Making instruments with small children

Hanspeter Janzi (HJ) trained as a carpenter and studied trombone at the Lucerne University of Music. He recently completed the CAS Bamboo Flute at the Kalaidos University of Music. He plays in various ensembles and teaches at several music schools, and in 2021 he also took over a bamboo flute class. In his free time, he enjoys traveling in the mountains with his family.
Denise Schär-Plüss (DSP) studied clarinet at the Bern University of the Arts and completed a
Teaching diploma for bamboo flute. She teaches at the Aaretal and Solothurn music schools and is a lecturer in the CAS bamboo flute program. In her free time, she plays and listens to a wide variety of musical styles from Renaissance to jazz, goes for walks with her dogs and travels.

When we mention bamboo flute lessons, we sometimes get a smile from the other person. Are bamboo flute lessons taken seriously enough?
HJ: Some people think we do something like 'supervised handicrafts with music' and are surprised when they find out that we build the instrument ourselves. The bamboo flute is fully tuned and has a chromatic range of 1 ½ octaves. The smiles usually turn into amazement.
DSP: I have never experienced such a smile! I'm just amazed that it's possible to build a fully-fledged chromatic instrument with children and make music on it.

That's really amazing. At what age are you able to make your own bamboo flute?
DSP: The lessons are aimed at children from the age of 4 or 5.
have built an alto flute, they usually switch to another instrument. However, a passion for instrument making can also develop in elementary lessons: Some children want to build the entire flute quartet!
HJ: At our music school, many children start between the ages of 2 and 5 with a parent-child music course. If they then want to learn an instrument, they may still be too young.
As a transition, they can learn musical basics with the bamboo flute. The
What is special is that every child builds their own instrument. Because who of us
Professional musician has ever made their own instrument? As a trombonist, I certainly never have.

As a violinist and pianist, we can't say the same for ourselves. Do we have to imagine a group of singing children with tools, or what do elementary lessons with the self-made bamboo flute actually look like?
DSP: Colorful and versatile! Well-paced lessons take place in small groups and include musical, playful and craft elements. The children carry out all the steps involved in making the flute themselves, using drills, saws and files. When working out the
holes, their hearing is trained because they have to file until the right note sounds.

So flute making is also part of the CAS course?
HJ: Exactly. To enjoy your lessons, it is important to build a good bamboo flute. This requires practice and skill. Playing the bamboo flute also needs to be learned.

What other content is taught in the CAS Bamboo Flute?
DSP: In addition to flute making and playing technique and practice, the CAS consists of the following modules
methodology, practicals and the final examination. As Mr. Janzi indicated, flute making takes the most time. In methodology and practicals, the focus is on 'learning by doing' and teaching at elementary level. The CAS can be attended by qualified musicians after a preliminary course.

Mr. Janzi, how can you combine training with your private and professional life?
HJ: It was actually quite good, as we were able to define the lesson times ourselves and the duration of around one year is manageable.

You are both trained professional musicians. Are there opportunities to complete the training with other career paths?
DSP: For people from educational and social professions with a university degree, the Swiss Bamboo Flute Association offers a preliminary course in music in addition to the construction course, making it possible to join the CAS.