Sunreed Instruments is a small workshop in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Since 1977, we have hand crafted a wide selection of fine quality bamboo flutes, shakuhachi, bamboo saxophones (our own invention), bamboo clarinets, Native American style flutes, and didgeridoos. We offer one of the widest selections of bamboo wind instruments available anywhere. We also offer our own unique gentle, healing music, performed on instruments we have made, in audiocassette format. And we provide a wide selection of indigenous drums, simple percussive, modern concert and world instruments at very reasonable prices. Among our latest additions are our World Instruments page, our fine authentic Australian Aboriginal Didgeridoos, available on our didgeridoo page, our premiere cedar Native American "Love" flutes on our Native American Flutes page, our fine traditional Native American crafted drums, and our cedar shakuhachi and transverse flutes made in our own shop. And educators will want to see our pages on our unique and highly praised multi-cultural Music Education and Native American Education Programs.
You will find among our pages our many instruments which you may order by phone, fax, mail, or on our secure server. You may use Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, personal or bank checks, or wire transfer for payment.
Our instruments are produced with the aesthetic quality of over 35 years of experience, are well tuned with electronic tuners, come with complete instructions, and are fully warrantied.
While our student and intermediate flutes are sufficient for many players, our professional model flutes are exceptional, made with high standards, compared to flutes made by some of the worlds' best makers, and should suit the needs of practically any professional or musician seeking the highest quality, capable of playing in most professional/concert/performance/recording situations.
With our 35+ years of experience, we, also, are better able to serve you in selecting the right instrument for your specific needs. We are specialists in the nature of sound and music as a healing vehicle, and understand the principals of sound therapies, gaining great accreditation at this time. Zacciah is Director of Education for the International Sound Healing Network, and has extensive ability to help with instruments typical to that profession.
While we have had a number of fine individuals help us through the years with preparation and finish work, exhibitions, office and shipping, our founder, owner, and resident and only flutemaker is Zacciah Blackburn. Zacciah was born and raised in Texas. While attending college at the U.S. Naval Academy, he was guided to change his life to a more spiritually based existence. Soon after, he was introduced to the bamboo flute, and migrated to the beautiful mountains of New England in the mid 70's. While seeking to share his love for the rich and soothing qualities of the flute, he made and gave flutes to his friends and neighbors. The demand for his work grew, as did his love for flutemaking, as he was introduced to more and more bamboo wind instruments of the world. it was inevitable that he would become a flutemaker. Over the years, Zacciah developed his unique style of craftsmanship, created the bamboo saxophone, and exhibited his work at major fine art, craft and music festivals and galleries across the nation. He has won numerous awards for his work. But his greatest reward has been the overwhelmingly positive responses he gets from you.
It is indeed a blessing to be able to provide you with unique quality instruments of the world, derived from my deep love of each instrument, and the cultural and spiritual heritage which each reflects, and which I feel so connected to.
The Center of Light here, or at the bottom of our main page.
We often have visitors ask about our logo.
When first sculpting flutes from bamboo, Zacciah found a sun was formed by the grains of bamboo emerging at each node, when cut and polished at the right point. The name "Sun Reed" was born of the sun contained within each reed of bamboo.
The Sun is, also, a universal symbol to most cultures, deepening it's significance.
The centermost emblem is the "Om", a Hindu symbol of Creation/Creator, containing all elements of Creation within it. It is said to be the 'sound' of all manifest Creation. In Hindu music, it is said to resonate at a frequency between C# and D. It is often considered as a word for "God," literally meaning "All", or "All That Is."
The Indian Bansurai flute, a traditional side blown flute, was of great inspiration in our early flutes. The vast reservoir of knowledge and style contained within Indian music, also, inspired Zacciah in his early work and style of playing.
This symbol was the foundation of what became an even more meaningful logo for Zacciah's work with "The Center of Light, Institute of Sound Healing and Shamanic Studies."