Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Dryad flutes

Jon Sherman plays his dual branch flutes.

Tim Blueflint plays 'old school' music

Tim Blueflint played open mic this morning with his "warbling flute". Tim is one of the few flutemakers who intentionally make a warbling flute in the style of the traditional flutes.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Help Save Pandora Music

If you enjoy Pandora Music (www.pandora.com) as much I do, then your help is needed to help save internet radio. I recieved the following message from Tim Westergreen, founder of Pandora:

"Hi, it's Tim from Pandora;
Today, thanks to the extraordinary support of many Pandora listeners, we took a giant step forward when the House of Representatives supported Pandora and Internet radio and passed the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008. Now we need your help so that the Senate will pass it also - and quickly... The finish line is in sight!
After a yearlong negotiation, Pandora, SoundExchange and the RIAA are finally optimistic about reaching an agreement on royalties that would save Pandora and Internet radio. The legislation would give us the extra time we need to finalize the deal.
Please call your Senators Monday morning starting at 9:00 (Eastern) and ask them to support the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008.
The person who answers the phone in your Senator's office may ask for the bill number - it's H.R. 7084 (if they ask for a Senate bill number, you can assure them that in this unusual case, the Senate is actually voting on the House bill number).

If the phone is busy, please try again until you get through. These calls really do make a difference.
Thanks so much for you ongoing support.
Tim

Friday, September 26, 2008

Geoffrey Ellis at Yosemite

Here's a picture of Geoffret Ellis all setup and ready to sell his flutes. Geoffrey has a collection of anasazi flutes ready to go. There's still time to join us!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Blogging LIVE from the Yosemite Flute Festival

If you can't make it to the Yosemite Flute Festival this year, then stay tuned to this blog later this week and weekend. If I can get a strong enough ATT signal at the event, then I'll be blogging live from the events from my cell phone (amazing that they can do that now...?!).
I'll try to capture events as they unfold.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Don't Forget to Volunteer at the Yosemite Flute Festival

The Yosemite Flute Festival is fast approaching, and we need your help to make it a success. If you are planning on attending, please consider volunteering an hour or more to help make this event a success. In fact, it's a great way to rest your feet for an hour!

Please check out the Volunteer page on the festival site for more information:

Link: http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/volunteers.html

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Michelle Carlino Workshops at Yosemite Flute Festival

"Yoga for Flute Playing: The Balance of Body and Breath"

Join Michelle Carlino for a wonderful way to embrace the morning or a rejuvenating afternoon break as you support learning through this ancient opening of the body and the breath.

This class will include gentle stretching and asana(posture) to open the body; breath work to build lung capacity and control; and relaxation to place one in the most optimal alignment for learning and play.

Hatha Yoga is a more than 6,000 year old system which supports and builds health in the dimensions of body, mind, and spirit. This practice supportsthe necessary qualities for flute playing of a steady breath moving from a balanced and relaxed body and focused mind.

Open to all ages
Appropriate for all levels
Please bring a towel or mat
Cost: $10


For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival:
http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Jeff Ball Workshops at Yosemite Flute Festival

Jeff Ball will be providing a variety of opportunities to learn at the Yosemite Flute Festival.

15 Minute Tutorials With Jeff Ball
Get your questions answered, professional feedback, and tips from ISMA and NAMMY winning NAF recording artist Jeff Ball. Bring your flute and the desire to learn.
Cost: $20.00.

Template for Success with Jeff Ball

This seminar covers everything you've wanted to know about getting your music heard.
Minimize false starts and money pits...start building your fan base today!
Learn what you must have to get bookings now. Should you try to get signed
with a record company or go it alone? Does Myspace work? Which distribution
company is best and should you sign with more than one? Should you accept 90 net?
Does your album really need to be mastered? All these questions and more will be addressed.

Cost: $50.00

For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival:
http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html

Monday, September 08, 2008

Mark Holland Workshop at the Yosemite Flute Festival

An Open Forum with Mark Holland!

Here is an opportunity to ask a series of questions about flute playing and techniques,how to approach to creating music, the creative side of things, the business side of things, all things performance related, all things studio related, and whatever you would like topick Mark's brain about! You present questions and we use those for the class dialog.

Saturday, Sept 28, 2008, 9:30-11:30
Cost: $40
Length: 2 hours

For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival:
http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html

Sunday, September 07, 2008

"Circle of Circles" Invitation

To all Flute Circle Leaders:

The growth and success that all of our circles have enjoyed over the past several years have reached a point that to advanced to the next plateau, we would like to combine our thoughts, talents, efforts and energy to strengthen our missions. We all share common problems and opportunities such as attrition, growth, non-profit efforts, event overlaps and the list goes on and on.
Mike Oitzman of Northern California Flute Circles and myself Bill Timothy of the Central Coast Flute Circles, are interested in creating a “Circle of Circles” forum that would be a central online spot for all circle leaders and emerging circle leaders to discuss, suggest, create, and incorporate ideas to better serve our collective circle members.

We invite your participation, your ideas, your thoughts and your experiences by:

FIRST- joining the online Flute Portal (our online forum)

  • Goto www.fluteportal.com
  • If you are already a Flute Portal member, send a message to Geoffrey Ellis requesting admission to the “Circle of Circles” area (it’s a private forum).
  • If you are not a member, create a new membership and then send a message to Geoffrey Ellis requesting admission to ‘Circle of Circles”.
  • Post or respond to any message on the online forum. This will be our virtual meeting area and a place where all flute leaders can share ideas and information.

SECOND – we wanted to create a special “Face to Face” event to encourage relationships building between flute circle leaders.

  • We have organized an inaugural no-host breakfast at the Yosemite Flute Festival. You are invited to this event and we expect that this will be the catalyst for similar events at subsequent flute festivals throughout the coming years.

If you are interested in attending the ‘Circle of Circles” inaugural no-host breakfast meeting to be held at Yosemite Flute Festival on Sunday morning at 8:00, please respond to Bill Timothy at wjt@charter.net by Friday 9/12/2008 with the number in your party. Your response and reservation is necessary so as to give an accurate head count to our CafĂ© owner. Upon receiving your response, further details of the location etc. will be forthcoming.

We await your thoughts, ideas and suggestion to this startup endeavor.
Blessings,
Mike & Bill

Vince Chafin Workshops at the Yosemite Flute Festival

Vince Chafin will be offering the following workshops at the Yosemite Flute Festival:

Sacred Breath, our connection to all life...The first step on the flute journey
Friday, Sept 26, 2008, 12:30-2:30

In our hurried lives, we often forget to do the one thing that can have the greatest benefit to our physical, emotional and spiritual health: Breathing........

Breathing with Intention helps you to relax and reduces stress, improves your skin tone and helps you sleep better. Some studies have even shown that improved breathing helps in losing weight!

By playing the flute, we breath through our instrument bringing healing to the world, and in turn, health and healing to ourselves. Join us as we begin this Sacred Journey.....

Cost: $40

Beyond Solo-Learning to play with other instruments
Saturday, Sept 27, 2008, 9:30-11:30

The Native American Flute can be a journey of Self Discovery. Join us in discovering the magic of playing with other instruments in a safe, loving and supportive environment. We’ll share our journey with guitars, percussion and drums, Didgeridu, the magical “Hang drum” and more. Come join the band!

Cost: $40

Sound Healing Ceremony with the NAF
Saturday, Sept 28, 2008, 12:30-2:30

We know how this magical instrument makes us feel when we play it, with intention and direction, we can use the power our heart and the sound of the flute to bring that magical healing to others. Tapping in to our own intuitive knowing, stepping out of our ego, trusting and allowing our soul to be played, we can call forth the healing power of the universe and offer it to the world....

Cost: $40

The Delicate Dance: Musicianship skills for the NAF Player
Sunday, Sept 29, 2008, 9:30-11:30

In this class we will learn dynamic phrasing, song development and interpretation, when to play and, more importantly, when not to play! The power of Silence, expression, stage fright and the 3 rules of successful public performance will all be explored.

Cost: $40

Drumming for Flute Circles
Sunday, Sept 29, 2008, 12:30-2:30

Have you ever been to a circle when a beat started and folks started to follow along, then slowly, mysteriously, things went slowly awry? So why is this such a challenge? Who’s in charge here? Why can’t we keep a beat? Can it really be that hard?

I say, “Not at all!!” Explore the mystery of simple beats, tempo, meter, and what the heck IS a metronome? Bring a drum, any drum!

Cost: $40

Private Lessons

Cost: $50 per half hour.

For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival: http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html



Saturday, September 06, 2008

Mike Oitzman Workshops at the Yosemite Flute Festival

Mike Oitzman will be offering Native American Flute for the Absolute Beginner!
So you just bought a flute! Now what do you do?

Join Mike Oitzman as he helps you get started on your flute path. In this 2 hour workshop, you'll learn proper breath control, the basic fingering techniques and you'll learn valuable advice on how to begin practicing playing the flute. This is a hands on workshop, and you'll be making music by the end of the class.
Instructor Mike Oitzman, author, blogger and musician, has lead the Northern California Flute Circle for 5 years and has been a music instructor since 2001. He has taught hundreds of beginning, intermediate and advanced flute players how to get most from their instrument. Mike's down-to-earth teaching style and well thought out flute exercises will enable you to learn in no time.

Experience Required: None
Time required for the workshop: 2 hours
Days: Saturday, Sept 27, 2008, 2:30-4:30 and Sunday, Sept 28, 2008 9:30-11:30
Maximum workshop capacity: 15 people each day.
Workshop fee (to include cost of materials if required): $45 ($35 for NCFC members), includes Mike's Beginning Native American Flute book and CD (a $25 value)


For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival: http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html

Friday, September 05, 2008

Mary Youngblood Workshops at Yosemite Flute Festival

Mary Youngblood is offering private lessons & advanced classes for NAF flute players. You'll need to bring an A minor flute for these classes/workshops.

Advanced Performance Readiness
Saturday, September 27, 2008 2:30 to 4:00

Advanced Performance Readiness
Sunday, September 28, 2008 12:30 to 2:00

Mary will focus on mics, PA systems, performance anxiety, making CD's, recording, recording equipment, accompaniment, & improvisation. She will also touch on major embellishments and performance readiness.

Experience Required: All Levels
Time required for each workshop: 1.5 hours
Maximum workshop capacity: None
Workshop fee $65 ($55 for NCFC members)

Limited Private Lessons
Mary will offer One-On-One Lessons:
Sunday September 28, 2008
$75 per ½ hour (NCFC discount $65)
Pre-register with Mary on Saturday!

For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival:
http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Weekend Events: Sept 5 - 7, 2008



NOTE: We now have the new calendar online, you can check out the calendar here: Northern California Flute Circle Calendar to see what's happening further out, but I encourage you to login every week to review what's coming up for the weekend events!
Native American Flute related events and other World music events happening in Northern California are posted on the Naflute calendar.

NOTE: If I missed an event for the weekend, please add a comment with event info so that others can know!

Saturday, Sept 6, 2008

Scott August Workshops at the Yosemite Flute Festival

Scott August will be presenting two workshops at the upcoming Yosemite Flute Festival.

Intermediate/Advanced NAF workshop
Cost: $40
Friday, Sept 26, 2008, 2:30-4:30

Click here to sign up!

This workshop will cover advanced ornamentation: trills, turns, and arpeggios; how to make your flute “chirp”; advanced breathing techniques; tonguing effect styles and techniques; advanced improvisation techniques and beginning song writing.

Anasazi workshop

Cost: $50
Saturday, Sept 27, 2008, 12:30-2:30


Click here to sign up!

Purchase both Scott’s Anasazi Class and a Scott August Signature or standard series Anasazi flute and save 10% off the flute and 10% off the class! Offer good through August 31st, 2008.

It is advised you pre-order the flute. Click here to pre-order!
While not included with the class, you might wish to consider Scott's new book, The Complete Guide to the Anasazi Flute for a deeper study.


The workshop will cover beginning Anasazi flute techniques.


For more workshops happening at the Yosemite Flute Festival: http://www.yosemiteflutefest.com/flutefestworkshops.html

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Still room left in Retreat with Mary Youngblood

I hear from Dan DiCicco that there is still room left in the last retreat of the year with Mary Youngblood. Sign up now before the last couple seats are taken!

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
TIME: 11 AM - 5 PM

Details in the last post: http://naflute.blogspot.com/2008/08/loping-wolf-retreat-with-mary.html

Or on the LOPING WOLF website: http://www.lopingwolf.com

Monday, September 01, 2008

Auburn Pow Wow - October 25, 2008

The upcoming Auburn Pow Wow will honor Family and Children of Yesterday and Today

WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 2008
TIME: 9 am – 9 pm
WHERE: Gold Country Fairgrounds – Auburn, CA
COST: FREE ADMISSION

DETAILS: Camping (under your vendor canopy) will be allowed Friday night, October 24, after set-up. Bathrooms will be on-site within the Gold Country Fairgrounds, no showers. No fire pits allowed, no RV hook-ups. Check-in is required by 6 pm, Friday, October 24.
Motel, restaurant, and other visitor information: Placer County Visitors Bureau
530.887.2111, or www.VisitPlacer.com