Chat with Artist: The young flute maker Satish

Satish Shanbhg hails from a little village in Kumta  and making quality bamboo flutes from past several years. Great masters of flutes all over India are his customers and he is very busy these days giving  quality flutes . I had a small portrait session with him and some interesting conversation. Previously I had chatted with M V Hegde who is from the older generation than Satish .  Satish is young, lot of future ahead and already shown the signs of becoming one of the best in  India. His answers  to few questions I asked  were very thoughtful so I  have summarized here. Please read on .

What do you find interesting in making musical instrument such as flute rather than paying? You are in touch with flute maestros and it is easier to you learning flute or making flutes ?

Passion is most important in any case. I started learning how to play  flute but soon I found interest in making flutes and then some other musical instruments.  I found a great pleasure in making flute and I felt extremely happy when  the best flute players played my flute.

What knowledge is important in making musical instruments? You can take the example of flute in which you are the master!

A sound knowledge of the music is required to make musical instruments especially bamboo  flutes because making flutes can’t be replaced by machines. That is mainly because each Bamboo  is different in its characteristics and each flute making out of bamboo is experiment . More the experience more the quality of the sound.

Why flute, I know you used to make many instruments but recently I heard you are only focusing on making bamboo flutes?

I made lot of other instruments such as harmonium, Sitar, Sarangi but getting a great sound out of quality flute is challenging and requires lot of experience and patience .  Greats like Sameer Rao, Prakash Hegde  liked my flutes and started using them in their concerts all over the world it gave me immense pleasure and a good living of course also. The other instruments are bit easy as the metal comes in picture to produce sound. Metals can be predicted and machines can be replaced to shape them. So I decided to stay with the flute and practice as much as possible. For me every flute is a trial and error kind of thing. It takes time, experience and patience out of me.

 From your words I find making of flute is also an art . Can you this be taught to more   younger generation ?

Yes it is possible but they need to understand it takes lot of time to learn the art. The more effort and time they put the faster they learn. Nowadays everyone wants to learn everything but not for more than two months.

It went on , we kept talking for hours. I also enjoyed the ‘farmer’ face also. He showed me his honey bee cultivation and a little farm. It was a great morning with him. I enjoyed capturing his images and added below. Please take a look at them and encourage  him by buying flute made from him!

Anyone interested in getting a quality,  handmade engineered flutes can contact him . He can take-up the orders in volumes also.

His contact details

Satish Shanbag

Ph: 99 80 771365

email:satish.flute@gmail.com

FB id : satish.shanbhag.1