html" target="_top">Home</a> | <a href="bioset.html" target="_top">Bio</a> | <a href="http://www.woodsounds.net/flutesset.html" target="_top">Flutes</a> | <a href="http://www.woodsounds.net/new_fluteset_12_04.html" target="_top">Available Flutes</a> | <a href="http://www.woodsounds.net/testiset.html" target="_top">Testimonials</a> | <a href="mailto:brent.haines@woodsounds.net" target="_top">Contact</a> </div></td> </tr> </table> </p> </div> </body>