Nominate your favorite Native artist TODAY!

I want to encourage everyone to take a moment and nominate your favorite Native American artist for the upcoming Native American Music Awards (NAMA). Nomination Selection Process is from April 30, 2007 to June 30, 2007. Even though we fluties tend to think about flute music first, there is a wonderful selection of other genres of Native Music on the market as well.
There are a record number of submissions this year and NAMA has opened several new catagories:

NEW CATEGORIES FOR NINTH ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS:
Best Native American Church Recording
Best Folk Recording
Best Country Recording
Debut Artist of the Year
Debut Duo or Group of the Year
Best Spoken Word/Linguistic Recording
Best Music Video/DVD
Best Long Form Production With Music
The awards will be held on Oct. 6th at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood Fla.

To learn more about the Native American Music Awards, click here:
http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/

Click here to vote:

http://www.votenative.com/

You will have to create an account in order to vote. The site also has great streaming audio, so that you can listen to all of the artists.

BTW - if you're looking for a hint on Artist of the Year, Record of the Year, or Flutist of the Year , I'd recommend the NCFC's very own, Mary Youngblood and "Dance with the Wind", which is Mary's Grammy award winning album (and I think it's her best album to date).

Update on the Zion Flute Festival

I received a message from Mary Munarin with some latest information about the upcoming Zion Flute Festival. If you are are planning to go here's some information:

May 31 is the cutoff date for registering online for classes and concerts. After that, you will have to wait until you arrive at the festival to sign up for events. Get in on the fun now at the website, http://www.zioncanyonartandflutefestival.com/

Mary lost the last week's applications for Open Mic and Volunteering, due to a computer problem. If you would still like an Open Mic spot, or to volunteer (please!) or ask a question, please email her directly at marymun AT worldnet DOT att DOT net

For open mic or volunteer, please include the days/times you are NOT available; for open mic, please say where you're from and include some background we can use for an introduction, also the approximate date you first applied if you're reapplying.

Two workshops have been canceled but not taken off the website: Get Looped and Flute Bag Making. If you're signed up for one of these, please email Mary Munarin about switching to another class or getting a refund. DO NOT use the form on the website, email her directly.

NCFC Central in France this week...

I am traveling to France this week (on business). I'll still have internet connectivity, and I'll post when I can. Unfortunately, it means that I am missing the Loping Wolf flute circle today... but I know that they'll have fun.
There are several events happening this weekend, so I hope everyone has a great time playing their flutes. If you're not going to a flute circle, I hope that you get the chance to at least get outside and play your flutes on one of these beautiful days.
As usual, I am bringing flute with me, I hope to expose some more folks to sounds of the Native American Flute.

New NCFC Memberships

Quick update: If you have sent in your membership registration in the last two months, I apologize for the delay in responding to you. With the demands of starting a new job, I haven't had as much "extra" time in my life the last couple months. BUT - I have processed all of the new memberships and I'll be sending you a confirmation email in the next couple days.

The good news is that we'll start all of the new memberships and renewals with a June expiration date, so don't worry about the delay, you've just gotten a few extra months for "free".
Also, we've got enough new folks that I'm able to print and laminate a run of new membership cards (I usually wait until I have a handful of new members before making a run new membership cards). So I'll create those and get them in the mail by the end of the month.

Now forming: Shasta Clan!

I have received some interest from folks living in the Shasta area to form a new NCFC clan there. If you live in the Shasta Lake area and would like to be a part of the leadership for this clan or simply participate, contact Mike Oitzman at: ncfc AT naflute DOT com or call the NCFC hotline at: 530-432-2716. As soon as we gather enough interested folks, we'll work to get something scheduled.

Hold the date for Mary's Birthday Party

I wanted to remind everyone that we're planning the annual NCFC Spring Gathering where we get together and celebrate spring along with the birthday of one of our favorite flute players (and co-founder of the NCFC): Mary Youngblood.

Every year, this event has grown in size and fun. Last year, it was really hot, but that didn't dampen the spirits of those who attended. Not sure what the weather will be like this year, but we do have some new and special things planned. This year, the Loping Wolf Clan is co-hosting the event, and we're going to expand the event to two days!!

We're still working out the details, but here's what we're looking at:

Saturday June 23 - Flute / Drum Circle at Mary Youngblood's house in Fair Oaks, CA. Similar to year's past, this will be a day of workshops, flutemakers and other vendors, open mic and lot's and lot's of flute playing.

Sunday, June 24 - A day of recreation, including the options of kayaking on the American River or biking or hiking with your fellow fluties. Mary loves the outdoors, and wants to ensure that we all have the chance experience the beauty of the Sierra foothills. The day will finish with a BBQ at a park in the Sacramento or Auburn area (and of course more flute playing...). If you would like to help organize the kayaking, rafting or hiking adventures (or you have an idea for another local excursion) please contact me at NCFC at NAFLUTE dot COM.

We'll be posting a list of local hotels on the NCFC website within the next week or so. If you can't wait, just search for something in the Fair Oaks area.

NEW RSS email subscription

I took some time to setup the blog RSS information so that it is now managed by FeedBurner. For those of you who use an RSS reader, I hope that you find the new RSS format which is managed by FeedBurner, to be much nicer.

Click here to see what the new RSS feed looks like in your browser: http://feeds.feedburner.com/naflute

As a feature of this service, you can also now receive the blog posting via email (rather than coming here to read it online). If you would like to subscribe to the RSS feed, simply enter your email address in the box in the left nav bar of the blog then click the subscribe button.

Follow the directions in the popup box and you're all set. You can unsubscribe by following the unsubscribe details included with each email.

I hope that you like this new service. Let me know if you have any more suggestions.

News about Oklahoma Flute Festival 2007

Dennis Frederiksen contacted me about the Oklahoma Flute Festival 2007. This flute gathering is being organized by members of the TNAFC flute circle. This flute gathering will be held in Keys, Oklahoma just south of Tahlequah. It is a beautiful setting in the heart of Cherokee County.

When: October 5-7 2007.

Details

There will be vendor spaces, open mic performances, flute makers competition, and much more.
The web site is www.okflutefest.com . They are offering Free Advertising for all people involved with the NAF. Players, makers or educators. Their goal is to help all flute makers and players by offering free distribution of advertising and promotion. All advertising as long as it pertains to the NAF or education of such.

Marketing and Advertising Opportunity

The Oklahoma Flute Festival is planning create attendee packages which will be provided for each attendee to the event. They will be accepting all types of NAF marketing materials, inclucing business cards, flyers or discount coupons etc., for inclusion in these attendee take aways. They expect folks from all over, so it is not a requirement that the information be regionally specific. Flutemakers / Artists: this is a great way to promote the NAF and help market your flutes, crafts, books or CD's. You do not have to attend out event to take advantage of this marketing opportunity. Just package it up and send it to Dennis. In a very innovative marketing options they are also giving away flutes and merchandise in some lucky bags. If you would like to help in this campaign, contact Dennis directly. They intend to acknowledge all vendors who supply materials for this marketing program.

For more information contact:

Dennis Frederiksen
TNAFC http://www.freewebs.com/tnafc/
LogJaM Arts
Attention: OK Flute Fest
P.O. Box 38
Tahlequah, OK 74465

Bay Clan Flute Circle this weekend

The NCFC Bay Clan is getting together at the Stanford Sculpture garden this Sunday for an informal flute circle. Bring your drums and flutes.

EVENT: May Bay Clan Flute Circle at Stanford
DATE: Sunday, May 20, 2007
TIME: 2:00 to 4:00 pm
LOCATION: The New Guinea Sculpture Garden at Stanford University,Palo Alto. On campus, near intersection of Lomita Driveand Santa Teresa Street.
ORGANIZER: Frankie Sierra, bayclan AT naflute DOT com

For more details check out the NCFC website: http://www.naflute.com/bayclanevent.html

Ann Licater in Concert Tonight

Our very own Ann Licater will be performing selections from her new CD:Following the Call, tonight in San Jose. She will be available to sign her new CD, and she will also offer a free mini-concert. If you're free, I hope that you'll come out and support Ann this evening.

Where: San Jose Bookshop
When: Wednesday, May 16th
Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Location: 1231 Kentwood Ave, Suite E. San Jose, CA 95129 www.sjbookshop.com

For more information about Ann you can go to: http://www.fluteforthesoul.com/

Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker

I know that this is a blog dedicated to Native American Flute music and other related topics, but I have a 'discovery' that I am so excited about that I thought it was worth imposing one short blog entry to review. I don't often review non-music related things here, but I believe that this is a fun and interesting new product.

I love my coffee in the morning. I also love camping. I would expect that there are many of you out there who share these two passions. This last weekend, while on an annual camping trip with some friends. I was introduced to a cool new product. It's called the Aerobie AeroPress coffee maker and it was invented by the Standford professer who invented the Aerobie frisbee. My friends discovered this new coffee maker and brought it along on the camping trip to use to make coffee for all of us at breakfast. This little tool worked like a charm. It's simple to use, you only need a little hot water. It's simple to setup up and clean up. Most of all, it makes a great espresso or cup of coffee.

If you like to camp, this is the perfect camping coffee maker. It would even work for backpacking. If you don't camp, and just want a quick, perfect cup of espresso or coffee in the morning (or afternoon at work) then I also highly recommend it.

Here's the product website: http://aerobie.com/Products/aeropress.htm

It's also available on Amazon: Aeropress Coffee Maker

Sacramento Concert Tonight: Deb Pittman

If you are in the Sacramento area tonight (May 15th) I would encourage you to come out and support our very own Deb Pittman in a unique concert with the Cal State Sacramento Orchestra. The title of the event is: "Two World Concerto for Cedar Flute and Orchestra"

Here are the details:

Two World Concerto for Cedar Flute and Orchestra
by James Demars
Program includes…

• Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3, 1st movement – L. v. Beethoven
• Symphonic Metamorphosen – P. Hindemith
• Selections from ‘Porgy and Bess’ – G. Gershwin

Where: Capistrano Music Recital Hall, California State University, Sacramento
When: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 8 pm
Cost: $8 general/$5 students & seniors

NAF Flute Tracks by Clint Goss

Clint Goss has a new CD out. It's a CD of several different backing tracks of music in different Genres, all of which you can play / jam along with on an A minor flute. I haven't heard it yet, but it sounds like fun. If you have this album, please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Here's the link: http://www.naftracks.com/