The Pan flute is an ancient musical instrument built by combining multiple sizes of tubes each capped at one end. The first set of Pan pipes were marsh reeds bound together by the mythical Greek god Pan, which is obviously where the instrument's name originates. The effect of blowing across the varying sized tubes results in different musical notes, much like the sound made from blowing across a glass soda bottle. I have a small collection of Pan flutes, and when the mood hits me I will sometimes play one of them.

Other than the flutes purchased in my collection I have also produced a few of my own Pan pipes out of raw materials. This particular Pan flute consisting of copper pipes was bound together with soaked leather cord over split & stained wooden dowels. Certain sets of pipes are different diameters and cut to various lengths, but every tube has one cork cap near the bottom end. The cork caps can be slid in or out to tune the musical note made by each pipe. Copper was chosen as the tubing material because in time it will oxidize to become a green color. This will mimic the green found in nature and thus honor the legend of Pan, who was the Greek god of nature and fertility.