History

The idea for a circular flute came from some of my travels. On the other side of the world, in Yangshuo China, I was mesmerized by a Cantonese street performer (a very gifted bamboo flute player). Over a two-week period, I sat on the street corner for hours a day listening to him play. On my last day in the area, I tried describing a South American Ocarina flute to him using only hand gestures (I cannot speak Cantonese). The ocarina’s hollow football shape was not easy to describe. However, I found a piece of garden hose littered in the street that maybe could assist me. I placed the ends together, end-to-end. That was not really the shape I had intended and more than anything I think that I just really confused him. So, I walked away nodding my head, wondering what he thought this dumb foreigner might be trying to do with a piece of garden hose. Over the next few days on the train, I had plenty of time to think and the garden hose shape kept popping up in my daydreams. I began to wonder… what if? Could it work? Maybe?

Eleven years later, thousands of man-hours, money, research and development spent, and the RingFlute was born. I hope that you enjoy it and I welcome your comments, suggestions, insights and testimonials.

Thanks for your interest,

James Johnson
Inventor of the RingFlute