"Welcome to the homepage of the first free online course of study for the pan flute in the world! Due to overwhelming demand from pan flute enthusiasts around the world, I would like to present my free video lessons series! For almost all its long history, the pan flute (sometimes also called the panpipes) has been free of the institutionalization that has plagued other, more familiar musical instruments. In recent years, however, this has changed. There have been efforts by various parties to corner the fledgling pan flute market, in effect, to "own the truth" concerning the instrument's building, playing, and distribution. I have vowed to oppose any efforts to control access to the pan flute, by making knowledge of the instrument available to all. My free lessons are designed to give anyone the ability to learn how to play the pan flute on their own, without the aid of any other publications. The prevailing myth (perpetuated by those panflutists who fear the decline of their influence and profits) is that you need to study with a prominent pan flute virtuoso to be a good panflutist. The notion is quite simply false. Everyone has the ability to develop their own unique pan flute technique. Learning to play the pan flute doesn't involve any deep secrets or complex techniques. Your results will be determined by the time and effort you invest in the instrument. The only true secret to the pan flute can be said with three words - practice, practice, practice. I created these lessons for the benefit of all people worldwide, but particularly for people who are unable to afford instructional publications. It is time, past time, for a pan flute teacher to step forward with genuine help for beginners, rather than seeking to line their own pockets or stroke their own egos. I am happy to be the individual to do this. I hope you enjoy the lessons, and remember: you can do it!" -Douglas Bishop
"Are you interested in private lessons? I also offer personal lessons on Skype! In addition to the benefits of live personal lessons at a very affordable rate, my Skype students also have access to my extensive private library of pan flute music (almost 6 GB), which includes many rare and out-of-print recordings. If you are interested in becoming a Skype student, feel free to contact me on Skype (my Skype ID is Panflutejedi) or email me for details!"
Affordable pan flutes of high quality? Here are Douglas' personal recommendations!
One of the best-kept secrets of the international pan flute community can be found in Lima, Peru, the home of Señor Hector Ruben Muñoz Perez, a builder of world-class concert pan flutes. For more than 20 years, Ruben has been quietly refining his pan flute craftsmanship, and has attained an astonishing level of quality, surpassing that of many of the most costly pan flutes on the market today. Ruben works with the finest Peruvian Amazon bamboo, harvested by sustainable methods, and aged and cured for up to ten years. Ruben speaks Spanish, so non-Spanish speakers will need to use a translation tool when contacting him. The price for a 22-tube (G1-G4) alto Q'awary Pan Flute is an amazing $360 US, and if that's not enough flute for you, his magnificent 27-tube (D0-B3) bass flutes are a paltry $1000 US! Requests for information concerning special orders and other questions may be directed to Ruben's private e-mail account, or to Ruben's Facebook page. Ruben may also be contacted on Skype (his Skype ID is rubenpanflute@gmail.com). Construction time and delivery dates may vary according to diverse conditions, including inclement weather, international shipping processing, and backlog of previous orders. The payment method for Ruben's pan flutes is by Western Union transfer (find a Western Union location near you), payable to Hector Ruben Muñoz Perez. Tell him Douglas sent you!
The Pan Flute Store
For the benefit of novices looking to save time and money, I would like to present the beginner's line of pan flutes currently being offered by The Pan Flute Store! This online store is the brainchild of pan flute enthusiast Ronald Godoy, who is located in California. Visit The Pan Flute Store today! If you would like to see some demonstrations of The Pan Flute Store's beginner's flutes, visit the links below.
It is clear that no pan flute student's education can be complete without some knowledge of the instrument's history. For some time, I have pondered the past and present history of the pan flute. One surprising insight I have gained is this: among my colleagues, it is an apparent rarity to consider the implications of any of the pan flute's history beyond its modern period, a span of time approximately encompassing the previous 70 years. Much of what modern panflutists understandas "pan flute history" is based on the assertions of their respective teachers (relatively few of whom have actually researched the pan flute's history), or even on the conceits of mythology. These accounts often name the usual prominent figures in the pan flute's modern history (Zamfir, Damian Luca, etc.), but rarely (if ever) address the pan flute's history prior to this period. During this modern period, the teaching and building of the pan flute has become the province of specialized ateliers and schools, as well as prominent performing panflutists. In the words of one European atelier: "This is the most artificial time for the pan flute". One of the most deplorable consequences of this increased institutionalization is that the pan flute's ancient history becomes a footnote, little studied (if at all) and neglected. One of my primary missions is to correct this oversight, by employing an evidence-based approach, and my knowledge and research of historical disciplines, to tell the pan flute's story with fidelity and impartiality.
The pan flute's ancient history makes one thing very clear: for almost all of its history, the pan flute has not been a thing of the prominent, but of the "average Joes and Janes" who, liking the sound of the wind blowing through the reed and bamboo thickets of the world, decided to build their own pan flute, and enjoy themselves playing it. In the realization of this historically accurate "average person / pan flute" relationship is to be found the true nature of the instrument. The incredible diversity of the pan flute forms to be found worldwide, and the diverse origins of the people who have built and played them throughout history, overwhelmingly bears witness to this. This is in stark contrast to the compartmentalization of more recent years. When I examine the historical evidence, I can only arrive at this conclusion: The pan flute is not a thing of one person, one name, one people, or one nation - it is a thing of all humankind.
In recent years, however, this has changed. There have been efforts by various parties to corner the fledgling pan flute market, in effect, to "own the truth" concerning the instrument's building, playing, and distribution. I have vowed to oppose any efforts to control access to the pan flute, by making knowledge of the instrument available to all. My free lessons are designed to give anyone the ability to learn how to play the pan flute on their own, without the aid of any other publications. The prevailing myth (perpetuated by those panflutists who fear the decline of their influence and profits) is that you need to study with a prominent pan flute virtuoso to be a good panflutist. The notion is quite simply false. Everyone has the ability to develop their own unique pan flute technique. Learning to play the pan flute doesn't involve any deep secrets or complex techniques. Your results will be determined by the time and effort you invest in the instrument. The only true secret to the pan flute can be said with three words - practice, practice, practice. I created these lessons for the benefit of all people worldwide, but particularly for people who are unable to afford instructional publications. It is time, past time, for a pan flute teacher to step forward with genuine help for beginners, rather than seeking to line their own pockets or stroke their own egos. I am happy to be the individual to do this. I hope you enjoy the lessons, and remember: you can do it!" -Douglas Bishop
Learn the pan flute with Douglas' free lessons! 
Skype Lessons with Douglas!
(relatively few of whom have actually researched the pan flute's history), or even on the conceits of mythology. These accounts often name the usual prominent figures in the pan flute's modern history (Zamfir, Damian Luca, etc.), but rarely (if ever) address the pan flute's history prior to this period. During this modern period, the teaching and building of the pan flute has become the province of specialized ateliers and schools, as well as prominent performing panflutists. In the words of one European atelier: "This is the most artificial time for the pan flute". One of the most deplorable consequences of this increased institutionalization is that the pan flute's ancient history becomes a footnote, little studied (if at all) and neglected. One of my primary missions is to correct this oversight, by employing an evidence-based approach, and my knowledge and research of historical disciplines, to tell the pan flute's story with fidelity and impartiality.
