Ng Teck Seng

I started out as a musician, and I have always loved Chinese music. In my younger days, I couldn’t afford many instruments, so I chose to play the flute as it was the cheapest. But as I progressed in my musical ability, I realised that I was not getting the quality of sound I needed and I started making my own flutes in 1986.

Over a period of 4 years, I began to be recognised for my instruments. People were asking me to sell my flutes to them, even though I was very reluctant to. I was very particular about acoustics, and until today, I am still working with scientists in universities to improve the acoustics of my instruments.

Making flutes is not just a passion for me. It is an artistry of constant improvisation. Since there are many factors involved in making a good instrument, I am always searching for perfection. One of the most important factors, which is a real constraint, is the availability of good bamboo. Due to global warming, the bamboo we get these days are just not hard enough. It also needs to be of the right size and shape. I have to go to China to source, purchase, and refine them before sending it back to Singapore.

Besides good raw material, you need to have the right technique and sufficient acoustic knowledge. All that comes with experience. Finally, it helps to have good tools. Everything is made in my tiny workshop, which is a 12 sqm room in my HDB flat.

The first thing I do after I find a good piece of bamboo, is to straighten it by baking it under a fire. Then I clean up the inside of the bamboo, and using the dimension of the bamboo, I define the positioning of the holes in the instrument — this is all done by experience. Only when the fundamentals are right can I start to paint or carve the design on the flute. 

It takes months to make a good piece of instrument, and that includes refining and tuning it to get the sound that you want. Sometimes I can finish crafting a flute in one day, but the tuning can take a few months or more.

Music is a common language amongst human beings. The key to good music, whether Western or Chinese music, is the quality of the sound. I feel that it is my obligation to introduce more quality Chinese music to people, by making more quality instruments. Of course, the skill of the player makes a difference. So when I hear my flutes being played by some of the world-class musicians, my heart sings with joy.