My passion for traditional woodwind instruments began in the summer of 1987, when I bought my very first bamboo flute at an arts and crafts festival. Since that time, I have been collecting and playing folkwinds of every kind.

The simple yet ingenious design of my bamboo flute had always fascinated me, so in 1993 I started making my own simple-system transverse flutes. Several years earlier I had joined a fife and drum corps, so my first instruments were Bb military fifes, made from brass and clear acrylic tubing. Nine years later, I was crafting and selling D piccolos and G flutes made of PVC and CPVC pipe.

Then I discovered Puny Tunes. In 2004 I contacted Bryan Mumford to purchase one, but was told he no longer made them and the business was for sale. Upon hearing this, I jumped at the opportunity to carry on the crafting of these unique and wonderful little instruments. After business negotiations and a weekend session of very detailed training, I became the exclusive maker of Puny Tunes "the wee whistle".

Click here to read what Bryan Mumford has to say about my Puny Tunes.

I make Puny Tunes "the wee whistle" during my free time in my garage workshop located in Green Bank, West Virginia. If you ever happen to stop by, I always welcome curious visitors with an interesting flute crafting demonstration, or a lively tune on one of my many folkwind instruments.


Rob Taggart
Folkwind Specialist