Any players of Native American flute out there?

[Whiteraven]

I play NA flute and also run a flute circle once a month. Would love to hear from any other NA flute players out there, especially any in UK

[Greg]

I have a friend here in Naperville who just started playing. He's a talented musician. His Mom brought the flute back from a trip to Arizona.

He's been playing it all the time, but I'm not sure that he's gotten any good at it yet. But I'll tell him about this post.

[Reconsiderate]

[Sequent]

I have several Native American flutes. My favorite is the one from Amon Olorin, as well as one made by Nighteagle... which I picked up on a trip to New Mexico a few years ago. I would say that I'm okay on it. Not 'brilliant' but not bad either <hopefully!>

The thing about Native American flute is the emotion that you put into it. How much of yourself you put into it. Which I guess is true of any instrument.

There are a lot of native flutes on the latest Inquisitor Betrayer track that I've been adding tracks to. Not just Native American, but also kenya and pan flutes. For this round I've been doing a lot of sampling... which is maybe kind of cheating?

I have a pretty large collection of ethnic flutes that I've gathered over the years though. Some I'm better at, some worse. This includes Chinese flutes, a Mongolian flute, various South American flutes, a shakuhachi, and also a ney. I also have a bunch of recorders, including Moeck. The recorders are what got me started back when I was in high school.

Being in this discussion reminds me of one thing regarding these flutes... I NEED TO PRACTICE MORE!!!

[LA_Ridge]

I really love the American Native flutes and skin. I have traveled the Red Road, have faced the four directions with the wind. Have been blessed and honored with the Sacred Sweat of Mother Earths Womb. I was a singer in the lodge.

I was many have said, a badger. I spent many years recently in a butterfly state and have been most comfortable with myself as the cat/lion. I feel akin to the feline, very close. The wolf/dog has been my most reliable teacher, and is my constant companion in and on this plane of existence. The dog/wolf (my actual dog) was sent to me to bring back to me compassion, which I had forsaken for fear of man.

It has been too many years since I walked that path, but I have always known my relatives, even before I was awake.

Do you know what I mean?

Welcome to Music Forte my friend! A new home for you is here...

[Akiko]

Hi, I am akiko/firebird999.
I went to the desert here in san diego and I bought one.
had recorded with my coraborater ptrak "akiko chant.." I was barely starting to play...
when I bought it, I went up to the top of mountain, and played it.
amazing desert view and bodyful of wind and sound...
flute was singing...

unfortunately, my NA flute is deeply injury...(-_-)..
that flute is very alive..! I felt very connected...

as well as my japanese flute...
I don't feel it as an instrument..(I mean object to play) .I feel nothing like this is something I will play or anything... that is the magic these have, I think...when I hold them they come right straight to my heart...and these flute are pulling my soul out.

very easy to get to connected to beauty of nature whenever I played open air...because those flute are connecting me...I will simply enjoy it...
and those flute will conncet me...
the magic they have...

feeling the wind...

Mmmm....

(^0^)
firebird999

[Greg]

Akiko,

You really are very connected with your instrument. That is why you are so good at it.

I love hearing it.

Be sure and listen to Akiko play at http://www.musicforte.com/member/akiko

[Sequent]

Akiko, your music is very beautiful and I hope that perhaps someday we may work together, either with Inquisitor Betrayer or on other projects. IB has a project in the works where real flutes would be a perfect fit.

And you are right about the flute not being an object... actually, I am of the belief that is the case with any instrument. At first the builder puts in their own energy into the instrument. Moreso when it's hand-built to order as opposed to being manufactured en masse somewhere.

But even then, I think when you first receive it, it is more or less 'dead' and waiting to be brought to life. I guess, saying that it is an 'open vessel' would be better.

You can feel this too in the wood, metal, etc. when you first pick it up.

But then as you do pick it up and play it more and more, it becomes alive and an extension of your own soul. As crazy as it may sound... lately, I've been thinking that this is true of electronic instruments (read synthesizers) as well. Although... it is much much more difficult to breathe life into those instruments, which seem cold and distant by their very nature. I believe you can quiet clearly hear this in people's electronic music - who is making the connection and who isn't.

Anyway... that is why I am always very careful about who (if anybody) I let touch or play ANY of my instruments. Some people just don't seem to understand this and get offended.

If you are not playing your instrument in such a way that you can feel your soul singing through it... even when you are playing the lowliest most mundane note that perhaps you may feel someone might not notice or care... then you are holding something back. And people WILL notice - whether overtly or not.

Akiko... obviously you are completely atuned with your instrument and it makes your music a true pleasure to experience.

[Akiko]

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! (^-^) for the comments...
what a blessing that I've got...
Thank you very much to Greg... I am very very flattered. feel very hamble...very much....
Thank you to Sequent... Nice to have the comment like yours... wow, thank you...
You know..,I know what you mean...I recently bought synth for myself...the first day...I went to through all the sounds he has...(I named him dragon) made me cry...just beautiful...

I am just to start to building my friendship with my dragon...Mmm..........(-_-)...

I do feel your caring to the sound and tone you creates. And I like that.
In the recording of symphony... there are stories that I want to share.
I will post maybe a new topic because it not about NA flute...please stop by..
there is the saying by MIYAMOTO MUSACHI in japanese hisotry, he was the most skillful sword master....no body could beat him. He has learned the mind of tea celemony, art. and etc...
this is what I always recite myself...
"today than yesterday, tomorrow than today.. slowly slowly make progress..." by Miyamoto Musashi...
I just love this spirits of his...

sequent, thank you for sharing your thought and I would love to hear some more...

let me know about your project, too..

Thank you.
(^0^)
firebird999


Arigatou! (thank you in japanese...)

[ptrak]

Hello Firebird999,

I have a 9 min. soundscape/electronica needing some

of your magic island flute ... production time soon...

ptrak

[Akiko]

ptrak, I enjoy working with you.
your beat is very very well polished and always surprise me with your magic...you are such an awesome producer...
I love the tasteful of your mix and beat.
I am so looking forward to the next session.
can't wait to experience your magic..(^-^)
Mmmm...
let me kwow.
when you are ready.
I am ready.

thank you.
have a great day.

(^0^)
firebird999

[Royce]

[Sequent]

Are there any such circles... flute circles, drum circles in the Chicago area? I'd be interested in something like that. I even wouldn't mind going up to Milwaukee or something like that if it was a once a month kind of thing.

Wes

[Reconsiderate]

[Sequent]

Hi Reconsiderate... Madison is a bit of a drive from here... about 2 1/2 hrs. But also not completely undoable. I used to spend an hour and a half just getting home from work locally back in the old days. So spending a couple hours in the car and actually getting somewhere is not an issue.

I might check it out sometime. I'll have to see if there's a website or phone number for the Escape coffee house though... so I could call ahead and confirm before heading out!

Madison is a fabulous town. I applied for a job at Sonic Foundry once a few years ago.

I might even drive up there to check out a show if you do one. Keep us posted!