New Version of the Thumpy Junior

We are excited to inform you that we have made some improvements to the Thumpy Junior model, which is in production from today. The improvements are:
1. Consistent quality of wood.
2. Consistent shape of the embouchure hole.
3. Consistent quality of sound.
2. The flute is made out of a light-coloured wood with a more natural feel.
3. a stronger, natural cotton bag.
The new Thumpy Junior is available from today and is priced: 22,95 euro. You can order the flute throught the Studio E Online Shop.

The Thumpy Junior including cover

2008: 10 Years of Thumpy!!!

Today it is exactly 10 years ago that the Thumpy trademark has been registered and that we can celebrate 10 years anniversary of the Thumpy flute!! In these years the flute has been distributed all over the world and enjoyed by thousands of flute enthusiast. Also, it has been an enjoyable alternative for those who wanted to learn to flute. The Thumpy Junior has been sold over 2.000 pieces. The hand-made Thumpy Classic has been sold nearly 400 pieces in various wood styles.
At the occasion of 10 years Thumpy we have updated the website www.thumpy.nl. We hope you will like the new layout and that you may find your information easily. Just to mention, we have added some enjoyable video and additional photos. And whenever you want, drop us a line here and we may post your message in this Thumpy Cafe page. Thanks for your support and your visit and enjoy Thumpy!! - Wil Offermans

New Wood for Thumpy Classic

We have some Thumpy Classic flutes available now which are made out of various new and exciting hardwood flavours. For more information, look at www.thumpy.nl or at the Studio E Online Shop. Enjoy Thumpy!

Thumpy Course at MIK, Schijndel, Holland

Hello Wil! After the Flute Day at our music institute MIK (Schijndel, Holland) various students were most excited about your Thumpy Flute. With great enthusiasm they already started to play the Thumpy using your Thumpy Book as well as improvising their own things. Also, we - Leonie and myself - are going to start a short Thumpy course of about 8 till 10 lessons. For information look at the site of our institute: Meierijsche Instellingen voor Kunsteducatie (MIK).
We surely will keep you posted.
Best regards by Jos Aerts. (Visit his Pan Flute Home Page)

Thumpy Video

Dear Wil. The Flute Day with you was fantastic and also thanks for your letter and information. At home I have been working with the Thumpy flute, since I realy intend to introduce this funny instrument to my pupils. Most pity that the video dit not work on my laptop…(?). I also enjoyed the photo series of the Fluta Day on the internet. Thanks and till next time.
Leonie Clahsen, flute teacher at MIK, Schijndel, Holland.

Thumpy in the Dominican Republic

Lolo Fernandez from Andalucia, Spain, sent me some photos of his trip to Dominican Republic enjoying Thumpy with the local kids.

The Thumpy Classic Pro

The Classic Pro is the top model in the Thumpy range. It is fully handmade out of a high-quality, dense hardwood (i.e. grenadill) producing an extremely rich and dynamic sound. The flute has been oil-impregnated, has a unique serial number and comes with a colorful bag as well as a cleaning-rod.
Most often the Classic Pro is made out of Grenadill wood (from Africa / Senegal - Mozambique - Zaire; very heavy wood with an extremely dynamic sound; sometimes called blackwood). Less frequently used wood include: Cocobolo (from Africa; heavy red-coloured wood with a loud sound). Below you can see a piece of Grenadill wood before, which is used for one Thumpy (see the match for size indication).

The Thumpy Classic

The Thumpy Classic is a high-quality model, suitable for the advanced flutist, flute-teacher and for those who just love beautiful wood. The Thumpy Classic - which can produce a refined sound - is fully handmade out of various hardwood by professional craftsmen. The flute has been oil-impregnated, which makes it most stable and durable and enhances its sound. Each flute has a unique serial number and comes with a colorful cover as well as a cleaning-rod.
Depending on availability and demand, the Classic has been made out of various woods, including:
- Sugar Maple Birds Eye (Europe / The Alps; often used for bassoons; has a mild sound)
- Goncalo Alves (South America / Amazon; kind of palisander; beautiful patterns; has a louder sound)
- King Wood (South America; quite heavy; has a louder sound; also know from clarinets)
- Taxus Baccatta (Europe / England; hardest evergreen wood, like conifer; has a strong though warm sound)
- Purple Heart
- Prumus
- Walnut
- Pirus
- Olive (Europe; wonderful wild wood-pattern).
Recently, the Olive wood is most used for the Classic. Most of this wood comes from Spain, where you can find many olive trees.

The Thumpy Junior

The Thumpy Junior is the basic, low-priced model, most suitable for the beginner and music enthusiast or for those just curious to try the Thumpy flute. The instrument has a nice natural feel and is made out of maple wood with a protective transparent coating on the outside.
In the past, the Thumpy Junior also has been produced in a dark-red lacquered version, or a blank, light-wood version. However, the current model is made out of a transparent lacquered wood, as you can see below. Sound has been further improved by adding a thin coating on the inside. The flute comes with a black cloth cover as well as a cleaning-rod.

Young Thumpy Artist in Vienna

During my travels I frequently encounter wonderful surprises related to Thumpy. On 21 May 2005 I was invited by the Wiener Floetenwerkstatt to present a workshop and participating their event ‘Abenteuer Querflöte’ (Flute Day 2005) at the Institute Franz Schubert of the University of Music in Vienna. There I meet many wonderful players and teacher. Then, I meet one flute teacher (i am very soory I am still looking for her correct name…), who presents me two photographs: one shows her 4-year old student playing the Thumpy. The other photograph shows a compositon for Thumpy, made by this very young student. when I later also met the girl, I was most impressed so many imagination and creativity at such a young age! (I was so free to use her photo’s for publication, with lots thanks to her teacher.)