WV Native American Flute Circle

It has been a great Run!

2011-05-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

Sort of an open letter to my flute friends, I miss you folks, let's play sometime...

There are just a few weeks remaining before my degree in nursing is complete and I then spent about a month preparing to take my board exams. Then the real work starts, where I return to the working world as “the new guy”, with a beginners mind and great enthusiasm to start over in a different but related profession. Turns out that this is the type of milestone you’d think it would be and this gives cause for reflection about a lot of things in my life and yet another re-balancing of the ledgers of my life’s energies.

As I struggled to maintain the work of the West Virginia Native American Flute Circle, amidst the near constant efforts of nursing school these past two years - I have been greatly anticipating a larger amount of time for music and flutes. There was so much that needed to be done for the flute circle and so much growth that I wanted to stay abreast with in my own music, so I really felt that I needed the flute and it has been frustrating to not be able to play it.

I came to the flute at a time in my life when I was adjusting to becoming a stay at home dad for my then young son. While kids are absolutely the best thing that will ever happen to a person – adjusting to the stay at home thing and role changes can be challenging regardless of your gender and I found that I needed to learn a new skill in order to have something that was still mine. This was a time of great selflessness and opening of myself at the same time, and the music of the flute allowed me to really get in touch with transformation by giving it a voice, letting things flow more, and enriching our home with music – which I had not experienced since my own childhood. The flute changed me in such a powerful way that I went to every flute circle meeting that I could and those supportive and understanding folks not only welcomed me, but encouraged me to start my own circle.

The West Virginia Native American Flute Circle has been a wonderful experience and allowed me the opportunity to teach and share the flute with others. It has been the doorway for me to meet all of the flute players in the region, and as I suspected, there are more of them than I thought! We have helped foster the Timber Flute Festival in Elkins which I hope will return some day as the great week of multidisciplinary sharing that we all loved for three years. Our circle helped create West Virginia’s second flute circle and I never thought we’d have two flute circles in West Virginia either. We have held a players retreat, and flute building workshops, and have built and shared free PVC flutes with all kinds of folks – allowing new players to sprout in some unsuspecting places. I even have enjoyed my first taste of woodworking, laughed a lot, and met some of my dearest friends all through pouring myself into a flute circle.

A few months ago I said something out loud and let it sit until now for contemplation. What could I do with the time and energy that I currently invest, and have poured into our little circle, if I were not maintaining it? Something that has given you so much and has such wonderful potential is difficult to let go of or put aside. Folks who know me realize that I do not just stop something or say “well, that’s enough now…” and yet with so much passion for the flute and a bit more time appearing at the end of the tunnel (which has been school), it seemed a question worth asking.

My friends at Northern Virginia Flute Circle and Potomac Flute Circle are always looking for help. The revived Flute Fall In near Finncastle, VA. is now run by an active committee. I am regularly (not enough, but some) asked to play out for folks or to teach an occasional beginner lesson. Meanwhile I miss my own instruments, have not learned a new song in two years and really want our instrument represented at the Augusta Heritage Festival someday. Golly that is a long list, telling me that I do miss the flute and need to get back. I will do that, but I think that until the need comes again for a monthly flute gathering in Elkins I’ll invest my time in seeking to attend and assist other circles with their efforts. I’ll remain available for demonstrations (you can hardly call me a player these days, I am too rusty!), and I’ll play and refine my skills in building these instruments as I have the time. I think I can then use my limited energy more effectively to make beautiful music and share with those wish to do so.

I’ll leave this blog up, long after I make all the follow up calls to “close” the circle and hope that a “virtual circle” will remain part of the picture as I love to share news, pass on good information and learn. I think that more facebook and web circles are cropping up all the time and folks like this outlet and its level of commitment. I hope anyone who is close to our meetings, which will go away, would consider attending the Tri-State NAF Circle (http://trristatenativeflutecircle.blogspot.com/) they are an active and wonderful group.

So thank you all for a great run – I hope to see you at a not-so-local flute circle meeting in the near future and I’ll tell you about how much a new RN really needs to play to flute in order to relax…

In music,

Carl

Potomac Flute Festival

2011-04-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

The festival is nearly here and will be a sure thing with a June date (no more snow and ice at festival) so make your plans now and check out there event schedule which includes a drum workshop this year!

http://potomacflutefestival.org/

2010-11-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

The flute news - a rehash of news from my inbox…

Let's start with the bad news and get it over with... Funders, organizers and the facility that hosts our local, annual, Timber Flute Festival have decided that due to declining attendance they will need to discontinue the event. I think that everybody who has helped with this deserves a big round of thanks for all their work on what has been a great sharing of community across the spectrum of wooden flutes - making for a unique and great event. That will be sadly missed.

Dawn Avery (Mohawk) has a new CD coming out Our Fire working with STEVEN ALVAREZ - Percussion/ Vocals and LARRY MITCHELL - Guitars/ Bass/ Program Drums Her last project was Red Moon and it remains a favorite on my playlist!

Clint Goss has been hard at work overhauling his website and you can check out the new flute-opedia at www.flutopedia.com – thanks Clint!

Sometimes it seems like the Potomac and NOVA flute circles set the standard on organization - here is their revised calendar of events to check out:

Monthly Flute Circles (N Virginia at on the 1st Sunday; Potomac on the 3rd Saturday)

Mid-Winter Concert (February 2011)

Flute Spring Retreat Weekend (April 2011)

Potomac Native American Flute Festival (June 24-25, 2011) Note a change to the non-snow season as for years now it seems that questionable winter weather followed their festival!

Word is that the renewed flute fall in was a terrific success - here is the news on that
“Our Flute Fall-in at Camp Bethel near Roanoke over Halloween weekend was fantastic. It was quiet, except for the music and laughter. The food was good. The views fantastic. The opportunity to spend more quality time with folks that we might miss during the whirlwind of Festival was priceless.

Here's a link to one participant's Facebook album of Fall-in photos.

Special thanks to Leonard McGann for facilitating, to his wife Kitty for the Friday night dinner (and to both for the Dixie Caverns experience) and to Stuart Hill for being the catalyst to resurrect the retreat events.

During dinner on the final night, a number of Fall-in participants said they'd be interested in attending a Flute Spring if we wanted to bring that back, too.

If you're interested in the Flute Spring -- a similar retreat opportunity most likely to be held at the same facility they used to be in southern New Jersey -- in April 2011” contact Northern Virginia Flute Circle to get involved.

Also of note: Carlos Nakai will perform during the Millennium Stage series at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Wednesday, November 17 at 6:00 pm. The performance is free.

There is a new flutemaker and seed of a growing festival/flute circle in Kentucky and they called to let us know that they’ll be looking at an fall annual festival - news to follow for 2011…

I'll be playing flute for the first time in awhile at the area Montessori school Nov 19 to introduce kids to the flute and didgeridoo. Always a fun morning, they dance like nobody's watching!

Sept 2010 news

2010-09-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Notes from the flute world
The tri-state flute circle is going strong and meeting monthly.

NEXT FLUTE CIRCLE MEETING:
Date: SEPTEMBER 18, 2010
Time: 12:00 noon- 2:00pm
Location: Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25704
THE ATRIUM BETWEEN SMITH MUSIC HALL AND SMITH HALL.
Refreshments such as fruits and veggies, trail mix, pretzels, or cookies, and water or teas will be free. Bring finger or easy foods if you'd like.
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT MEETINGS, CHECK OUR:
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113378260242&v=info
NEW BLOG!: http://trristatenativeflutecircle.blogspot.com/
OR SEND US AN EMAIL: tristateflutecircle@yahoo.com

The Northern Virginia Flute Circles have brought back an event that is extraordinary and very fun. Read the details here:

There're a few slots left for the Flute Fall-In at Camp Bethel near Roanoke on Halloween weekend.

Cost for the three-night, four-day stay is $175 per person, which includes lodging and meals (except for the "dinner-out" on Saturday night) and all other associated activities.

Attendees who'll be bringing some flutes include Brad Young and Roger Bennett. Leonard "Lone Crow" McGann is our facilitator. Gary Cope from Indianapolis, whom some of you know as a fine musician, is coming, as well as Sterling Green, whom many of you know from Festival.

The registration form and all details are at our main Web site, www.potomacflutefestival.org

Registration deadline is October 1, so get those forms in now! First-come, first-served for our maximum attendance of 30 people.

Join us in the House of Towers!
Several other events are brewing with eth NVa. circles - stay tuned
Mid-Winter Concert Series (February 2011)
Flute Spring (Spring 2011)
Potomac Flute Festival Vendor Day (June 25, 2011)

I have been a bit out of touch lately as Nursing School continues but we had a great Timber Flute Festival this summer with Ron Warren and Janice Torres playing and teaching. If you have not heard their new album Aura Surey, Many Roads Home you need to check it out. Visit www.ronwarrenmusic.com to order a CD.

Jan 2010 news

2010-01-04T18:26:00.000-08:00

Flute news for Jan 2010 – Happy New Year

We have moved our meetings to every other month and it seems to be working out. Last meeting (November) we even had a new fiddle player come to visit and now we are talking about duet potential if I can ever find the time to owrk on a new tune...

The news:
It's worth repeating to your friends, family, coworkers and casual acquaintances that the Festival is "open to the public."Anyone can attend. The Vendor areas are free admission. The public can attend concerts, and also attend a day's worth of workshops or the entire weekend.Spread the word -- everyone is welcome! What Festival?! The Potomac Native American Flute Festival. This is on eof teh largest and best run gatherings on teh East coast and is coming up in March as a do not miss event. I think we'll see TWO West Virginia Circles attending this year. Great news.

Best rate of only $125 for the entire weekend available through March 1, 2010.There is a wonderful schedule of performers in concert:Friday, March 26: Hawk Henries, followed by Ron Warren and his band, AURA SUREY.Saturday, March 27: two first-timer's at Festival -- Cornell Kinderknecht followed by Suzanne Teng and Mystic Journey.Your favorite vendors will be there plus workshops that will show you how to create new "harmonies" with your flute and many other instruments.Potomac Native American Flute Festival
Remember: BEST FULL FESTIVAL PRICE DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2010!

In other news, Clint Goss has a new Jam tracks CD available:

The latest in the Jam Tracks series, Jam Tracks in E Minor, has just arrived.
21 tracks of backing music for jamming on an E flute.

The web site now plays a sampler of all the tracks ... here's a direct link, so grab an E flute and start jamming:

http://www.NAFTracks.com/ntem_detail.htm

There is also a youtube video from the 2009 Flute Haven workshop in Pennsylvania

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z36AUECgQr8

There is a great Saturday performance this month at our arts center and so we'll be meeting upstairs rather than in the great hall. Look for signs pointing you the right way.

Some news

2009-11-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

Red Moon is what is in my CD player right now. Ron Warren, Ash Dargan, Dawn Avery make a fusion that is tough to describe but great to hear. ronwarrenmusic.com. This one was a long time coming but well worth the wait. AND Ron Warren is coming back to Potomac Flute Festival!

Siyotanka wins a NAMMY for Native Heart Catagory and it really is a wonderful album - take a listen, available at iTunes and at ontos.org

News from Dana Ross about Roy Glass. Roy is western band Cherokee and is invited to play for the studio audience and an appearance on the Late Night with David letterman show. Dana along w/ Keith Davis and Jack Lynn will join Roy and his family for the event. The taping will be on November 17th, 2009 and will air on No...vember 24th, 2009. BTW, Dana is a wonderful flute maker, Dana Ross / Falcon Flutes and Drums

www.falconflutes.com
or call 706-851-7535

Potomac Flute Festival 2010 -- Registeration forms and all main details for the March Festival are at:Potomac Native American Flute FestivalOur concert line-up is as follows:
Friday, March 26: Hawk Henries, followed by Ron Warren and his band.
Saturday, March 27: two first-timer's at Festival -- Cornell Kinderknecht followed by Suzanne Teng.
Register now. Reserve your hotel room now at the Festival rate.And a reminder there is a discussion board at our Facebook page where you can talk about room and/or ride share.

And lastly, while recycling is very important - I never though that someone would come up with a superior use for a re-used material. A cool instrument to go with flute moyodrum.com, recycled propane tanks!

Free Flute Workshop w Ron Warren

2009-08-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Instead of our regular meeting September 12 we will have an all day retreat and flute workshop featuring recording artist Ron Warren. Many know that Ron Warren has been the NAF faculty member at the Timber Flute Festival the past few years. He has offered to work with the West Virginia Native American Flute Circle and the Tri-State Native American Flute Circle to host a free one day workshop Saturday September 12.

Some of our flute circle members have graciously offered to host the event in Mill Creek (30 minutes from Elkins) and we are making a day of it. Come out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather and learn to play, work on your skills, ask questions, tour a flute-making workshop, share a potluck meal and play around the campfire that evening. Student flutes will be available as well. This will be a great time, and hopefully some sort fo new Wv tradition taht will sewll our numbers and bring us together. In this economy it is tough to beat free as well.

Call for directions & to RSVP
304.338.2727 or 703.475.0994

Visit our web sites for questions:
www.wvnativeamericanflutecircle.blogspot.com/
www.fluteportal.com/flutecircles/8
www.fluteportal.com/flutecircles/69 or Tri-State Native American Flute Circle & WV Native American Flute Circle on Facebook

We follow modern powwow etiquette, meaning that our gatherings are alcohol and drug free. No pets please. All enthusiasts & instruments that wish to accompany the NAF are welcome.

Other groups that you should investigate – as they are a lot of fun
Potomac Flute Circle at www.potomacflutecircle.net
Maryland Flute Circle at Bobf64@aol.com
Northern Virginia Flute Circle SJHHill@aol.com
International Native American Flute Association at www.worldflutes.org www.ronwarrenmusic.com/home.html

Timber Flute Festival 2009

2009-06-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

If you do not post - folks do not visit, right? We'll I am stopping by to post and I hope someone else will stop by too - it has been too long and the new dog has been keeping my busy (think Marmaduke!) but I am better at sharing the news than making excuses - SO...

June is already here and Timber Flute Festival is approaching. While there remains space available it looks like another great year planned and I wanted to share a few highlights with you.

When the 3rd Annual Tiber Flute Festival comes to the RCCAC on June 21 through the 26 there will be more than just music. A returning feature that on one should miss is the return of the Brown Bagatelles sessions during the festival. These fun and informative sessions are offered Mon-Thurs. at 12:30pm.
The lunchtime sessions include; Mon – South American & Spanish Music with Julio Alves & Wendell Dobbs; Tues – Katy McClane, The Arabic Ney Flute; Wed - The Aural Tradition in Music with Grey Larsen and Ron Warren; Thurs – Flute Making Mysteries with John Gallagher & Colin St. Martin. Bring your lunch and enjoy these open to the public sessions.
Other public venues include; Mondays Contra Dance at 8pm; Tuesday concert at 8pm featuring classical & baroque flute music with Colin St. Martin, Wendell Dobbs and members of the US Army Fife and Drum Corps; Thursday concert at 8pm featuring Irish and Native American flute music with Grey Larsen, Cindy Kallet, Ron Warren and Janice Torres; Friday free performance at 3pm by all festival participants.

All evening concerts require an admission fee for non-festival participants

Wednesday evening will offer the regular Pickin’ In the Park session at Elkins City Park with the twist being that flute players from the festival will be joining area musicians. It is sure to be a unique evening and one you’ll want to plan to attend as well.

So if you are thinking about coming out for a peice of eth festival you could still do that as well on a day rate - and plan to catch concerts and lunchtime sessions that you are in town for to maximaize your visit. We'll we doing a lot of flute playing and would welcome our WV folks to take advantage of the opportunities open to the public.

July 11th the RCCAC opens a traveling Smithsonian exhibit called New Harmonies and this will provide many great music opportunities for summer. Native American Flute will be included and I'll have more about that in another post.

March 09 news & meeting

2009-03-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

March 09 meeting

We will meet this Saturday (March 14) from 1-3pm and this month we will view a flute documentary as one of our activities.
We will also have some guests from Tri-state Native American Flute Circle to jam and play flute with so we should have a great meeting again this month.

This will be our meeting leading up to Potomac Native American Flute Festival in Rockville, MD. So we may coordinate ride share and other arrangements. There are still some spots available to attend the festival and the line up will be terrific so you really need to come to the event this year if you can swing it. Another feature of this year’s event will be private lessons available by appointment with all of the performers which has become popular at similar events. The Potomac Flute Circle link is on the right and you can view the entire schedule for the weekend. I will be writing about highlights after the event, but you’ll want to see it for yourself!

Plans continue with our own Elkins event: Timber Flute Festival June 21-26th. A quote from the press release follows:
“The festival will focus on several arts associated with wooden flutes: the one-keyed flute (Baroque/Classical Eras) to the eight-keyed flute (Late Classical/Romantic), Irish traditional music, the Native American flute and fifes. Each day will include a morning session dedicated to a broad experience with each of the traditions followed by an afternoon session for in depth studies in a chosen tradition.

Festival participants can move from one tradition to the other or solely focus on one tradition. Players of modern metal flutes are welcome to attend. Teachers will help you adapt your modern instrument to the playing of Irish traditional music or Baroque music and provide opportunities for you to experiment with wooden instruments. “This is a non-competitive atmosphere,” Dobbs explained, “and we provide hands-on instruction that is not superficial.”

Teachers for the Timber Flutes Festival are stars in their chosen areas. They include Wendell Dobbs, Colin St. Martin, Ron Warren and Grey Larsen. Guitarist Cindy Kallet will assist with Irish traditional music as well as lead workshops on flute accompaniment. Renowned flutemaker John Gallagher will be on hand to explain the construction of fine wooden flutes.”

The link on the right will take you to the TFF site and they have a Face Book group now as well.

Timber Flute Festival in Elkins 09

2009-02-19T18:16:00.000-08:00

Here is the press release for our much anticipated local flute event:
Randolph County Community Arts Center host West Virginia’s 3rd Annual Timber Flute Festival

Elkins will come alive with the sound of flutes at the Randolph County Community Arts Center the week of June 21 through June 26. The festival, which will bring artist/teachers and flutists to Elkins, West Virginia, is devoted to flutes made of wood, hence the old Irish distinction for such instruments, the “Timber Flute.”

This is West Virginia’s first and only festival celebrating the wooden flute and one of just a few such Festivals nationwide. According to Dr. Wendell Dobbs, Festival Director, “This Festival presents a unique crossing of the line between classical and traditional flute music.”

The Timber Flute Festival is for musicians who would like to explore the history, practice, and creation of wooden flutes. A series of classes, ensemble coachings and evening events will be offered to increase the skill of the experienced player and provide an introduction for the beginner. The festival will focus on several arts associated with wooden flutes: the one-keyed flute (Baroque/Classical Eras) to the eight-keyed flute (Late Classical/Romantic), Irish traditional music, the Native American flute and fifes. Each day will include a morning session dedicated to a broad experience with each of the traditions followed by an afternoon session for in depth studies in a chosen tradition.

Festival participants can move from one tradition to the other or solely focus on one tradition. Players of modern metal flutes are welcome to attend. Teachers will help you adapt your modern instrument to the playing of Irish traditional music or Baroque music and provide opportunities for you to experiment with wooden instruments. “This is a non-competitive atmosphere,” Dobbs explained, “and we provide hands-on instruction that is not superficial.”

Each evening will be filled with entertainment. The Arts Center will welcome Timber Flute Festival participants on Sunday evening with a delicious reception followed by a jam session. Monday evening will feature a contra dance at 8 p.m. that will be open to the general public. The Tuesday evening concert at 8 p.m. that will feature classical and baroque flute music by flutists of the 18th and 19th centuries performed by Colin St. Martin and Wendell Dobbs. Wednesday will be a dinner with an interdisciplinary jam followed by “Pickin’ in the Park.” The Thursday evening concert will feature the ensemble of Irish flutist Grey Larsen and guitarist Cindy Kallet as well the Native American trio of flutist concert Ron Warren, guitarist Lenny Stevens, and vocalist and hand percussionist Janice Torres. The week will conclude with a Friday afternoon performance by all Festival participants. Flutist ensembles coached during the week by the Festival teachers will strut their stuff at this variety event. There will be Irish traditional music, Baroque and Classical Era music, Native American music and Fife and Drum Corps music.

Teachers for the Timber Flutes Festival are stars in their chosen areas. They include Wendell Dobbs, Colin St. Martin, Ron Warren and Grey Larsen. Guitarist Cindy Kallet will assist with Irish traditional music as well as lead workshops on flute accompaniment. Renowned flutemaker John Gallagher will be on hand to explain the construction of fine wooden flutes.

Wendell Dobbs, Timber Flute Festival Director, has served as professor of flute at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia for 23 years and performs as principal flute with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and Ohio Valley Symphony. Thanks to assistance of the John Deaver Drinko Academy at Marshall University, Dr. Dobbs is currently exploring early American music for the flute and recently released Rallying Round Our Liberty, a CD of music for flute, guitar and voice from the era of Chief Justice John Marshall with his wife, soprano Linda Dobbs and guitarist Leo Welch. He performs music from the 19th century on a Rudall & Rose copy by flute maker John Gallagher. Dobbs notes, “For the past ten years I’ve enjoyed exploring various historic wooden flutes and traditions. My enjoyment is helping players of modern flutes make transitions, whether it’s adapting their modern flutes to Irish traditional music or experiencing wooden flutes.”

Colin St. Martin, currently a teacher at the Peabody Conservatory of Music
at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, received his First Prize
(Bachelor of Music) from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels,
Belgium, under the tutelage of Barthold Kuijken. He continued his studies
at the Early Music Institute at Indiana University where he received a
Master of Music with a Performer's Certificate (an award for excellence in
performance). Mr. St. Martin currently performs with a variety of chamber
ensembles and orchestras including the Washington Bach Consort, Opera
Lafayette, Ars Lyrica among others; and, has participated in music festivals
throughout the US and Europe. He has numerous recordings to his credit of works by Bach, Handel, Boismortier, Rameau, Sacchini. Rebel, Lully, among others.

“I look forward to working with students to improve their technical mastery of the traverso while expanding their knowledge of 18th century performance techniques-particularly ornamentation and improvisation," he said.

Grey Larsen, one of the world's foremost performers and teachers of Irish flute, has taught numerous workshops and master classes in Irish flute in the US, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Australia for more than 25 years. He is the author of the most comprehensive book on Irish flute and tin whistle playing, The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle and The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox. Larsen leads a varied and rich musical life as a performer, teacher, author, recording artist, record producer, mastering engineer, and as the Music Editor of Sing Out! magazine. Larsen has released eleven CDs as a solo artist and with Malcolm Dalglish, Metamora, Paddy League and André Marchand and has performed extensively with them and with Cindy Kallet in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. According to Larsen, “I look forward to plumbing the depths of Irish flute playing with you, by exploring ornamentation, articulation, phrasing, improvisation, breathing, etc., and to deepening our appreciation of the players of past generations who have kept the music alive and kicking.”

Ron Warren (Echota Tsalagi) is an award winning composer/arranger as well as a performer on both Native American flutes and keyboards. Ron began a journey with Native American flutes to honor his father’s ancestors and to continue to learn more about the traditions. He has quickly emerged as one of the most versatile and dynamic Native American flute players in the country. He has recently performed on both flutes and keyboards with renowned world musicians such as Joseph Fire Crow, Coyote Oldman, Ash Dargan, Jeff Ball, Peter Phippen, and Mary Youngblood. His works in a wide range of media have been heard in important venues throughout the United States and Europe. The Washington Post has praised his “pensively evocative music” as well as his “expressive and highly energetic” performances. Warren’s work has been supported by numerous organizations and ensembles, including the American Composers Forum, Meet the Composer, Inc., American Indian Heritage Education Association (AIHEA) and the Contemporary Music Forum. In addition, Warren has released numerous cds, all receiving rave reviews and awards.

Guitarist Cindy Kallet is a songwriter, singer and guitarist with five solo albums to her credit: Working On Wings To Fly and Cindy Kallet 2 on
Folk Legacy Records, and Dreaming Down A Quiet Line, This Way Home,
and Leave the Cake in the Mailbox - Songs for Parents and Kids Growing
Up (chosen for the 2004 Parents' Choice Gold Award ) on the Stone's
Throw Music label. She has also recorded two trio albums, Angels in
Daring and Only Human (Overall Music) with Ellen Epstein and Michael
Cicone, as well as a collaborative effort with Gordon Bok entitled
Neighbors (Timberhead).

In the past few years she has joined musical forces with Grey Larsen and they have recorded an album together, Cross the Water. Cindy has taught and performed extensively throughout North America. Her love for the natural beauty of the New England coast has been the inspiration for many of her songs. In 2003, she put together The Cindy Kallet Songbook - A Collection for Guitar and
Voice, published by Stone's Throw Music. It contains words, music, chords, and guitar tab for 32 original songs. She has been called “one of folkmusic’s most respected songwriters...provocative, heartwise, and original ...a brilliant guitarist...” by Scott Alarik of the The Boston Globe. Kallet will be leading morning workshops on how to accompany the flute on the guitar.

Tuition for the week is $350 before June 1 and $400 after June 1. For returning students, the registration fee is only $300 before the June 1 deadline. Also, two students signing-up at the same time can take advantage of the $300 discounted fee if they register before the deadline.

All events will occur on the grounds of the Randolph County Community Arts Center. The RCCAC, a non-profit organization promoting and supporting the arts in Randolph County and the surrounding areas, is located in a restored stone Romanesque church at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Park Street in beautiful Elkins, West Virginia.

Elkins is nestled in the mountains of the middle Appalachians, a few hours drive from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington or Columbus. It enjoys a pleasant, cool climate in June and is adjacent to Monongahela National Forest. For more information contact RCCAC at (304) 637-2355 or log onto http://www.randolpharts.org/. The third annual Timber Flute Festival is sponsored by the Myles Family Foundation, Myles Lumber Company and the Randolph County Community Arts Center.

The Randolph County Community Arts Center, a non-profit organization promoting and supporting the arts in Randolph County and surrounding areas, is located at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Park Street in Elkins.

Tri-State Flute Circle

2009-02-19T18:04:00.000-08:00

NEW West Virginia Flute Circle
Awhile back i reported that a new flute circle has been formed in the Huntington area and we are very pleased that so many flute folks are cropping up in the Mountain State.

Emily reports today "I finally set a date for Tri-State Native American Flute Circle. It will be the third Saturday of every month starting April 18th. We will meet at Smith Music Hall on Marshall University's campus in Room 123 from 12pm-2pm. "

So if you are in the neighborhood please do plan to play flutes with our new circle.
To learn more, float over the title of this blog entry to get their web page on fluteportal.com

Potomac Flute Festival, Winds of Change

2009-02-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

Potomac Flute Festival is approaching and this year’s event is shaping up to be something very exciting.

Early Bird Registration ends March 8th for Potomac Flute Festival. This year’s line up and the new festival website can be viewed at potomacflutecircle.net. Register early so you do not miss your spot.

While you're at the Festival, volunteer for a couple of hours (or more!) and get a flute raffle ticket for every hour you work. We need ticket takers for our concerts, support for lunch food set-up, some folks to help with the concert ticket will-call pick up before each concert, and help in a few other locations to give some relief to our Committee staff. To volunteer, contact Stuart Hill. At SJHHILL (at) aol (dot) com

January 09 notes & news

2009-02-12T19:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the news bits I have been getting in January. I have also had the great treat of getting out to Phoenix and playing flute with the Arizona Flute Circle while visiting family. I hope everyone has had musical inspiration from all the wintery weather.

Note that Jan Seiden and Jeffrey Kuhn's will perform on Sunday, February 15, 2009

Jan writes “Please join us for a special afternoon to benefit for The International Rescue Committee, www.TheIRC.org”

Sunday, February 15, 2009
4:00 - 5:30pm
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
100 Welsh Park Drive
Rockville, MD
Suggested donation: $15.00 at the door
Reception follows the concert

Dana Ross was able to raise $545 to help Randy Stenzel with medical bills through a charity auction of an incredible White Buffalo Flute he crafted. You can still see the flute photos on Ebay at the link below:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190283316602&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123
Great job Dana on a beautiful instrument. You can find more of Dana Ross's work at Falcon Flutes and Drums.

Flute business news: Several folks have new flute business ventures Mark Purtill, has started a company and web site called Anasazi Dream Flutes. Mark offers a PVC version of the Anasazi flute to allow flute players to become familiar with the instrument. Flutes on his site are in three separate models (in A, C, & D). Each flute is PVC and decorated in a variety of natural and painted finishes.

Val Korbin is a Pennsylvania based flute maker who is a well known contributor to the yahoo Basic Flute makers group. He is now offering flutes and tools for flute makers getting started too. His site is www.hawkeyesnest.com

Festival news:
Dates are set for the 2009 Yosemite Flute and Arts Festival. September 25, 26, 27 – 2009.

The news I have seen is that the 2009 Oklahoma Flute Festival will not occur. This is a big loss in my opinion because I have heard a great number of first hand accounts of how well attended and how much fun this event was to be a part of.

There are several new events cropping up for 2009. The First Annual Magic Valley Flute & Art Festival will be held at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho on the 19, 20, 21 of June 2009. The web sit is up but a little sparse. http://www.magicvalleyflutefest.com/

Clint Goss reports “Oct 15-18 Vera and I will host the East-Coast "Flute Haven Native Flute School". Sessions will run Thurs evening through Sunday Noon in Phoenixville, PA and will focus on playing and techniques and jamming with other instruments. The program will include studio recording, workshops, and a major music jam-fest event on Saturday evening. Vera and I are joined by music facilitation pros Eric and Lynn Miller.” This is very close to Philly and will be well attended. Clint is a regular presenter at Potomac Flute Festival and at Zion where his classes are always well received.

In the same email Goss writes, “The Zion Canyon Native Flute School will run May 17-22, 2009. It was a huge hit last year and the program has been expanded for this year. Vince Chafin, Scott August, Cornell Kinderknecht, William Hoshal, and Vera and I will facilitate a full schedule of sessions throughout the week.”

Zion Canyon - May 17-22: http://www.ZionCanyonNativeFluteSchool.com

Flute Haven - Oct 17-22: http://www.NativeFluteSchool.com

November & December 08 news

2008-12-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

It has been a very busy autumn and the blog has been non-news worthy as a result. That does not mean that there isn’t great news.

Chronologically speaking I did get in a great visit with Neuse River Flute Circle in November. It was wonderful to see friends from Timber flute Festival and to meet in “reality” many who I have spoken with “virtually” via email. These folks are staying busy and seeking to plan an event for their region as well as building a great flute community in the triangle region. Thank you to all for such a warm welcome in Raleigh! The NRFC link is here on the right hand links bar and they always have something good going on so look them up.

Autumn is school visit season and so I have had two visits in the areas Montessori School for Flute and Didgeridoo. The kids are maybe the world’s most appreciative audience and that is great for the ego of the most-humble player like me. Foremost though is the idea often quoted as “a mind once stretched, never return to its original shape” and I do see music have great affect on children frequently. I have had great success with having an educator read Paul goble's book Love Flute, prior to my visit and thus the kids have a wonderful idea of the power of the instrument prior to ever having heard it. The suspense builds and they are excited with questions and comments about the music.

It is never to early to say get ready for 2009 Potomac Native American Flute Festival – Put it on you calendar because the sixth Potomac Native American Flute Festival will be held the weekend of March 27-29, 2009 at the Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD. Confirmed performers include Scott August and Autumn’s Child featuring Mark Holland on Friday night; and Mark “Thunderwalker” Camden and The Jeff Ball Band on Saturday night. There will also be a 90 minute Saturday afternoon concert featuring 3 artists: Jan Seiden, Jonny Lipford, and the duo of David Landis and Diana Sunday (from the DC-local group KIVA). Workshops will be held throughout the event, which is scheduled to run from 3:00PM Friday, March 27 to 3:00PM Sunday, March 29. This years Potomac Native American Flute Festival features the theme "Winds of Change." From all four directions, Winds of Change are blowing through communities around the world—environmental, spiritual, cultural, financial, and personal. Native American Flutes are especially suited to giving voice to the feelings that accompany such change. The PFC has a link to your right here as well.

Many fine flute makers are offering holiday sales Dana Ross (Falcon Flutes and Drums), John Kulias (Meadowlark Flutes), Colyn Petersen (Woodland Voices) all have sent word of flute sales for the holidays. Remember that these folks build flutes for good causes, donate them to raffles and support the flute community in many good ways so as the say in WV “you outta dance with the one who brung ya”.

Speaking of good intentions Brad Young (4 Winds Flutes) has built and auctioned off a flute to benefit Randy Stenzell, who is fighting cancer as I write. Colyn Petersen and other have helped the Stenzell’s this season and I hope many folks will support that effort.

For those who are holiday shopping Clint Goss has a new piece in production that anyone can use. Clint states “The Jam Tracks CD for G Minor is here! It *just* arrived minutes ago and looks gorgeous.”
The web site now plays a sampler of all the tracks:

http://www.NAFTracks.com/ntgm_detail.htm

INAFA also has a new CD of music this year that is a fundraiser for the organization but includes some wonderful performers. INAFA has a link to your right on this page and the banner for the new CD is at the top of the page.

A new West Virginia Circle

2008-12-10T19:15:00.000-08:00

Great news first!
There is a new flute circle starting in West Virginia! After last summers Timber Flute Festival we saw several flute players take up a new tradition. Emily and Felicia were the students that were “ducks to water” in the NAF tradition and being that they are already musically accomplished it did not take them long to seek an outlet for their new passion for NAF. So I am introducing their circle here in hope that it may gain a wider audience.

Tri-State Flute Circle: tristateflutecircle@yahoo.com
Beginning April of 2009 the Tri-State Native American Flute Circle will begin it's meetings in Huntington, WV. (Location to be announced.)
http://www.fluteportal.com/flutecircles/69

A Friend in Need

2008-10-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Difficult news for the flute world:
While I have yet to meet a flute maker who is not a good soul, many folks know Randy and Shelly Stenzel as super folks who make wonderful flutes and drums in a good way. They are well known for their talents and generosity.
It has come to my attention and so I am sharing the news that Randy is sick and seeking to overcome cancer in a number of places in his body. The community has rightfully rallied to his aid with songs, prayers and now contributions as the news reveals they do not have health insurance to handle the costs of this struggle. I have included text from an email here sent by Colyn Petersen who has an update on efforts to help Randy.

"Randy was diagnosed with lung cancer a short time ago. Initially, they thought it to be 2 tumors--one on the lung and another on the lung near the heart. It appears now that there is another on one of his vertebrae. Randy is currently home after spending several days in the hospital due to a coughing spasm which involved coughing up blood. This happened on his and Shelly's 26 wedding anniversary. He was taken by ambulance to U of I Hospital where they informed him of the danger he was in. Saying that there was chance of bleeding out in a matter of minutes if he did not control the coughing. For this reason, Randy is not taking calls because talking tends to make him cough. He is currently undergoing double doses of radiation and chemotherapy to try and kill the cancer cells. Over the last year or so, Randy has gotten in real good shape walking and riding his bike, but he will need our thoughts and prayers though to get through this. His family is asking all in the flute community to send their best. "

"We would like to help in a small way by auctioning off a flute - we hope that the community will be generous and that the flute can go for even more than it's asking price. We will be offering an Old Growth Western Red Cedar right-handed bass F# with Osage orange side-blown mouthpiece and Thunderbird block with a woodlands wrap, valued at $415.00. It's a beautiful flute with a sweet voice. 100% of the proceeds will be given to Randy and Shelly Stenzel. The auction will begin at noon Monday, October 6th and continue until noon Monday, October 20th. Bidding will start at $400.00. A photo and description of the flute will be posted on our website: http://www.woodlandvoices.com Bids should be sent by e-mail with Benefit Flute Auction in the subject line."

Colyn goes on to say "We invite anyone else to find creative ways to support Randy and his family during this difficult time." The title link of this bolg entry gives you randy's website if you would like to send a message or support in some way.

Autumn Flute News

2008-09-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

First, the disappointing news: Leonard McGann's annual Flute Fall In will not be scheduled for this year and Leonard tells me that they may try it again next year, stay tuned.

2009 Potomac Native American Flute Festival – Put it on you Calendar! The sixth Potomac Native American Flute Festival will be held the weekend of March 27-29, 2009 at the Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD. Confirmed performers include Scott August and Autumn’s Child featuring Mark Holland on Friday night; and Mark “Thunderwalker” Camden and The Jeff Ball Band on Saturday night. There will also be a 90 minute Saturday afternoon concert featuring 3 artists: Jan Seiden, Jonny Lipford, and the duo of David Landis and Diana Sunday (from the DC-local group KIVA). Workshops will be held throughout the event, which is scheduled to run from 3:00PM Friday, March 27 to 3:00PM Sunday, March 29. This years Potomac Native American Flute Festival features the theme "Winds of Change."
The Potomac and Northern Virginia Flute Circles web site is being completely renovated, so please check back in a few weeks for further details and how to register. Some additional festival information is posted at their web site (see links at the right)

From Clint Goss; “I've just updated the version of Edward Kort's NAFlutomat program that is available on FluteKey.com to the latest version. It is now version 1.37.1. (Ed'snumbering omits the leading "1." and is just 37.1).Version 37.1 is a minor update from the long-standing version 37 that has beenposted in the Files section of this group since December '07.”Here's the link: www.flutekey.com and scroll down to the third section "Flute Construction" and click on"NAFlutomat - NAF Design Tool"

Jan Seiden has another great concert event coming up. Jan states “I have honor and great pleasure of appearing in concert with Arvel Bird (southern Paiute and violinist extraordinaire) and Art Shegonee (Menominee dancer) in a concert to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.”

In Concert: Arvel Bird, Jan Seiden and Art Shegonee
Friday, November 21, 2008 7:00pm
Calvary United Methodist Church, Annapolis, MD
Tickets: adults $15.00 advance, $20 at the door, children 5 - 12 yrs; $5.00
for tickets, call Randy Sisulak at: 410-721-3963

2008-09-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

Fall Flute News

FLUTE QUEST 2008 -- Sept. 19, 20 & 21
Sponsored by the Washington Flute Circle, is an event that seems to be enjoying great commitment and enthusiasm each year. This year’s line up again looks great.
http://www.flutequest.com/

Vince Chafin
Gary Stroutsos
SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT
7:00 - 9:00 PM

Ancient Sounds *
Jan MichaelLooking Wolf Reibach

Other Flute Festivals or Flute Events to check out

9/5 - 9/7 Indian Summer Fest in Milwaukee, WI http://www.indiansummer.org/
9/26-28 Native Arts and Flute Festival, Oakhust, CA http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/
10/31 - 10/5 Oklahoma Flute Festival, Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah, OK http://www.okflutefest.com/
10/11-12 Silverhawk Flute Gathering, Florida http://www.silverhawkflutegathering.com/
Wow, your carbon footprint would be preety huge to attend all five of these in the same year...

Jan Seiden has been performing with Arvel Bird, and will be giving a joint concert in MD on Friday November 21st in Annapolis to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Clint Goss has made available to Native Flute folks who may be interested - a new set of fonts for transcribing music. The fonts contain finger diagrams for Native Flutes (and fujaras) and are useful if you are creating transcriptions of music for flutes.

The fonts are freely distributable, and can be used on any system that can display TrueType fonts such as Microsoft Word, Finale, Sibelius, PrintMusic, etc.
They are on Clint Goss’s web site: http://www.NAFTracks.com/fonts.htm

It has been a busy past few weeks but our flute circle did sent a small delegation to the Sunwatch Flute Festival. While fuel prices may have hurt the overall attendance for this year’s event the good folks that were there had a great time. Sunwatch Archeological Park is a great spot for the event and offers lots of room as well as wonderful exhibits and grounds to explore. Saturday was a blockbuster line up of performers and if you were able to stay in the shade to avoid melting you caught some great music. John DeBoer, Spirit of Thunder, Peter Phippen, Jeff Ball and his band, Jan Seiden, Janice Trytten Sunflower, Jonny Lipford were all given about an hour and we had fun learning new tricks and discussing the performances along with the symptoms of heat injuries.

Flute Makers were at Sunwatch in great numbers and it was fun to see work from David Martinka, Leonard McGann, Brad Young, Brent Haines, Billy Crowbeak, Larry Evans, Randy & Shelly Stenzel, Dave Myers in the vendor area. We saw a lot of great instruments and ran into flute friends from Indiana Flute Circle, Potomac and Pennsylvania Flute Circle and friends from Timber Flute Festival – new NAF players! This event is close to home and has a good feel – it should continue to grow and do well. Hats off to the Miami Valley Flute Circle for pulling off a great weekend.

WV NAF Circle meets this Saturday Sept 13 from 1-3pm at RCCAC. Hope to see you there!

2008-08-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Flute Festival updates

The photo at Left is from the 2008 Timber Flute Festival here in Elkins. (Jay, Eddie Thomas and myself play an introduction for the Irish flute players - image from RCCAC website)

The Miami Valley Flute Circle of southwestern Ohio is holding the 2nd Annual SunWatch Native Flute Gathering August 23 and 24, 2008, in Dayton Ohio. We invite you to join us. SunWatch Indian Village, a National Historic Landmark, is a reconstruction of an 800-year old village built by the Ft. Ancient Indians on this site. This provides a very unique authentic setting for the Flute Gathering. The website http://www.sunwatch.org/ is full of information about this historic site.

Performing throughout the weekend will be top-notch national level flute players including Jeff Ball, Peter Phippen, Jan Seiden, Jonny Lipford, Douglas Blue Feather, John DeBoer and others, as well as grass roots flute circles and players of all ages. There will be vendors, storytelling, native foods and lots of flutes! To see pictures from last year’s Flute Gathering, please go to:

http://sunwatch.boonshoftmuseum.org/Flute%20Circle.html
and
www.myspace.com/sunwatch

Come join us as we step back in time to share the music of the ages. We look forward to welcoming you on August 23.

Andrew Sawyer, MA, RPA asawyer@sunwatch.org
Site Manager/Site Anthropologist
SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park
2301 West River Road
Dayton, Ohio 45418
937.268.8199

Of note for this fall
Rick Dunlap has advertised in the INAFA newsletter about a new flute festival and he has emailed as well to request that everyone be aware of this new event. The Yosemite Flute and Art Rick says, “ We have awesome concerts and workshops planned with Mary Youngblood, Vince Chafin, Mark Holland, Jeff Ball Band, and Scott August. This is going to be a fabulous West Coast annual event September 26-28, 2008!

His website is
yosemiteflutefest.com

Rick Dunlap’s site is
http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/visionhawkmusic

Summer flute events

2008-07-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

In an effort to support all things NAF...

There is a great event coming up in August that I missed last year but really hope to attend this year. Contact information is below along with links to the event.

Also here are photos that a few of our friends shared from Timber Flute Festival 2008. Thanks to Jim Krysan and Kelly McCauley for the permission to share their photos. Above (L to R) Ron Warren, Janice Torres, Maria Oria, Carl Bolyard, Rowena Mills

The Miami Valley Flute Circle of southwestern Ohio is holding the 2nd Annual SunWatch Native Flute Gathering August 23 and 24, 2008, in Dayton Ohio. We invite you to join us. SunWatch Indian Village, a National Historic Landmark, is a reconstruction of an 800-year old village built by the Ft. Ancient Indians on this site. This provides a very unique authentic setting for the Flute Gathering. The website http://www.sunwatch.org/ is full of information about this historic site.

Performing throughout the weekend will be top-notch national level flute players including Jeff Ball, Peter Phippen, Jan Seiden, Jonny Lipford, Douglas Blue Feather, John DeBoer and others, as well as grass roots flute circles and players of all ages. There will be vendors, storytelling, native foods and lots of flutes! To see pictures from last year’s Flute Gathering, please go to:

http://sunwatch.boonshoftmuseum.org/Flute%20Circle.html
and
www.myspace.com/sunwatch

Come join us as we step back in time to share the music of the ages. We look forward to welcoming you on August 23.

Andrew Sawyer, MA, RPA asawyer@sunwatch.org
Site Manager/Site Anthropologist
SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park
2301 West River Road
Dayton, Ohio 45418
937.268.8199

Timber Flute Festival 08 review

2008-07-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Wooden Flutes, Timber Flutes, they’re all great flutes

The Timber Flute Festival in Elkins was a huge success this year. Where else can you network and play with musicians and enthusiasts from across the country for an entire week while learning about Eighteenth century flutes, Nineteenth century flutes, Fifes, Irish Flute and of course Native American Flute. Students came from Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Washington, DC. The shared learning, camaraderie and creativity among this group was special and as a student this year I was able to see different styles and different instruments influence one another. I felt that Irish Flutes and NAF really bonded well together! Fingers in contact with the holes and finger techniques which are transposable gave us a lot to talk about. Playing together in ensemble was just incredible. Small group sessions and time together in classes allowed lots of time to get to know one another and talk about flutes.
(Photo [LtoR] Eddie Thomas, Kelly McCauley, Ron Warren, Carl Bolyard, Jay Luter, Maria Oria)

Ron Warren was our NAF faculty member and taught between six and ten students every day. Folks were able to emphasize a tradition for the week and yet would often sit in on a new tradition a day or two as well. Irish, Baroque and Fife players all learned to play or learned new techniques with NAF during the week. Our ongoing project was to arrange three flute groups for the student concert on Friday and each day’s lesson was an opportunity to add new tricks and techniques to our repertoire for Friday.

Each morning a faculty member would have an entire morning to teach about one of the five wooden flutes. On Wednesday morning Ron Warren and Janice Torres had the session time to perform, teach and orient people to the NAF in history, technique and song. Ron Warren is uniquely qualified to do this and in addition to showing the progression of the modern instrument he talked about the new things NAF can do and the lack of limitations it has. Ron played Anasazi flute as well as a wide variety of his personal flutes and taught about the aural traditions, singing as a part of the growth of the instrument and some of the instruments origins. At lunch we were able to add to the lesson time and view the Songkeepers DVD.

Ron taught some basic techniques and embellishments during the session as well and this year Paul and I made twenty four flutes in Gm from schedule 40 PVC. The formula for these flutes was designed by Bob Willasch of the Maryland Flute Circle. Paul and I again set up several jigs for consistency and cranked out flutes for several afternoons. This years class worth of flutes does not sound quite as great as the Am flutes we made last year however with few exceptions I found that when all blown together they were in tune. Almost as pleasing as 13 folks learning together can sound for the first time… Thanks Bob for a great Gm flute plan.

Thursday’s concert featured Ron Warren and members of his band, Janice Torres and Lenny Stevens for the first set. They were in great form and played pieces from all three of Ron Warren’s albums with a freshness that brought down the house. Ron and Janice improvised together with vocals and Anasazi flute and this was a great piece as well. Their final song was played with Grey Larsen and Cindy Kallet and combined the Irish and Native American Styles in a way that pays tribute to the blending of these two cultures in early America. Amazing Grace was just that and then some in a way that you’ve always wanted to hear it with really cool synergy between all of the musicians and the feeling that was palpable. Grey Larsen and Cindy Kallet had the second set performance and blended flute, fiddle, concertina, and vocal harmonies into a great hour of Irish and folk music. They performed one of Cindy Kallet’s great songs, Cross the Water with Ron Warren and Janice Torres sitting in and improvising new textures into the tune and this too was a great crowd pleaser in the way that the styles really suit each other and were performed with great sensitivity.

We had two dances during the week (Monday and Wednesday) two great concerts (Tuesday and Thursday) and that final student’s performance on Friday. Native American Flute was featured in three groups of “planned improv.” and sounded great in the gallery/performance space at RCCAC. We also coordinated an intro and accompaniment to some of the Irish Flute pieces performed and this is a new thing for me that I think works really well. I saw a lot of smiling and nodding in the room and we’ll have to find a way to do this again sometime soon – a great sound.

John Gallagher is a renown flutemaker for Irish, Eighteenth century flutes, and Nineteenth century flutes who lives right in Elkins. Mr. Gallagher hosted a number of tours of his workshop during the week and allowed folks to learn as he measured and prepared to reproduce a 17th century Potter flute from the original. An hour with John is an education or the start of one anyway, and it was great fun to see how it comes together in his workshop. So many fun elements to the week came together to make it very unique experience.

Overall feedback for the week was great and I think we’ll be seeing many NAF folks returning next year. Thanks to our new friends in the Chicago-land area, the friends at Neuse River Flute Circle, the Okalahoma and Mississippi flute friends and all of the new fife players at Marshall who are taking up another instrument! All of the faculty should be commended for the amount of time they spent with students and their openness to new ideas and sharing traditions. The cadre of instructors really cemented the groups experience and made new things happen for people musically. That magic is not underestimated here and I am excited to report that all of these faculty members will return for the 2009 Timber Flute Festival. And that date is already set for June 21-26, 2009 so mark your calendars now for the week where all wooden flutes are great flutes.

2008-06-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

WV Events for Flute
In chronological order…

Kevin Locke will perform in Parkersburg on Saturday, June 21st at 11:30am at the Ohio Valley Multicultural Festival contact bcorra@hotmail.com for details or call 304.424.3457

Sunday June 22 through the 27 will be the Second Annual Timber Flute Festival. Teaching the NAF track will be Ron Warren. See news about Ron Warren in previous posts here.

There will be a day rate for TFF (you may still register for that) of $70 per day. Ron Warren will perform in concert on Thursday June 26 and tickets are available in advance at RCCAC. Visit http://www.randolpharts.org/ for details about the entire event.

I’ll be playing flute all next week and hope to give you a report about TFF in the event that you miss this year. But I hope you come out and play.

Ron Warren talks about playing for the Pope

2008-05-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ron Warren Native American Flute faculty for Timber Flute Festival in Elkins talks about playing flute for the Pope

With less than four weeks to go before the Timber Flute Festival in Elkins we are in the final preparations for a great event this year. While there is still space available for this years festival, word has gotten out and the festival continues to grow. We sincerely hope you will choose to join us for the fun and amazing music planned for this year.

Ron Warren’s concert performance during the Timber Flute Festival will be on Thursday evening June 26 and tickets are available through the Randolph County Community Arts Center. Thursday evening’s concert will feature the Native American flute trio with flutist Ron Warren, guitarist Lenny Stevens and vocalist/percussionist Janice Torres. Irish flutist Grey Larsen with guitarist Cindy Kallet will also perform that evening. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for elders/seniors.

Ron Warren had the tremendous opportunity to play Native American Flute for the Pope during the stadium mass in Washington, DC on April 17, 2008. He was kind enough to share some of his insights about the event.
“My colleague, Tracy McDonnell, had invited me to perform with her amazing “Inter-cultural Choir” which encompassed singers from all over the metropolitan area. In truth, I love musical opportunities like this. It challenges me to explore all the capabilities of my flutes and forces me to make music outside my usual habits. Along with everything else, Tracy asked me if I could play a solo introduction for the Gregorian chant, “Veni Creator Spiritus”. Many of the ancient chants sound quite beautiful on our flutes.”

“The highpoint of the Mass is Communion. Just before the people receive communion, the Celebrant of the Mass (Pope Benedict in this case) speaks special words over the bread and the wine that will be shared. For many Catholics, this is the most sacred moment in the Mass.”

“And it was at this point in the proceedings that Great Mystery, or perhaps that trickster Rabbit, made an appearance. The Musical Director needed more music to fill the time while the Pope spoke his special blessing. Tracy asked me to start the “Veni Creator Spiritus” right away. I played the introduction, the Inter-Cultural choir did their lovely setting of the chant with African drums and then - the Pope wasn’t finished. They still needed more music. The Music Director signaled me to continue as a solo. I began to riff on phrases of the ancient chant, carefully watching the conductor while he watched the Pope.”

“For a magical moment in time, the beautiful solo voice of our Native American Flute echoed through the hushed man-made canyon of the baseball stadium, floating out an ancient European hymn to accompany the Pope’s blessing, while tens of thousands from all over the world quietly joined their hearts together. How fitting that at this most sacred moment, the only sound in the stadium was the voice of a Great Spirit that had been here in this land long before the Pope’s Church and is still here. What an amazing gift I had received, to have the opportunity to honor my People in this way.”

Note: For the Papal Mass, Ron played on flutes made by Colyn Petersen and Jim Gilliland.
Learn more about Ron Warren and his music at http://www.ronwarrenmusic.com

The West Virginia Native American Flute Circle is participating in this summer's 2nd Annual Timber Flute Festival which will be June 22-27 in Elkins, WV. This event has grown a great deal in just a sort time and will this year feature five different flute traditions including Native American Flute taught by award winning musician Ron Warren. Dances and concerts every evening allow for sharing and gathering new music. Late June in the Appalachian Highlands is cool and green with bountiful opportunities for outdoor recreation. This will be a memorable week that you do not want to miss. Practice and study in your instrument of choice and learn a new flute this summer too!

Our flute circle will meet this month at RCCAC as usual Saturday, June 14 2008 from 1-3pm - Hope to see you there too.

Jan Seiden Memory of Time #19

2008-05-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Jan!
Some really great news, Jan Seiden’s Memory of Time CD has been ranked #19 globally by New Age Reporter! This deservedly puts her in some great company as you can see from the list of accomplished artists that make the charts at this website. The link to the chart listing is here http://www.newagereporter.com/charts/top100.asp Lets hope that someone has already reviewed the album for the next issue of INAFA’s newsletter Voice of the Wind.

May NAF News

2008-05-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

The big news early this month was that Ron Warren, Native American Flute Instructor for this year’s Timber Flute Festival in Elkins, had been requested to perform for the Pope’s visit in Washington, DC. Details of the April 17 performance can be seen on Ron Warren’s website, http://www.ronwarrenmusic.com/calendar.html. Pretty cool I think and a great honor for Ron.

Cedar Mesa Music and Scott August are proud to announce the Scott August Signature Anasazi Flute. These instruments are made by Geoffrey Ellis of Earth Tone Flutes. You can see one at Scott’s website - the link is on your right. His site reports that he is now teaching lessons on the Anasazi Flute, and has had two workshops this year.

Keith Stanford of Cherry Cows Flutes sent me news about a charity FLUTE MAKING PROJECT. Keith says “Basically, several Flute Makers have joined together to work on a flute. A special piece of wood is first selected, then a song will be recorded, by a noted Recording Artist, using that Community Built Flute. The flute and CD will then be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charity. For this particular Flute Build, a piece of wood that is over 50,000 years old was used to make this flute. Charles Littleleaf is the Recording Artist who will record the special song.” If you are a member of the yahoo groups basic flute making group you can see photo files of this instrument. (The yahoo groups are a pretty good way to network with other flute folks and are recommended in that the flute groups are pretty well moderated.) A flute like this one was detailed in the current issue of Voice of The Wind. This is a great idea and a very worthwhile way to create one of a kind flutes to help folks in a new dimension.

Also do not forget:
Jan Seiden is someone I mentioned last post as being a very talented flute performer you should hear as soon as you get the chance. Her official release party for the new album, Memory of Time will be May 13th.
I was fortunate to purchase a copy at Potomac Flute Festival and it is fantastic, below is a short summary of how you can hear Jan and get a copy of the album yourself.

When: Saturday May 17, 2008
3:00 - 5:00pm (doors open at 3:00pm, concert begins at 3:30pm, CDs available for sale and signing before and after the concert)

Where: 6800 Oakland Mills Road (Christ Episcopal Church) Columbia, MD 21045 www.ChristChurchColumbia.org
RSVP by May 12, 2008 to Jan at: flutejourney@yahoo.com

Spring Flute Events

2008-04-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Spring Flute Events

Spring brings new events of all kinds and here are a few worth mentioning:
Jan Seiden is someone I mentioned last post as being a very talented flute performer you should hear as soon as you get the chance. Her official release party for the new album, Memory of Time will be May 13th.
I was fortunate to purchase a copy at Potomac Flute Festival and it is fantastic, below is a short summary of how you can hear Jan and get a copy of the album yourself.

When: Saturday May 17, 2008
3:00 - 5:00pm
(doors open at 3:00pm, concert begins at 3:30pm, CDs available for sale and signing before and after the concert)

Where: 6800 Oakland Mills Road (Christ Episcopal Church)
Columbia, MD 21045
http://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/

RSVP by May 12, 2008 to Jan at: flutejourney@yahoo.com

The Native American Flute Spring is held each year in New Jersey and is being hosted by Jan Wylie. The dates are April 10-13 and to register you can contact Jan below:
P.O. Box 20573Roanoke, VA 24018 naf4jan@cox.net

The new edition of the INAFA newsletter is here and the ad for Timber Flute Festival looks great. The dates are June 22-27 in Elkins and while that seems far away remember that after June 1st there is a tuition increase for late comers, so register early please and bring a friend (smile). I have spoken with several folks who are interested in camping out during the event to remain rustic and help with costs - this is possible, just ask. To register for the event just click here or on your right. http://www.randolpharts.org/.

There is good news in that another flute festival is being promoted for September 26-28 in Oakhurst, California – just outside Yosemite. Billed as the Yosemite Flute and Art Festival you can visit http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/ for details, but I’ll warn you it looks like this site just went up and is awaiting details…

More news soon - or visit our next flute circle meeting on Saturday April, 12th from 1-3pm in Elkins.

Potomac Flute Festival 08

2008-03-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

Potomac Flute Festival 2008

New artists, new faces, new weather challenges, new West Virginians at the event. There were a lot of good things about a very busy and flute packed weekend at the festival.

This continues to be one of the largest annual gatherings of flute addicts on the east coast and workshops were sold out this year. Additionally the house was full on Saturday night for R.C. Nakai and his concert was a delight. The weekend started off a bit rough, as several folks were turned away in an icy parking lot Friday afternoon when registration was to begin. My fault really for not checking the web site before I rushed to the car to begin my long drive from Elkins and beat the freezing rain, but I was determined to make it to Rockville on time. My friends from WV (Allen, Johnny and John F) drove even farther on Friday but found some fun in town anyway. No ones fault but the snow gods for causing giving Montgomery College cause to close the campus and leave the festival committee scrambling to keep everyone in the loop for “plan B”. They did this quite well and further managed to pull off nearly the entire schedule of events in the remaining two days. The big disappointment was missing Mark Holland, who was stranded by the same weather without a way to even get to the festival. I got to spend a quiet Friday night with family and with above freezing weather on Saturday morning we all got back to what we came to do. Kudos goes to the PFF committee for working so hard to make all necessary adjustments to keep things tracking well in spite of the weather.

Jan Seiden and Jim Morehouse were Saturday afternoon’s concert performers and were great. Jan has a new album Memory of Time and her performance debuted several of the new songs from this album. Watching Jan play is almost as fun as listening to her. The new album is entirely flutes and percussion yet some of these tracks leave your ears wondering “how does she do that?” Her live performance is a treat as you get to see how Jan produces some of these sounds on some very special flutes. Jan has also taken up the Anasazi flute and her original compositions are both haunting and beautiful. Be careful listening to the Anasazi flute in the hands of a skilled musician, it will make you want to learn to play one – as there is no other sound like it. Jim’s playing really is beautiful to listen to and reflects both his personality and passion for the flute very well. His performance featured all of his own instruments, including flutes from the Maryland State tree, the Wye Oak, who was estimated to be nearly 500 years old when it fell.

New Flute makers this year included Jon Kulias from Meadowlark flutes. John creates in ceramic to make some beautiful and rich sounding flutes and he is getting a lot of attention these days for being one of just a few people who work in clay. It seems that attention is well deserved as he is a genuine guy and talented artist. Brent Haines returned this year with his amazing work and several flute makers had new designs to share. Geri Littlejohn is now offering branch flutes that are wonderful. Colyn Petersen’s new sub-bass flutes are awesome and he debuted the new Ron Warren signature flute at the festival. Randy Stenzel has a Johnny Lipford signature flute that is beautiful and plays as you would expect it would. Leonard McGann displayed a flute made from an Armadillo’s tail, and his rated R flute I cannot talk about here. The flutes that went up for raffle were just amazing too as each flute maker had something special in the drawing. Great eye and ear candy for flute addicts.

R.C. Nakai is someone that nearly everyone has heard of and his music as a collaborator and ambassador goes well beyond the flute world. His music definitely is dreamlike and mystical but for me his engagement of the audience and discussions of the instrument were a highlight equal to his playing. Sunday morning he gave a discussion with some history but a great deal of exchange and question and answer time about all things flute and flute related. As one of the Song Keepers for this instrument that may have been the best session of weekend for me even though he didn’t pick up a flute.

Workshop feedback was great from what I heard whether folks were making PVC flutes, learning about the history of the instrument, attending Clint Goss’s playshop sessions or learning about topics from breathing to music theory. All those happy flute people crammed into the music college makes for really good energy. Many familiar faces and some new folks too made for a great weekend socializing. It was tough to head home Sunday afternoon but at least I had a new flute to play on the drive.

To hear more stories and share the learning from Potomac Flute Festival attend our March meeting at RCCAC Saturday March 8th from 1-3pm

Flute Festivals

2008-02-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

I updated the link today. The 2008 Timber Flute Festival registeration and web site is up and running! Look at the event schedule and notice a concert or dance every evening. Five types of wooden flutes all sharing traditions and learning from one another. World reknown faculty members including our favorite Ron Warren teaching and performing Native American Flute. You do not want to miss this last week in June, a great time to be in Elkins.

Just a few weeks away (and this link has been busy a long time) Potomac Flute Festival is filling up fast but there are still spots available. Many of the performers at this event are presenting workshops as well and playing. Fifteen flute makers at the event make the legendary flute raffle a memorable experience too. Click to your right for details.

We will meet Saturday, February 9th at RCCAC in Elkins from 1-3pm and I hope to see you there.

A long time gone

2008-01-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

A long time gone

The blog has been idle a lot lately as I have been rebuilding the home computer (or rather, I am begging someone else for help) to rejoin the digital world. Now with some things running and a new flute circle meeting coming up it is time to post great news.

Ron Warren
The founder of Potomac Flute Circle and a good friend is also a professional musician and gifted flute player. Last year Ron was a featured presenter at the 1st Annual Timber flute Festival in Elkins. This inaugural event was a week of concerts, performance and instruction primarily for Irish, Keyless and Baroque period flutes in 2007. Ron and Janice Torres performed and Ron taught an introduction to the Native American Flute that was brilliant and received wide acclaim. Our flute circle made many new friends from his presentation and folks have been asking ever since “When is Ron coming back?”

Mark your calendars for June 23-27, 2008 which will be this years date for the 2nd Annual Timber Flute Festival in Elkins. Ron Warren will be one of the 5 faculty members teaching for the week. Ron will teach Native American Flute for all levels and will also perform in concert Thursday evening. Registration for the festival will be open soon at the RCCAC web site.

This year Irish, Baroque, Keyless and Fife flutes along with Native American Flute will be taught during a week of concerts, instruction and sharing about wooden flutes. Last year saw attendees from across the country enjoy a week of cooler June temperatures and local hospitality. Everyone had a great time and this year’s event promises even more excitement and sharing with the addition of both Fife and Native American Flute.

It is great to have another eastern event for Native American Flute the fits between Zion Flute Festival and this years date for the INAFA convention. A busy summer for fluting!

Registration details will be up soon at http://www.randolpharts.org/ and you can call the center from their website too. I have my paperwork completed already and I hope to see many new and familiar faces in Elkins this June.

Kevin Locke

I mentioned on the site that Kevin Locke will be performing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and a second show has been added to the schedule. The Susquehanna Folk Music Society is sponsoring two shows February 8th and 9th. Call 717.214.2787 for tickets to these shows.

Potomac Flute Festival has a full schedule posted at their website for this year’s event. Many great workshops, fantastic flute makers, hundreds for flute players and top notch featured performers are the focus of three great days. R. Carlos Nakai, Mark Holland and Autumn’s Child, Jan Seiden, and Jim Morehouse will all be performing in concert this year. Visit http://www.potomacflutecircle.net/ to see the whole schedule and register. I’ll see you there.

That is all the news for now – I hope your weather is winter as it should be in January.

Events for Winter Fluting

2007-10-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

Leaves are falling fast now and a long, cold rain is working hard to fill the creeks...

My time spent at the annual Flute Fall In event last week was fantastic. Many plans were discussed for the winter and several performances of note are coming to the area and are not to be missed. Get out your calendars…

The Museum of the American Indian is the newest and possibly most fantastic building on the National Mall. They are hosting several musicians next week that are well known to the flute world. R. Carlos Nakai will perform Friday, November 9, 2007, 6 p.m. on Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. The website states the following “R. Carlos Nakai, flute. Classical and traditional music performed by the leading Native American flute player, R. Carlos Nakai (Navajo/Ute), and friends.” Visit kennedy-center.org for further information.

On Saturday November 10, 2007 there are two performances (1pm and 3pm) in Rasmuson Theater at the Museum of the American Indian.

1pm Music of David Yeagley (Comanche), including Salve Regina for Native flute and women's voices.

3pm Dawn Avery (Mohawk) presents North American Indian Cello Project, including premieres of works by works by Ron Warren (Echota Cherokee), Timothy Archambault, Raven Chacon (Navajo), R. Carlos Nakai, and Dawn Avery, with R. Carlos Nakai, flute, Timothy Long (Muskogee-Creek/Choctaw), piano, Lisa Long, flute, Steven Alvarez, percussion, and the MC World Ensemble.

On Sunday, November 11, 2007 1pm in Rasmuson Theater at the Museum of the American Indian. A Concert for Veterans. In honor of Native veterans, this concert will include performances by R. Carlos Nakai, Dawn Avery and the MC World Ensemble, Tara-Louise Montour (Mohawk), Tim Archambault, Barbara McAlister, Timothy Long, Lisa Long, and Gabriel Ayala.

A big weekend line up with members of Potomac Flute Circle performing too.

A great cultural group has asked for help promoting a performance from Kevin Locke. This is a man who “needs no introduction” but I’ll provide you with a quote anyway. Kevin Locke is one of the featured artists in the documentary Song Keepers and has been an inspiration to many.

“An event of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society-- Program of Native American Music, Dance and Stories with Kevin Locke 2/8/08 Kevin Locke is a visionary hoop dancer, the preeminent player of the indigenous Northern Plains flute and a traditional storyteller. Of the Lakota tribe, he is known throughout the world as an ambassador of Native American culture.”

So the event is Friday Feb 8 at 7:30pm Kevin Locke in concert @ Harrisburg Academy in Wormleysburg, PA advance tickets $18 general admission seating. Call 717.214.2787 for tickets. Call me to arrange a carpool as I really want to attend this event too.

It is never too early to get the word out that the 5^th annual Potomac Native American Flute Festival will be held the weekend of February 22-24, 2008 at the Montgomery College in Rockville, MD Featured performers already confirmed include

Carlos Nakai - - - Friday Night - Mark Holland and Autumn's Child - - Saturday Afternoon Jan Seiden - - - - Jim Morehouse.

Workshops will be held throughout the event, which is scheduled to run from 3:00PM Friday, February 22 to 3:00PM Sunday, February 24. The festival will also include a Saturday afternoon concert featuring Jan Seiden and Jim Moorehouse, as well as over a dozen Native American flute makers and non-NAF vendors. Details and registration:

http://potomacflutecircle.net/

Book Reviews

2007-09-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Fall Book Review

I wanted to share two discoveries with folks who are interested in the history of the flute and sharing that story with others. I am always looking for materials to assist me in occasional school visits that I do – visits with hopes of sharing the flute with others. A great flute maker by the name of Barry Higgins had these resources listed on his web site and taking that “referral” of sorts I ordered them through my local bookseller.

The first is Love Flute by Paul Goble (Aladdin paperbacks, copyright 1992) This award winning book is written for a child of 5-8 years to enjoy but I feel that it is for everyone to enjoy. Paul Goble has done a good job of re-telling the story of how the flute came to the Santee Dakota people of the Great Plains. While this is not the definitive tale of the courting flute it is one told with good intention and tells of the Elk and the woodpeckers role in helping the young hunter to find his voice and express himself to his true love upon returning to the village.

The author has also provided very rich and skillful illustrations for every page of the book. The illustrations include sixteen different Native American flutes. I think that it is a very fun read and the adults at flute circle have enjoyed browsing the book as much as children will love a good tale well told. Support your independent bookseller and check it out.

The second book is The Flute Player by Michael Lacapa (Rising Moon Books, copyright 1990) The book re-tells the Apache story of the flute player as a young man seeking to court the young woman he loves. The author suggests that he is recounting the tale as it was told to him in his youth. I like this story in how different it is from the others I have heard and read. No animal totems and no happy ending for the couple are in the recounting. Yet the courting ritual and the eternal feeling of the flute and the powerful messages it can convey are all in this story. Again the author has provided the illustrations and they are inspiring and beautiful. Kids and Big Kids have enjoyed this one as well and both books have a great perspective on the history of the instrument.

Fall Events Upcoming

Cool evenings and warm days are the hallmark of fall here in West Virginia. I hope your weather is as good where-ever you may be. This coming weekend is the first annual Oklahoma Flute Festival and they expect a huge turnout from what I hear. Visit their website at http://www.okflutefest.com for details and to plan your trip.

The Silverhawk gathering takes place in October also. Gathering is at Withlacoochee River Park, October 13-14, 2007. This is in Dade City, FL. Contact number for the event is 813-754-8990

Leonard McGann is still accepting registration for the Flute Fall In (near Roanoke, VA) October 18 – 21. The cost for the four day Flute Fall In is $185 per person and includes bed and all meals. Leonard’s e-mail is CaveRatLC@aol.com Phone 540-297-6077

Flute Fall In

2007-09-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

The weather is beginning to cool here and poplar leaves are starting to show off their yellows. Color will peak here just in time for our next flute circle meeting I am guessing. Other news...

Leonard McGann is the maker of Lone Crow Flutes and a great fellow. He hosts an annual regional flute gathering that is well attended by flute circles from around the country (New England to Georgia.) Several flute makers in addition to Leonard will also be attending & showcasing their work. You never know who will show up, my first year Clint Goss decided to do a play-shop that generated a ton of great music for the week.

I am glad to report that I will be returning to Flute Fall In again this year (and have carpool space available from Elkins.) For the small investment you make you'll get a great deal more back and I highly recommend this gathering.

FLUTE FALL-IN 2007 will be October 18 – 21
The cost for the four day Flute Fall in is $185 per person and includes bed and all meals. Leonard states that "On Friday, there will be a get together and dinner held on Leonard and Kitty's property and Saturday we will be giving a concert at Dixie Caverns. Other than that, the time is open for sharing, fluting and enjoying the magic brought to us all by this marvelous instrument. Leonard’s e-mail is CaveRatLC@aol.com Phone 540-297-6077"

He makes it sound pretty simple but the time spent jamming, hiking, caving and sharing with folks in this gathering just two Octobers ago is what launched me into my flute frenzy and finding so many great friends on the flute trail.

Incentives

2007-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

This month our meeting will have several highlights.

The Randolph County Community Arts Center will feature The Sixth Annual Gala Juried Exhibition including fifty, two and three-dimensional works by thirty West Virginia artists. This will be hung in the Great Hall and makes its debut with a First Class gathering on Friday night. Very nice event that I encourage you to attend. See RCCAC link on the right toolbar here.

The Circle has also been sent gifts from Robert Windpony at Grand Canyon Flutes. His music is from the heart and is performed on a number of flutes including those he has built. This month at the meeting we will have a drawing for the MoonRider CD, Robert's latests release. We'll see what folks think of his music and we send thanks for his generosity. You can see a large selection of NAF style flutes for sale at Grand Canyon Flutes website www.gcflutes.com

We hope to see several new flute designs as well. Paul has been working on a new SAC on his flutes and Allen has been working on a movable cutting/splitting edge. Gentlemen, bring those new flutes over please!

We will meet this Saturday - the Second Saturday in September (Sept 8) from 1-3pm at RCCAC. Hope to see you there.

Sunwatch Flute Festival

2007-08-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

Well I now enjoy a better internet connection from living in town. Yet my recent move has encroached upon my time for flute playing and community (pretty apparent from the posting schedule, I think)
This means that I'll likely be missing one of the new and exciting labors of love of the Miami Valley Flute Circle - Sunwatch Flute Festival.

http://sunwatch.boonshoftmuseum.org/Flute%20Circle.html

The site is a museum and includes Miami Indian Archaeological sites. The line up is pretty fantastic and I'd say that organizers have done an impressive job for a first year event.

The trend is a good one that new flute events are popping up all over the country. A new Oklahoma event is coming up this fall as well (news to follow). Reports from Zion are that it was bigger and more wonderful again this year. I wish them well and hope they send pictures for posting on this new DSL connection as it seems to be all I can manage lately. Sigh.

Success!

2007-07-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

June 28^th Success!

Here is a picture (used with permission of Stuart Hill) of Ron and Janice (L to R) performing with Michael Graham Allen at Potomac Flute Festival in Feb 07. When a photo of the RCCAC event arrives I'll post that as well.

We were thrilled to host Ron Warren and vocalist Janice Torres as part of the First Annual Timber Flute Festival in Elkins. This event was for wooden flutes - this year of Irish and Baroque (18 & 19^th century European type) flutes and Native American Flute was happy to help enrich the week. Randolph County Community Arts Center hosted the week long event and it was very well attended.

On Thursday about 50 folks brought lunch and crowded into RCCAC’s Great Hall to hear Ron & Janice perform and then present a history of the flute and how it works, demonstrate scales and duets, and even teach a mini lesson to 16 never ever flute players. I was happy to see so many flute circle folks in attendance, I think all of us in the same room for Ron’s concert made Thursday our biggest flute circle meeting ever (chuckle). We met new circle members from Elkins and Buckhannon and even had NAF folks from Clay County come out for the event. I felt that our instrument was well received by Irish and classical wooden flute players and this added another dimension to a well received and attended first year event in Elkins. Congratulations to Dr. Dobbs and the RCCAC for hosting such a wonderful event - well received by the players I spoke with on Thursday.

That Friday we hosted a dinner for Ron and Janice that saw a dozen or so folks for grilling and a campfire along with a great deal of flute talk. Ron is very accommodating of questions and graciously shares his heritage and culture with folks. We sat up too late and had a really great time. In the process we did hatch some ideas for contributing to next years event and we will be discussing some of these over the summer to see where it leads us for a larger NAF presence in 2008 as one of several flutes represented.

We taught the basic flute lesson Thursday on Am flutes made of PVC. The formula for these flutes was designed by Bob Willasch of Maryland Flute Circle. Paul and I set up several jigs for consistency and cranked out a bakers dozen of these flutes in two afternoons. Some late night filing to finish up and Voila! a class worth of flutes that when all blown together sounded pretty much the same. I have to say that it was great practice for my newbie flute making skills and was truly rewarding to hear; not a cacophony of noise but 13 A’s a few cents apart (as pleasing as 13 folks learning together can be…) when Ron taught the class.

It was great to also learn that there are several more flute players in the region that play more than one type of flute. I think this will continue to provide new perspectives for our growing group. We meet again this month, the second Saturday (July 12) at RCCAC from 1-3pm and hope to see everyone there.

Ron Warren!

2007-06-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

Ron Warren!

Our special guest presenter for June 28^th at Timber Flute Festival will be Ron Warren and vocalist Janice Torres! Let me explain…

I reviewed the newest album (Morning Star, Evening Star) from Ron Warren in a much earlier post on this blog as being one of the most listened to in my CD collection. Percussion and flute playing together make it a standout and one that leaves a memory with your toes still tapping or lips still humming. I know that I am always on the back porch trying to figure out how to make a particular sound I hear on one of Ron Warren’s albums. The original album review is here

http://wvnativeamericanflutecircle.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html

Please do not take my word for it – visit Ron’s web site and see what is going on! Ron is a NAMMY nominee in 2007 for Flutist of the Year, Best Traditional Recording and Songwriter of the Year. www.ronwarrenmusic.com

In the previous post you saw that the WV NAF Circle originally invited Stuart Hill, another talented player, to present at the Timber Flute Festival on June 28^th and Stuart has had scheduling difficulties and now cannot make it. Ron Warren has offered to present and this provides a wonderful opportunity for us to host such an accomplished guest.

So now I am announcing that Ron and his wonderful vocalist Janice Torres will be performing at RCCAC on Thursday June 28^th from 12:30-1:30pm. This will be something that NAF enthusiasts do not want to miss. The session will begin around the 12:15 lunch time frame and these lunch sessions are open to the public. Ron will be playing a mini concert and Janice accompanying him. This is your chance to see a NAMMY caliber recording artist and part of his band, live in Elkins!

At Ron’s website you can read a NAF topics blog, join the mailing list and order music. Ron will be selling his CD’s at the event and will be in town a day or so in hopes of meeting folks from the circle – please plan on coming out contact me for further details forthcoming.

There are still spaces available to attend the Timber Flute Festival for the week. Visit the link at your right for a printable schedule and registration form.

June's New Flutes

2007-06-05T05:15:00.000-07:00

New Flutes

Here are my two newest flute projects. The first one is in cedar in high B (bird is still pending). The wood actually used was salvage from Paul’s house siding. Thanks Paul! The other flute is done in “urban pine” or the PVC mentioned in a previous post (Am), Thanks Bob! While the cedar flute looks better I have to say that the Am plays better at this point thanks to Bob W. for the great formulary for finger hole placement and size. Tuning the really small flutes is a great challenge and this high B was no exception. The number 1 hole, closest to the mouth end, is very tender and easily overblown – throwing it out of tune. Besides that with the smaller bore size my finger holes proved to be tiny. More prototyping is clearly in order to get the results and my friend has been very accommodating in allowing me to tinker and try to figure it out.

This months meeting will show off these flutes and possibly others. I hope to have a few WV members that are interested in more flute-making help me assemble 12 of these Am flutes for sample flutes to be made available to the Timber Flute Festival participants. June 28, our lunchtime flute workshop will feature Stuart Hill and me getting other wood flute players feet wet with the NAF. To do this we’ll need Stuart’s great playing skills and my fearlessness before a crowd. We’ll also need a bunch of flutes in the same key for folks to try and Bob’s design is so good that I am going to try to show our members how to make them… Then try to teach Irish flute players to play them at month’s end. We’ll let you know how that goes.

The entire schedule for the Timber Flute Festival is now online and can be seen here (printable in PDF too):

http://www.randolpharts.org/flutefestival3.html

If you have not been to Stuart Hill’s web site his link is on your right. He is a very warm and approachable person who is very talented as a player and has spent years honing his skills. Check him out on line and come out to meet him June 28 when he presents in Elkins.

I encourage everyone to attend Timber Flute Festival and mix it up with the other wooden flute folks to see what else we can learn from them. Besides very interesting instruments and beautiful music the Irish, Baroque and Boehm Flute has something very important to offer NA style Flutes. A long and successful history of preservation and advancement of the wooden flute and advancement in technology applied to their instrument. IMHO, the NAF is in a type of renaissance and beginning to undergo the same levels of research, and innovation that will be required to further popularize it. All enthusiasts owe a great deal to First Nation peoples that brought the world this type of flute. We are also indebted to the generation of innovators who in the mid 20^th century brought this instrument back to attention and vibrancy when it had been nearly lost. Now in the early part of the 21^st century with so many flute-makers, professional musicians playing NA style Flute, and new enthusiast groups cropping up (present company included) the trick is to make sure we are not “playing in a vacuum”. Rather we need to take some energy from what we love about this musical tradition and learn from other traditions about what they know, share our tradition with them and incorporate successful elements of preservation from outside that will bring NAF to everyone who may need it, or need to hear it. Many folks already to this well and Timber Flute Festival will simply be another great chance to learn in this way. I’ll step off this box now.

Our next meeting will be in the great hall at RCCAC, the link to the arts center is on your right. Well be playing from 1-3pm Saturday June 9 – can I say WHEW, I am glad we missed the June holiday there! Mother’s Day was bad enough for attendance (GRIN)

Until next time -

Flute Workshop in A minor

2007-05-18T11:38:00.001-07:00

This months Mother’s Day flute extravaganza was cut short due to family crisis (my toddler caught the Chicken Pox)

We did have two new “never-ever” participants in the workshop, join Bob Willasch and myself in making flutes from what Bob affectionately calls “urban pine” or PVC pipe. We cranked out some flutes and had time to play them as well as enjoying some great flutes from Bob’s collection. We had a very fun morning and extend a BIG thanks to Bob for coming out to run our workshop.

Prior to this event I was aware that Bob has a wealth of flute making experience and that he can speak knowledgably about a number of topics. His expertise really shines when you see how easy it is to build a working and very playable flute in PVC. Bob has his system down and with just a tape measure, drill press, needle files, wood dowel and a Dremel-style grinder we were in business in short order. We even went fast enough to botch one or two and this again allowed Bob’s experience to shine as he was able to guide us through fixing the problem back to playable.

The remainder of our time was spent getting to know the new flute players and learning about Bob’s flutes from a number of well known makers. Bob also has a sort of “petting zoo” of historical and reproduction style flutes that show the difference in styles for the instrument. They make a great reference for the discussion of how the flute works and where it has been.

His flute making template, with permission, will provide many a great start for flute folks who want their first instrument to be sweet and simple. I would consider trying this again with circle members who wish to give it a whirl, as we had many folks with prior commitments that could not attend. You all missed a great workshop so we’ll try an encore sometime.

We did have several flute circle members contribute to Bob’s travel expenses and your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I have not even finished tuning mine – it is very close to A right off the drill press and by untrained ear you cannot tell the difference. Digitally at 440hz; it needs a little bit of filing and of course it would be nice to get the water pipe tattoo off the side but do you want to play it or sand it?! When the toddler has the pox you spend the scant few moments you have playing it I think.

Our next meeting will be at the RCCAC on Saturday, June 9^th from 1-3pm and you can see for yourself how well a .57 cent flute plays.

May Flute News

2007-05-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

May Flute News
Several weeks have passed in technology Hades (sans computer) and I am weathering it OK, Time for another remote posting of the flute circle blog.

This month for our second Saturday meeting (May 12) we are honored with a special guest. Bob Willasch from the Maryland Flute Circle will be attending our gathering and presenting a special flute making workshop from 10am to 1pm. Bring a sack lunch and be prepared to work with basic tools to create your own Native American Style flute from PVC in the key of A. This will be a fun morning and you’ll go home with your own flute as well as a bunch of new knowledge about the instrument. Bob has made flutes for more than a decade, presented all over the country and traded tips with Butch Hall, Dusty Moore, Hawk Littlejohn and many other great flute makers. You’ll be enriched by spending time with Bob. Did I mention the workshop is FREE? Flute Circle will follow that afternoon from 1-3pm at RCCAC.
Here is a link for the workshop http://www.randolpharts.org/07latespringclasses.html

Flute maker and Shawnee drummer Allen Hendricks is rumored to be attending our next flute circle meeting. Last I spoke with Allen he had made a seven hole flute that sounds pretty darn good. Allen sells his flutes at Tamarack in Beckley, WV [www.tamarackwv.com] and is someone who wants to share traditional drumming with the circle. Cool stuff.

Last month we had a great treat in being able to trade tunes and sounds with a silver flutist who had joined us. So many things are similar between the instruments and being classically trained, Renee was able to teach us several things about reading music too. We hope to see more flute folks of all types in the future.

New information to share at this months meeting from Grand Canyon Flutes.com. They have sent the circle a sample of music from Robert Windpony Mann and an instruction guide I hope to review in a future installment. They also offer a large selection of flutes from a number of makers and in a wide price range as well.

Our June meeting will be June 9th as planned from 1-3 at RCCAC. My travel plans to attend Zion Flute Festival have changed and I will be here to host the meeting.
Until next time!

April News - technology failure!

2007-04-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

I am without a home computer and while this puts me in great company with 70% of Americans it is inconvenient in that I was dependent upon it daily for tasks including the blog updates. Plan for this to be the single monthly installment and I hope to be up and running again in May – well see.
This month’s meeting will be at the RCCAC and we will be upstairs. Plans include a new song Shady Grove in two versions. We’ll show you how I got that during a lesson on the flutetree.com side ruler – a tool that allows you to take your favorite song and get it ready for your flute. Many of my recent monthly song selections are not always the house favorite and I really want to see what other people will want to play and transpose – so this lesson may accommodate that and help those that play 5 hole flutes too.
We’ll see new flutes for sure at the meeting, as I found an amazing flute from Colyn Peterson and Paul has been working on some new flutes as well.
We will have a monitor again this month for video sharing as that was a big hit last month.

Kudos to Robert Gatliff who is a person who has really given a great deal to the flute community and should be recognized for those contributions. Visit his site and set up any song in his songbook for the type of flute you have just by selecting from the dropdown menu. Searching for a song already transposed? He has listed nearly 300 songs across the web that are printable for free or in various songbooks you might purchase.

Upcoming events:
Bob Willasch on May 12 too. Details of Bob’s visit are here: http://www.randolpharts.org/07latespringclasses.html

Timber Flute Festival June 25 to 29 will be a wood flute event and Thursday (June 28) at lunch, our special guest Stuart Hill will be presenting an introduction to the Native American Style Flute for the week’s participants. You will not want to miss this – as Stuart is a wonderful flute player. We hope to find new NAF aficionado’s through Stuart’s presentation. Links to the festival and Stuart’s site are here on the right.

WVNAF’s second Saturday meeting will be May 12th and we will also meet upstairs for the meeting. Until next time!

Another Spring Flute Event

2007-03-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

I spoke with Stuart Hill about an upcoming annual event this April called Flute Spring.

Jan Kirlew is the host organizer.
Her computer is down for at least another week, and she has been unable
to send out further information on the annual Flute Spring, held in
Lebanon, NJ each year. This year's event will be April 19-22, 2007.
She needs to put in a deposit on the facility, so please send your
checks to her address (Jan Kirlew, PO Box 20573, Roanoke, VA 24018)
The weekend is $170, towel and linens is $10 more. You can send her
email at jkirlew@att.net - which she may receive when she gets her
computer back.

Stuarts comment on the event is "For anyone not aware of this event, it is a very casual and enjoyable event, held in a religious camp facilities, catered and a real blast." Thanks Stuart for the news.

Another highly recommended event in Musical Echoes in ft Walton Beach Florida. Dates for this year are April 27, 28, 29 2007 and you can see the performer line up at:
www.musicalechoes.org/

PVC Flute workshop planned

2007-03-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Build your own instrument! Native American Style Flute making workshop sponsored by WV NAF Circle, Randolph County Community Arts Center and presented by Bob Willasch.

Saturday May 12, 10am-1pm FREE

(bring a sack lunch) Ages 14 years and up, all equipment provided, limited to 20 students.

Call RCCAC to register for the workshop 304-637-2355

While far from traditional - this workshop will give everyone a fun-damental understanding of how the instrument works and everyone will take home a nice sounding Native American Style flute to play.

This workshop will be the same day as our MAY circle meeting May 12 from 1-3pm at RCCAC

First Nation people across the continent played the flute for it beautiful sound. This three hour workshop will have you building and playing your own first flute from PVC pipe in the key of A, suitable for any size hands. We’ll discuss the history of the instrument and teach you how to get started making your own tunes. Using PVC flute kits and simple tools that Bob has put together - learn to use a drill press, files and a tuner to get the instrument to play. You’ll gain an appreciation of the instrument and take one home to enjoy.

About Bob:
Bob Willasch is the founder of the Maryland Flute Circle in Timonium and has been making and playing flutes for over 12 years. Bob came to the flute from a love of woodworking and Native culture and has participated in building historic reproductions of tall ships and sailing vessels since 1985. Bob was inspired and given pointers in the construction of the Native American Flute by gifted Native American Flute makers such as Hawk LittleJohn, Butch Hall, and Barry Higgins. He has taught Native American Flute making and played workshops all over the country. Bob found he could reach many youth through the Native American Flute, by showing them the positive things in their lives this instrument can bring. Bob is multi talented as a woodwind player and studies the history of world flutes.

Review of Timber Flute Concert 3/3

2007-03-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well folks it was a wonderful performance.
Wendell Dobbs, Linda Wolfersheim, & Elizabeth Ford playing wooden flutes
Julio Alves playing classical guitar
Robert Psurny Jr. singing tenor

This was a two hour extravaganza of music attended by several from our flute circle, and many regional residents on yet another cold & snowy evening in Elkins. The flute playing was my favorite by bias but the many arrangements and composers gave me a new appreciation and education in 18th century music and technique. This event raised funds for the First Annual Timber Flute Festival which will be held June 24-29 in Elkins this summer. Wendell Dobbs, Colin St. Martin, and Grey Larsen will be instructors for this event and the instruments of Flute maker & local resident, John Gallagher will be featured. Hearing some of this type of playing Saturday night definitely whets your appetite for what is in store this summer.

Stay tuned for details but the WV NAF Circle has agreed to do a demonstration of Native Style Flute at this summers event and we are excited to share the instrument and learn from one another music.

You can learn more about Timber Flute Festival from the link at your right.
We will meet Saturday March 10th from 1-3pm in the great hall at Randolph County Community Arts Center. We hope to see you there, bring any instrument you'd like!

What a Weekend! Potomac Flute Festival

2007-02-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

(Top to Botom) Hawk Henries, Michael Graham Allen, Jimi Morehouse & the Snoducks. Thanks to Stuart Hill for photos.

What a weekend!

Here is a photo of the snowstorm that concluded our three days of playing flutes and sharing great community at the 4^th Annual Potomac Flute Festival. The flutes you see here are all low A, an innovation of flute maker Jim Morehouse. They are made of rigid foam so there is no need to worry about playing them in a cold, damp snowstorm! They also play beautifully to boot and are a good example of the innovation showcased my many makers at this gathering. Pictured (left to right) are Gary, Jim Morehouse, Jim & Dave)

Friday saw 3 of us from the West Virginia Circle and more than a dozen of the new and very active Pennsylvania Flute Circle meet up with more than 100 other attendees from across the region for workshops, concerts, jamming & experiencing 12 different flute makers and hundreds of unique instruments. There are so many great players and musicians represented it is difficult to know where to begin but there was something for everyone – beginner to advanced and the highlights will be the only thing that doesn’t make your eyes glaze over, so I'll try to keep it short.

Playing techniques with Clint & Vera Goss is a huge highlight of the event for many players and this year Clint Goss has further refined his teaching style with three different skills workshops and a new website launch of Native Flute Background tracks. www.NAFTracks.com. Those who like to play with a CD for musical accompaniment will find all sorts of new tools at this up and running website.

Jan Seiden ran a wonderful workshop about Sacred Breath and playing flute. Known for inspiring musical ability and her understanding of healing through the flute and vibration, she is now working with Yoga and flute as well and has exciting insight on both playing with intention as well as increasing your lung capacity and well being with the instrument. Find out more about her performance schedule and Vibrational Healing Circle: Breath, Mudra and Sound at the link to your right.

Working with youth through the flute was a strong series of workshops this year. Bob Willasch had folks making PVC flutes in just over an hour! Bo Harris gave first hand account and testimony about how youth have been positively affected with the instrument as well. A vibe or theme this year among presenters (that resonated with me, anyway) seemed to be the idea that truthfully looking back to the elders and tradition in our cultures will have profound positive affect on the present. Working with youth and flutes is another part of this bridge I think. WV NAF Circle hopes to have Bob Willasch as our guest this spring for a PVC flute workshop. (Details TBD)

We had a big didgeridoo contingent this year including some super talented players like Ash Dargan & Tim Whittemore and Hawk Henries. Friday evening Ash Dargan had the audience spellbound one moment and laughing the next. He also led a very positive workshop on the Didge, its original culture, and how to… on Sunday. The energy was strong and well intentioned and old and new faces were smiling. Makes you want to go back to the practice sessions on circular breathing! Oh and let me tell you that Ash has lungs that play a flute every bit as beautifully as he does the didgeridoo. His website has been added to the list at your right too.

Michael Graham Allen (Coyote Oldman) has over 30 years of experience making, playing, recording and reviving the Native American Style Flute. His presence was clearly felt at the gathering this year. His newest effort has been the return of the Anasazi Flute. He has recreated this instrument from the 1200 year old artifacts including its scale. Hearing this instrument in it’s makers hands on Friday night was extraordinary. As a rim blown flute (in the same family as the Japanese Shakuhatsi) the instrument sounds and plays like an entirely different flute. Familiar and yet hauntingly new, we were all spending time at Michael Graham Allen’s booth trying to learn how to play one! A photo at the top here shows Michael Graham Allen in concert playing this flute. He also led a flute history workshop Saturday that was wonderful. The workshop was invaluable at demystifying some of the early and current history of the instrument as well as showcasing what he called his “petting zoo” of historic flutes and accurate reproductions.

The Ron Warren Band and Jeff Ball Band are mainstays at this event and always pack the house year after year. Ron’s band did play some tracks from the new album Morning Star, Evening Star, reviewed here earlier in 2006 and I think this album is their best. Jeff Ball’s performance featured Hoop and Fancy Dancers as part of the performance which was very high energy performance. Jeff’s newest album is The Shape of Light but I am also excited to view his DVD project Return To Balance: A Climber’s Journey at one of our next circle meetings. Jeff and his ensemble provided all of the music to the hour long documentary, which should be fun to hear.

New to this year’s event was Arvel Bird, who is a champion Scottish and Native American (Paiute) fiddler and flute player. Arvel brought versatility, cultural and historical insight and professionalism to the concert series this year. Playing with Ron and Jeff on stage 2 nights and both teaching and attending workshops in between - it was great to have him at this year’s event. I’ve never seen a musician play his entire set with a nose bleed but this man is unstoppable on stage! To say Arvel is high energy is kind of an understatement…

Hawk Henries has been coming to the Potomac Flute Festival for three years and after so many folks being taken with his playing of flute and didge someone finally asked him to host a concert. I say host because he will tell you that he does not perform or entertain per se. I was at first skeptical of this statement but was soon found nodding in agreement because while his playing is beautiful and skillful, it seems that Hawk is more about sharing his heart and perspective. How he makes his instruments, his culture, his humor, our world and his concerns about it all greatly enhance and color the session in a way that is very different than anything performers did on Friday or Saturday night. Hawk also makes all of his own beautiful instruments with only fire and hand tools at his home in Maine. His site is www.hawkhenries.com
Picture here at the top is Hawk playing one of his flutes in concert

New flutes will be coming to the next circle meeting (Saturday March 10 from 1-3pm at Randolph County Community Arts Center) and some new music as well. We will meet on a number of topics including when we might best accommodate a PVC flute workshop and when to host a flute maker at our meeting, several expressed interest this past weekend. Until next time!

March Flute Concert

2007-02-17T19:36:00.000-08:00

March is fast approaching...
We will be meeting at RCCAC again in March; our Saturday is March 10th and we will meet upstairs as the building will be occupied by other members downstairs.

The weekend prior to our meeting there will be a great benefit concert. (this copy credited to RCCAC website, see link on this page)
"A variety of musical artists will join together on Saturday, March 3, 2007, to present a diverse concert of classical music.
The proceeds from the evening concert will support West Virginia’s first ever wooden flute festival set for last week of June 2007.

The First Annual Timber Flute Festival is sponsored by the Randolph County Community Arts Center, The Myles Family Foundation and Marshall University.

Performers will include flutist Wendell Dobbs from Marshall University, flutist Colin St. Martin from Baltimore's Peabody Institute, Brazilian classical guitarist Julio Alves , harpsichordist Jack Crotty from West Virginia University and tenor Robert Psurny from Davis and Elkins College. Dobbs and St. Martin will perform using flutes created by local craftsman John Gallagher."

Additionally the RCCAC website alerts us that the Timber Flute Festival will be this June:

First Annual Timber Flute Festival
June 24th 29th, 2007
Randolph County Community Arts Center

A weeklong series of workshops and evening events for flutists interested in exploring traditions associated with wooden flutes. The first year will be devoted to 18th century Baroque and Classical flute playing and Irish flute playing.

Bear in mind that the Augusta Heritage Festival starts the following week (after the July 4th holiday) and so you could catch a new wood flute event, Augusta's first week, and then the Flute Circle meeting on June 9th!

It only seems like a long way off. Remember that if you drive fast and only look at the end of the car hood, you'll end up like the bugs you find there on a summers eve. You have to plan far ahead to get anywhere...

February News

2007-02-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

WVNAF Circle meets at the Randolph County Community Arts Center again this month - home again - and while we are thankful for the Old Brick Playhouse the sound at RCCAC is sooo good...

Well the time is just a few weeks away, Potomac Flute Festival is nearly here.

The dates for the fourth annual Potomac Native American Flute Festival are February 23-25, 2007. The venue is the Montgomery College in Rockville, MD ( the same as for the last 3 years) The length of the festival is extended from Noon Friday through 4:00PM Sunday.

Friday Evening Concert: Flute Maker and Flute Player Michael Graham Allen (of Coyote Oldman), World-Famous Didgeridoo Player Ash Dargan, and the Ron Warren Band.

A Saturday afternoon concert will feature Native American Flute Player and Flute Maker Hawk Henries.

Saturday Evening Concert: Electric Violin Player Extraordinaire Arvel Bird and the Jeff Ball Band.

There will be dual-tracked workshops on Saturday to include beginner and advanced playing workshops. Additional details are provided in the following links - a festival schedule and a printable brochure for the event. Single Day passes are available.

Did I mention a great flute raffle, included lunch, and great times with other flute players? This is a highlight of the winter season and I know you are not playing flute outside these days! Elkins has a high of 8 degrees today!
I will give some highlights here after the fest for those who are unable to attend too - hope to have some pictures by then also. This site looks pretty blah without images to brighten things up.

January news

2007-01-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New year everyone,

This weekend (Jan 13) the WVNAF Circle will meet at the Old Brick Playhouse at the corner of 4th and Davis Ave in Elkins. One of our circle members graciously negotiated a roof over our heads for the afternoon due to home base (Randolph County Community Arts Center) being dance weekend headquarters. No hard feelings, they just reserve the whole place that weekend!

We now have 17 folks on the 4 county phone list who attend meetings on any regular basis and talking with other circles, this seems to bode well for a first year effort. We hope to grow as well in 2007 and begin to chart our journey collectively.

Another Randolph County school visit is coming up in February and Potomac Flute Festival is little over a month away! An announcement on PFF (2/23-25), follows this post.

A local event called The Great Turning will be held in Clarksburg, WV on March 23-25 and will feature Native American Styled Flute as part of the topics offered.

My holiday travel offered up the chance to gather with the Arizona Flute Circle . We met in a members home in Scotsdale, Arizona and it was great to see their group includes a super mix of accomplished players, makers, collectors and very friendly folks. Their community is awesome and they are a driving force behind the upcoming 3rd Annual Zion Flute Festival on June 8-10, 2007. It was fun to share holiday songs and see some very different flutes along side makers who we know well.

Next instalment, when my video card recovers, I'll talk about PVC flutes as a possibility for a first instrument. Robert Brandt and Sam Kurz both make a fine NAF style flute that will get you down river in the canoe and you can hand to a kid without worry or breakage. When I get pictures I'll go further on this thought.

Think Snow, it is January afterall!

Folks, please visit this web site for more details on the 4th annual Native American Flute Festival, being held in Rockville Maryland February 23-25, 2007

www.potomacflutecircle.net

Flute Making Part 1

2006-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

(top to bottom) Mid G, Mid G, F#

In learning to make NAF style flutes, two sayings come to mind: One is the joke that first you do it for love, then you do it for friends and finally you do it for money. The way I apply that here is not that I am changing careers (because I think I might go hungry!) but simply that as you really discover something great it begins to apppear in more and more aspects of your life. The second adage is something I read on Clint Goss's site that I think is attributed to Jirí Stivín in Prague who said "every flute player should make his own flute!" Well now I resemble that remark I guess.
One of our flute circle members is a very accomplished woodworker and turner. His interest in learning to make flutes included an invitaion to try it with him and it has been a huge amount of fun. Learing to work in wood, in this case Poplar, and get a feel for how it comes together is amazing. I made a Mid G and a F# in 3/4" & 7/8" bores respectively. They sound good and are fun to play. Most importantly they feel great in the sense of accomplishment and I can say that this is a very compelling feeling. I will try my hand at it again as soon as I have time and when my flute playing catches up again. These two seemed to take all of autumn to complete.

I have several folks to credit for the inital success beside Paul my woodworking buddy. Keith Stanford at Cherry Cows puts together a great manual at cost and runs a weekend workshop online that has proved priceless. Thanks Keith, for success the first time!
Second is Bill Hughes new DVD - on Making NAF Style Flutes. This DVD really helps bring the details together and looking at both resources carefully gives one the confidence to try and move forward in a way that avoids some classic first time mistakes. Several years ago I think my first attempt without prior woodshop experience would have meant firewood but with these two excellent teachers to reference I have two servicable flutes. The adventure continues!

Flutes go to school

2006-12-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update - my son and I are playing didge and flute at a few local schools and trying to get anyone who will listen with a breif history, mechanics and song session. Doing NAF flute and didge in the same session can be tight but it is fun to see the reactions to such different and yet similar instruments. Last session, when these photos were taken the kids got to dance to the beat they felt in the playing and it looked like a bag of popcorn popping! Very fun stuff.

Also a fun note for this coming weekends flute circle meeting: The Celtic group Blackbirds and Thrushes will present two performances of its Heritage Holiday Concert as part of the 2006-2007 Concert Series at the Randolph County Community Arts Center. The first holiday concert is on Saturday, December 9th at 8pm followed by a second concert on Sunday, December 10th at 3pm. This provides an additional benefit to being in Elkins for the weekend and promises some great flute playing.

Potomac Flute festival, event schedule is ready

2006-11-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars now if you have not already done so! The POTOMAC NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE FESTIVAL is February 23-25, 2007

[I am a member of this circle as well and I can tell you that they work VERY hard, year round to pull off a first class event that you will not want to miss]

Location: Montgomery College - Rockville, Maryland - Washington D.C. Metro Area

Website: Potomacflutecircle.net - link to your right

[I was an attendee of this event last year and I can say that it is great in every way. The college department setting provides for great contact with presenters and vendors as well as fellow fluties. Concerts include top name performers with expert sound and acoustics. Many of these same performers are in workshops with you or teaching them, which makes for a very enriching experience. Every vendor donates a raffle item to the event and some wonderful items are raffled to support festival expenses. This years event has included some exposure to bansuri and fujara style flutes and didgeridoo which I think is a really great thing. I am already registered and willing to share a ride with interested circle members, email me]

The Potomac and Maryland Flute Circles have the pleasure of inviting you to the Potomac Native American Flute Festival. The 2006 event was so successful that Montgomery College near Washington D.C. has invited us back to again hold the event as a part of their World Arts Festival on February 23-25, 2007!!

Our Friday evening concert will feature a wonderful line up including special guests Michael Graham Allen (Coyote Oldman), Ron Warren, and Australian digeridoo master, Ash Dargan. Saturday afternoon will showcase the cultural wisdom and incredible flute playing talents of Hawk Henries. Saturday Night will mark the return of the Jeff Ball Band, along with flute/violin specialist Arvel Bird and other guest performers. These artists will perform individually and as a group throughout the evening. This is an event you will never forget!

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday workshops will include presentations on topics such as flute playing, ethnic flutes, early flute history, recording, flute and fiddle, and composing. There will also be a participant's recital on Sunday. More than TEN flute makers and others will be selling their fantastic flutes
and CD's!! No doubt this will likely be the best East Coast Native American flute buying opportunity in 2007!! For more information, please visit: www.potomacflutecircle.net. The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. is now open and easily reached from the Potomac Flute Festival. A great addition to your trip to the Washington D.C. area!!

Registration information Contact: Angel Cruz ~ 5602 Ottawa Road ~ Centreville, VA ~ 20120 ~e-mail: acruzn@yahoo.com ~ phone: 703-338-2756 Web: www.potomacflutecircle.net

November News Flash

2006-11-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

Native American Flute Portal is open and this project from Jeff Ball and Geoffrey Ellis of Earthtone Flutes looks very exciting. A link to the flute portal is found to your right and WV NAF Circle has a free web page there as well for better exposure. Stop by as the site is building now and is user interactive - so the more users, the better the site.

WV NAF Circle has hit the road with traveling presentations and we did two 30-minute sessions with the local Montessori School in Elkins for preschool age kids. Very fun stuff and a super appreciative audience! Scheduled dates for additional schools will follow but we are looking to introduce one new school a month to the NA Flute and the didgridoo.

I have been away from the blog - sanding! The trouble has really started in earnest - I am working with one of our circle members to attempt to make a flute. Two flutes actually and I will not spoil the surprise - stay tuned for sounds, pictures and text on these instruments when they are complete. Anyway my hands have been busy with wood rather than the keyboard and I am still smiling so far (with all fingers intact, LOL)

Our next meeting is this Saturday from 1-3pm at Elkins in the Randolph County Community Arts Center. We will meet upstairs this month.
This month features the opening of a traveling Smithsonian exhibit at RCCAC, Produce for Victory: Posters on the American Homefront, 1941 – 1945. So check out the wonderful exhibit prior to attending our meeting.

Flute Protection

2006-09-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

I saw somewhere on the web, a great idea that I’ll paraphrase rather than plagiarize, that fine instruments are a great investment in one’s self. I like that idea in that you are giving yourself permission to have an instrument capable of your self expression. That tool needs not be expensive but it needs to be able to express you. For that simple ability alone – to both express and merge with the player, they often become very valued.

I find that the more people I meet that both make and play NAF and NA Styled F – the more people I meet who also feel that that flutes of this kind are rarely mere instruments but do become a part of the player. And even without the player they have something of a life of their own. I find myself nodding in agreement with this idea and I enjoy spending time with each of my flutes at a different time and for different reasons. No two are the same and everyone seems to like it that way.

That said it is very important to provide some form of safe haven for that instrument and tool of self expression. The flute needs a home within your home and needs to be protected when you travel to where you play. A flute displayed is played, a flute stored is ignored. Remember this when you are making a home for your flute. I will share with you a small set of ideas that I am trying and using personally. This by no means covers all the possibilities for protection or storage but is merely what and who I know and have tried myself.

Flutes do get wet with your breath after being played for any length of time. I was told awhile back that my flutes would last longer and sound better if I did not lay them down to dry but rather placed them bore up (mouth end down) and removed the bird. This would give the slow air chamber (SAC) time to dry and moisture would not affect the glued seams of the flute that way. I was also told to avoid laying them on their side, where any moisture from your breath might seep into the glue seam. Following this advice has seemed to help a great deal and my flutes are often ready to play sooner after wetting out as a result. When I travel and pack up flutes to go somewhere now days I just leave the birds off to make travel and drying simpler too.

Some friends at the Northern Virginia Flute Circle are in the business of making racks and bags that are great. I have included here my rack, made of cedar, that hangs in the living room, so that I am always called to play or noodle around a bit. The rungs are cut large for bigger bore flutes (or drones) and the open shelves on top and bottom make a good space for small flutes or birds that are drying. The two side bays are reserved for drying flutes that have been most recently played. I can store drone, large bore or small bore flutes with the mouth end down and bird off to dry fast. Works great – I just need more rack space now (grin) to handle all the flutes. If you are a woodworker this design would not be difficult to make. But a good source for a rack is listed here. Contact Jacy at
buffalocreations@adelphia.net Warrenton, VA 540-428-1816

Jacy also has fleece bags available at her website and they are a great way to protect your flute. It seems that some flute makers do provide a bag and some do not. Investing in a well padded bag of any kind is a great way to avoid dings and if you use a hard case it keeps flutes from knocking into the sides and into each other while in transit. Attached here is a picture of my bag – I use two of these for may flutes that travel a lot and often one size bag will fit several of your flutes, depending upon which one you are taking to the woods that day.

Dave Kreitzer also makes great fleece bags for flutes and he makes a sleeve or thinner case as well. I use his bags and he often travels with his machine which means that at a show you can get a bag cut to the exact size right there without any wait! I really like the blanket patterns and he offers these too. Contact Dave at www.originalflutebag.com/flutebags.html

David R. Kreitzer 937.848.2155

I fly with flutes and put them in cars and even in canoes so hard cases are the great deal for me. Right now I am using a Laughing Mallard case from Oregon Flute Store and love it. Cordura outside and nylon inside does not attract moisture. Plenty durable and crushproof outside and a pocket for a tuner or sheet music is nice bonus. I did have the case cut a little longer (several inches) than I needed so that I would have room for lower key flutes as I was more able to play them. I recommend that in order to get more miles out of the cost of your case – size it with the larger flute you want to play in mind. To take up the extra space when that longer flute is not in the case I made a spacer out of foam. Go to any store that sells whitewater kayaks and tell them you want “closed cell foam for hip pads” you can buy this in nearly any size but I had a block 4”X3” sitting around. It is important to use closed cell foam as it will not hold moisture, smell or deform over time or duress. Cut and shape it to size then sand it so that it is smooth and you do not get any foam “fuzzies” in your flutes! The best foam shaping tool I have found is “Dragon Skin” from Red Ball and many hardware stores (as well as many kayak shops) will have this stuff. It is like a micro plane or micro rasp in that it shapes an object well, fast and leaves little rough material behind. I also cut a hole through the center and put a cord on it so that you can pull it out easily – no fumbling to open the case. Oregon flute store is at www.oregonflutestore.com

PVC can be used for more than flute making – several folks make great sounding NASF’s with PVC and I have been relying upon it for flute protection for some time. I use the regular schedule 40 stuff from any hardware store and the PVC glue that is recommended for it to attach end caps and threaded ends. Padding is the same closed cell foam mentioned earlier and this stuff can be painted, drilled or dremmel etched or covered with bumper stickers, you name it. The threaded end is not submersible without a liner or other sealant but it is dry and very sturdy. In a country changed by terrorism these things should be decorated so that they do not look suspicious! They do a great job and with a few evenings time can be made for $15 in materials.

That is all for now other than a reminder that WV Native American Flute Circle meets next on Saturday October 14^th from 1-3pm in the great hall at RCCAC www.randolpharts.org

Flute Circle Jams

2006-09-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

The activity of a flute circle is a very interesting thing. Every meeting is different and so far I have spent the day with different people every month. All I have to say is – “How cool is that?” VERY COOL. This month we were joined by some regulars as well as by drummers and harmonica players.
I know you are wondering the same thing I was “OK I naturally hear drums sounding great but how is a harmonica going to sound with the flute? Different scales, different sounds, different style of music right?”

Well try to imagine a name for this quartet of two flutes in harmonizing keys, and two harmonicas in sync with them… Try Really, Old School Steam Train. I have never claimed any degree of musicianship – only an appreciation of music. I am not a music critic either but I’d say the sound was awesome. Very fun as well as really different while surprisingly not at all discordant. Remember the harmonica is an aerophone too – just with shorter tubes and the key was pretty easy to match up.

Those of you that have not taken a class/workshop with Clint Goss [www.flutekey.com] should try to sit in on one. When I did last fall I felt like I walked away with so many good “tools” in my back pocket about how to play with other folks. These skills came in handy, to play for the new type of jam going on in the great hall. We even found a way to get in and out of the groove we were playing. I wish I had a pocket studio to record some clips!

The other great perk of this meeting was that we were playing and socializing amidst the newest juried exhibit at the Randolph County Community Arts Center which included 42 artists in three dimensional and two dimensional works. Several gallery patrons were treated to a free concert of sorts and we were clearly inspired to play by the great works in the hall & on the walls. We are very fortunate to have the support of our Arts Center for a gathering space.

Three announcements for readers - the new dates have been determined for the 2007 Potomac Flute Festival in Rockville, MD. February 23-25, 2007. This is an event coordinated between the Potomac Flute Circle and the Maryland Flute Circle. Their efforts are heroic and the event is a must attend event. The Vendors, Concerts, Workshops and sharing are tremendous – giving you time with folks from all aspects of the flute.
Visit http://potomacflutecircle.net/ for details as they are updated.

Leonard McGann (aka Lone Crow Flutes) goes all out to produce a Flute Fall Inn every year and this is a great event as well with the dates set for October 20, 21, 22, 2006. The retreat is held at Camp Bethel again this year and is near Fincastle, VA. (North of Roanoke and Bedford, VA right on I-81). Great vendors, talented players, some workshops and a lot of great sharing make for a great weekend. Leonard goes a step further and has a big night out at his place where you can see the Lone Crow shop up close and holds a concert in a cavern nearby on Saturday. Big fun will be had and you can reach Lone Crow at caveratlc@aol.com to ask about reservations for the event and costs – but act fast.

In Elkins a great Irish Band and Irish flute player will be here December 9th & 10th for two shows with the band Blackbird and Thrushes. Wendell Dobbs on flute is fantastic and the band will be playing an evening show on Saturday as well as a matinee on Sunday. Sounds to me like a compelling reason to come to that Saturday’s flute circle! A schedule for the concert is at www.randolpharts.org

I have added some links to other circles and blogs that are worth checking out as well. I learn a lot by listening and reading about what everyone is up to so I recommend a visit.
Until next time -

New Reviews

2006-08-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

I have great news to report on a new CD from Ron Warren and a new flute from Dale Robertson.

The photo I have included here is of "Dusk Breathes" a low C branch flute from Dale Robertson. Dale contributes to a guild of sorts called Fallen Branch Tribe and their web site carries instruments that are mostly branch flutes made by 5 different flutemakers. Truly worth a look for some different ideas on NASF's.

This flute is made from Hazelnut wood, both bore and bird, and this is the only flute I have with a "round" sound hole. This hole is what the air passes over - just in front of the bird to resonate the notes we hear. This hole is really more oval shaped than round on this flute. The tone is a bit different from what I think of as a typical of a "rectangular" sound hole & it is very rich and beautiful. The most impressive thing about the flute beside its sound, in my opinion, is that Dale states that the only tools used are a knife and hand tools. This is #50 in what the flutemaker calls his Primitive Series. The flute has an easy reach for a low flute and is fun to play. As a bonus this flute also features a warble on the lowest or fundamental note.

I think my interest in branch flutes originates not just from their beauty but also from the traditional story of the flutes entrance into First Nation's culture. An example of this story is at
http://www.spottedeagle.com/flutes.htm
Douglas Spotted Eagle's website where he explains the power of a branch and of song...

I am not a music critic but I feel compelled to share my newest discovery. The great new CD in my player is titled Morning Star Evening Star by Ron Warren. Just released this summer on Blue Heron Music this is a two CD set featuring 35 tracks of flute, drums, and shakers in music that seems to be inspired by traditional rhythms and melody. Ron Warren was nominated for a NAMA award this year for his Dancing the Full Moon album which is also wonderful but this new work in Morning Star Evening Star will have you replaying tracks repeatedly as well as pondering how he makes the flute do some of the things it does here. Ron can make birds and animals emerge in your living room and the flute takes center stage while morphing sounds into what seems to be cello strings and even the human voice. The artist credits Colyn Petersen, Jim Gilliland, Ken Light, Geri Littlejohn, Jim Moorehouse, Brent Haines & Scott Loomis for the flutes featured on this album. They all sound wonderful and Ron's talents to compose and play really shine.

I love the rythmic drive of songs like Swinging on the Vines, and some of the very soothing songs on the second CD in the set. This music sounds great relaxing while going to bed and yet it sounds perfect in the car too while you are driving and need something auditory to focus on too. Nearly every track has me looking to grab a flute and try to play the embellishments and subtleties of Ron's musicianship. Very cool recording that takes you somewhere - check it out.
Ron Warren is also the host of the Potomac Flute Circle meetings most months and a teacher of music. Check out the Potomac Flute Circle at http://potomacflutecircle.net/
Ron's site is at http://www.ronwarren.net/ to order music or learn a great deal about flute playing.

That is it for today - have a great Labor Day next weekend and remember that WVNAF Circle meets Saturday, September 9th at the Community Arts Center from 1-3pm. We would love to see you there!

Other ventures into cyberspace

2006-08-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Pushing my limits in the web world (as a luddite seeking to get into this century) I have been using a few of the yahoo groups connected with the NAF and NASF. I have also successfully tried Paltalk at least once! Lets start with the yahoo groups.

Yahoo groups is pretty simple to use, even for someone who prefers to be outside playing music. Using your internet search engine you'll find the site and start the registration process. The task that may prove most difficult is finding a user name you can remember, as so many folks have already claimed the first several you think might sound good.

There really seems to be a number of very useful groups sharing sheet music that is in the common/public domain, techniques for flute making, and sharing their spiritual side of being involved in the flute. Anyone who would like a late night or Sunday discussion on the Native American Style Flute (NASF) will find something here. There is a great wealth of information.

The one bit of warning that I'll hand out which may not be obvious to all people but is on my mind of late is that not everyone feels the same way about the renaissance of this instrument called the Native American Flute. Some folks from the First Nations may be offended that other peoples are taking such great interest in their musical heritage and that non First Nations people may feel or assert any type of ownership of it. It is important to be sensitive to everyone's feelings and culture.

I claim no First Nations ancestry and do not claim anyone else's culture as my own. I do feel a great appreciation for this instrument called the NAF and the NASF and I love to play music on them. I feel very strongly that I found something very special that sounds good to me and makes me feel great. I have also seen first hand a sort of "magic" that draws people to this instrument and allows them an opportunity to express themselves in a good way. I play a number of modern flutes that are all Native American Style Flutes and from a number of makers, most of them not made by registered tribal members. All of these flute makers are very respectful of Native or First Nations culture and do not claim to be anything they are not.

I feel a big sense of gratitude and thankfulness to those out there who work with very pure intentions to see that more people share and learn about First Nations culture and history and to share this instrument with the larger world. Many folks are out on the web spreading the word in a good way and not claiming any kind of credit but giving thanks to the people who first brought us this instrument and respecting indigenous heritage. I have also seen folks do good things for the didge, its music and the people who brought us this instrument as well. They are giving back too and folks taking an interest in this type of music should on all levels keep this value set in mind.

So there are a number good groups to consider at Yahoo and I'll share the links here because I do not think it is terribly easy to navigate to them from elsewhere on your own. Another flutie shared them with me. (Thanks Sharon)

Basic NAF making group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/basic_naf_making/
Spiritual side of flutes
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flutespirits2/
Mary Youngblood Group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/MaryYoungblood/?yguid=192557703
Healing & NAF
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NAFhealingandhealth/
NAF music sharing
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/NAFMusic/?yguid=192557703
NAF music sharing also good
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeamericanflutemusicsheet/?yguid=192557703
The BIG, NAF style woodworking site run by a great guy and lots of posts
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeflutewoodworking/?yguid=192557703
Flute players group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeamericanfluteplayers/
Flute cirlce networking group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/NAFcirclenetworking/?yguid=192557703

That is the short list - you'll spend an afternoon reading all of what you like in those sites. Several ask that you register with the administrator and that simply keeps their space uncluttered with spam.

My Paltalk experience offers mixed results. The product works most of the time - whenit does it is really fun. Sound streaming is very fast and I did not pay for the video upgrade due to the fact that it is about music, right?

So the basic flutemaking "chat room" is open Saturdays at 10am EDT and last week saw better than a dozen folks logging in and out for most of the hour. The easiest way to describe the Saturday morning experience is like a radio show or podcast about your favorite subject (assuming that is NAF) and complete with some playing and sharing of music. Very fun.

The difference is that along with listening you can and will type and talk (sort of like passing notes in class, or talking to your TV program) to participate in the program and ask questions or say hello to folks you recognize. Busy at first and I am not a brilliant typist either but I was successful in interacting with this national type, conference call on flutemaking. Overall I say "give it a try, pretty amazing stuff" for my none-to-professional review of the service.

You may choose to contact Keith at Cherrry Cows Flutes to get more involved with this Saturday project. Last week they talked about woods, wood care, flute finish, and had a Native history lesson among other topics. Very well done I think. A number of very knowledgeable contributors volunteering their time. Additionally, three moderators volunteer to facilitate a Monday version 8pm eastern time - worth the visit!

Next time some new flute & music commentary.
Next WVNAF Circle meeting is Saturday September 9th from 1-3pm at RCCAC (see first post for details)

August Meeting highlight

2006-08-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

A short update on flute circle meeting this weekend.

Lots of great music and singing in City Park with perfect weather in Elkins for the Augusta Festival. The weather did not hurt the turnout at all. Did I mention that the morning low temperature was 58 degrees? While the "dog-days-of summer" are not my favorite time of year we have a climate here that is as good as it gets for the Appalachians.

The corn dog vendor was not there at the Augusta Festival, and I was a bit disappointed but that was my only thing to rant about this weekend.

We had a surprise guest at the circle meeting, Brad Young the flute maker behind 4 Winds Flutes. He and his wife drove over from the Shenandoah Valley to take in the festival and that gave me a chance to catch up with Brad and see some of the awesome new instruments he is working on. He would have played flute more if I were not peppering him with questions about all of his new projects. It was a very fun afternoon of playing and we finished late only to return to the city park and then take in a backyard barb-e-que. Great Day. In the future I hope we can get Brad back for a concert or trunk show for those looking for a great instrument - he makes them.

I'll try to attach an image to this report of a new flute Brad had done. While melody flutes are not new to Brad this styling is new. The Mid E flute is red cedar and yellowheart with beautiful grain patterns and a handcarved turtle on the fetish block. The button you see on the high side is removable and this gives the player a fantastic "warble" in the harmonics if they choose to have one. Very fun flute to play though it takes me some mental adjustment to play with both hands. I guess I need to learn more about walking and chewing gum at the same time.

Several bits of news to share about the flute circle:
Paltalk is a good resource for flute-ites that I have been looking into lately and Brad Young actually plays flute there so it is a chance to hear his music. Keith Stanford is someone who is starting to teach flute making classes there as well. Keith has published the Ki-e-ta Manual for the Making of the Native American Style Flute. From what I understand folks have been meeting virtually one evening a week for instruction and tip sharing. I am going to try to make the meeting this week and I'll share how that goes. Interesting way to meet new flute folks from all over the place.

A member of our circle would like to share that the Anniversary Celebration of their Medicine Wheel as well as the dedication of a new Peace Garden on August 26th and all are welcome.

Another great event is this Wednesday at the RCCAC - the facility where we meet. August 16 Rita Brockway and John Vaughan will be performing. Rita and John perform on Flute and guitar respectively and are not to be missed.

Our next meeting will be Saturday September 9th from 1-3 pm at the Randolph County Community Arts Center in Elkins. We should be back in the Great Hall for September and I hope to see you there.

Call to flute folks

2006-08-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well I was living vicariously and surfing the web to see how INAFA went this year on the west coast... I read a call to arms that went up from the Northen California Flute Circle about Blogging. The claim was that it was easy to do and simpler than maintaining a web page for your flute circle.
Well since I could not fly out to California, I guess I have time to talk about our circle.

We are brand new this year and based in Elkins, West Virginia. We have had as many as 9 folks at a meeting including woodworkers, never evers and accomplished players so it is an exciting time to be in Elkins.
We meet the second Saturday of every month and I started this endeavor because one year of passionately pursing the flute has given me so much that I had to find a way to give back...
Leonard McGann told me to practice 10 minutes every day and those of you who know Leonard will appreciate - that this is where the trouble started (grin)
Leonard does not do web stuff much but his "flute fall inn" which is this year 10/20, 21, 22/06 is where I was first welcomed with open arms by the flute community and told "you CAN do this!" thanks folks - contact Leonard through the great directory at the bearded wolf website
http://www.beardedwolf.com/flutelinx.html#addresses

We (WVNAF Circle) meet at the Randolph County Community Arts Center - a great facility
http://www.randolpharts.org/
They are VERY supportive and the acoustics in this building are out of this world!
We also participate in a number of other sister circles that without their efforts we would not be here and so passionate about the music:
Potomac Flute Circle at www.potomacflutecircle.net
Maryland Flute Circle at www.beardedwolf.com/mdflutecircle.html
Northern Virginia Flute Circle LAKOTASPIRIT50@ADELPHIA.NET
International Native American Flute Association at www.worldflutes.org

The August meeting will be next weekend on Saturday the 12th and coincides with one of our cities favorite events, the Augusta Heritage Festival. The festival is the culmination of 5 weeks of adult education centered around folk and world music, dance and crafts. City park and the adjacent college campus will be a buzz of activity with concerts, dances, juried craft fair and of course corn dogs and home made ice cream as just a start. Don't miss the food booth just because you were listening to music!
http://www.augustaheritage.com/

We hope to have a few "traditional" instrument players drop in on our little circle to see what we are up to (grin) and we are always looking to make new friends. One of the hardest things to explain to someone about a flute circle is that you need not have a flute or play one to be there having fun.

Note to members that we will be meeting upstairs at the art center whenever the great hall is booked as it is this weekend.
Next week - details of this months meeting and maybe some more sharing of cool sites in the flute world.