Beginning Native American Flute Class in Nevada City

I wanted to announce that registration is now open for a Beginning Native American Flute class that I will be teaching, starting in April at the newly opened "Greenhouse School of Music" in Nevada City. If you live near Nevada City, or know someone who does, and are interested in learning to play the Native American Flute, then this class is for you.

This is an 8 week class, and no experience is necessary. All ages are welcome, although it will be an evening class.

I learned about Greenhouse School of Music when Rick Aeschliman introduced me to Rick Kirkpatrick at the Winter NCFC Gathering in December that the Loping Wolf Flute Circle coordinated. Rick Kirkpatrick is the program director at the Greenhouse School of Music. Rick had the vision, along with a few other folks, and formed the Greenhouse School of Music over the last year to help fill the need for the waining music and arts programs in our public schools. Together with several other folks, created Greenhouse School of Music as a community resource. Rick Kirkpatrick is a long time guitar teacher and one of the key folks behind "The 13", a teenage music band experience.

I am honored and excited to be a part of this inaugural session of classes starting next month. Most of you know my experience as a teacher, having taught hundreds of individuals over the last 10 years, and as director of the Northern California Flute Circle. I am looking forward to this next adventure on my flute path.

Details:

What: Beginning Native American Flute
When: Wednesday Evenings, 6-7 PM, April 7 - May 26
Cost: Cost / 8 weeks - $160. Registration Deadline: April 2

How to register: Call or visit the school.
138 New Mohawk Road, Nevada City, CA / 530.265.8200
Rick Kirkpatrick 530-477-7586 email: rick@greenhouseschoolofmusic.org

Link to class: http://www.greenhouseschoolofmusic.org/classes/NAF.html

Mary Youngblood LOPING WOLF Retreat - Aug 1, 2009

There's still room to register for Mary Youngblood's LOPING WOLF Retreat this weekend.

Date: Saturday, Aug 1, 2009
Time: 10 AM - 5:30
Cost: $45
Location: Auburn, CA

Workshop agenda:

10:00 am to 12:00 pm ~ Arrival and Lunch - (Bring your favorite potluck item)

12:00 pm ~ LOPING WOLF
Welcome and Introduction Theme Song ~ “The LOPING WOLF Lope”

Mary Youngblood ~ Welcome Performance

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ~ Beginning Workshop
Work on your beginning skills with the “First Lady of the Flute”. Breath control, embellishments and techniques. ( Mary will collect your written questions before the workshop.)

~Break ~

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm ~ Intermediate / Advanced Workshop - Tips on vibrato, improvisation , and embellishment details will be discussed and demonstrated. Advanced techniques such as how to duet with another player, composition, phrasing, timing, plus performance and recording readiness will be shared.

~Break ~

4:30 pm to 5:30 pm ~ The "Open Mic" Hour! This “your” opportunity to duet with Mary Youngblood and learn how Mary takes each player to the “next level”.

NOTE: Sign up to have your duet recorded with Mary on DVD with “you” for an additional fee of $30 as a keepsake of this unforgettable day! Autographed pictures of you playing with Mary at this special NAF musical retreat will be available for purchase before you leave!

Registration form: http://www.maryyoungblood.com/Retreat/regformhtml.htm

Link: http://www.maryyoungblood.com/retreat/music_workshops_activities.asp

You need to RVSP with Dan to ensure that there is room for you:

RSVP: dandi@LOPINGWOLF.com
Call: (530) 613-4197 (Dan's cell)

Mary Youngblood Workshop Oct 18, 2008

LOPING WOLF Presents the Musical Retreat for 2008 with Two-time Grammy Winner Mary Youngblood - First Lady of the Flute

WHEN: October 18, 2008

WHERE: LOPING WOLF Ranch, Auburn CA

COST: Each workshop is $45.  $5 donation from attendees not taking a workshop to help defray expenses.

Please come and share NAF techniques, attend Mary’s workshops, jam with Mary and attend the closing open mic session to practice what you've learned with the "First Lady of the Flute". Non-workshop attendees will be able to cavort, try out other flutes ‘n’ drums and practice jamming.

There are some who were not able to make the previous five retreats held this past summer (“Tempest Fugit!”), so we hope this will give you a chance to attend. Space is limited, so we encourage you to sign up now!

Call to reserve a spot and obtain directions.

Bring ALL your flutes (“A” minor for the workshop), drums and percussion instruments.
Mary Youngblood books, CDs and other merchandise will be available for purchase.
Check out Mike Ely’s video of the first retreat at http://www.maryyoungblood.com/videos/Clips%20Rev%20b.wmv 

MUSICAL RETREAT - DAY’S ACTIVITIES
11:00am to 1:00pm Arrival and Lunch (Bring your favorite potluck item)
12:00pm [ ] LOPING WOLF ~Welcome and Introduction
[ ] Theme Song ~ “The LOPING WOLF Lope”
[ ] Mary Youngblood ~ Welcome Performance

1:00pm to 2:00pm Beginning Workshop ~ Work on beginning skills: breath control, embellishments and techniques. (Mary will collect any written questions before the workshop.)
Break
2:30pm to 4:00pm Intermediate / Advanced Workshop ~ vibrato, improvisation, embellishment details, how to duet with another player, composition, phrasing, timing, plus performance and recording readiness will be shared
Break
4:30pm to 5:30pm OPEN MIC hour will be your opportunity to duet with Mary and learn how Mary takes a player to the “next level”. Sign up to have your duet with Mary recorded on DVD with you for an additional fee as a keepsake of this unforgettable day! Autographed pictures of you playing with Mary at this special NAF musical retreat will be available for purchase before you leave!

HOSTS - LOPING WOLF - Lake of the Pines Wood Flute 'n' Drum Circle - www.lopingwolf.com
Sheree 'n' Dan DiCicco / 10492 Gautier Drive / Auburn CA 95602 / (530) 613-4197 Dan's cell / flutecircle@lopingwolf.com

Indigenous Peoples Days are coming!

If you are in the Grass Valley / Nevada City area, you don't want to miss the Indigenous Peoples Days event happening this weekend! This event runs all weekend with special events happening each day. Note that members from LOPINGWOLF will be playing on stage on Sunday, so please come and join the fun and support this wonderful event!

Here's a rundown of the events:

FRIDAY
OPENING CEREMONY
6 PM, Union and Broad Sts, Nevada City, CA. Downtown Nevada City.

SATURDAY
SUNRISE CEREMONY
at the South Yuba River below Parks Bar at Route 20, outside Nevada City, CA

CALLING BACK THE SALMON CEREMONY
mid-day at the South Yuba River at Bridgeport, outside Nevada City
(see map) click here

SUNDAY
CELEBRATION
All day at MACC, the Maidu Active Cultural Center
Lake Vera Purdon Road, Nevada City
(see map)

From Grass Valley:
Take Hwy 49 North
Turn left at CA-49 0.3 mi
Turn right at N Bloomfield Rd 0.2 mi
Turn left to stay on N Bloomfield Rd 0.3 mi
Turn left at Lake Vera Purdon Rd 0.9 mi

16200 Lake Vera Purdon Rd
Nevada City, CA 95959

MONDAY
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
9:30 AM-5 PM, Miners Foundry, 325 Spring St., Nevada City

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

Weekend Events: June 6 - 8, 2008

You can alway check out the 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, June 7

• Mary Youngblood Loping Wolf Retreat

Sunday, June 8

• Loping Wolf at American River Confluence Festival Auburn, CA

Upcoming Events

• NCFC Spring Gathering and Mary Youngblood B-Day Party, June 21, Sacramento Area. RSVP NOW!

Mary Youngblood Retreat hosted by Loping Wolf

I just heard from Dan and Sheree this evening about the success of the Mary Youngblood Retreat that they sponsored this last weekend. It was a huge success! There are two dates left at the Loping Wolf Ranch on the calendar and space is going fast. To RSVP: fill out this form: http://www.maryyoungblood.com/Retreat/regformhtml.htm

Folks who attended, had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Mary Youngblood . Here's an outline of the workshop:


11:00 am to 12:00 pm ~ Arrival and Lunch - (Bring your favorite potluck item)

12:00 pm ~ LOPING WOLF
Welcome and Introduction Theme Song ~ “The LOPING WOLF Lope”

Mary Youngblood ~ Welcome Performance

12:30 pm to 1:15 pm ~ Beginning Workshop


Work on your beginning skills with the “First Lady of the Flute”. Breath control, embellishments and techniques. ( Mary will collect your written questions before the workshop.)

~Break ~

1:30 pm to 2:00 pm ~ Intermediate Workshop - Tips on vibrato, improvisation , and embellishment details will be discussed and demonstrated

~Break ~

2:30 pm to 3:00 pm ~ Advanced Workshop - Advanced techniques such as how to duet with another player, composition, phrasing, timing, plus performance and recording readiness will be shared

~Break ~

3:15 pm to 4:15 pm ~ This open mic hour will be “your” opportunity to duet with Mary and learn how Mary takes a player to the “next level”. Sign up to have your duet with Mary recorded on DVD with “you” for an additional fee as a keepsake of this unforgettable day! Autographed pictures of you playing with Mary at this special NAF musical retreat will be available for purchase before you leave!


The next dates are: June 7th and July 5th
Cost: $45

There may be future dates after this, but they have not been confirmed yet!

For more details: Mary website: http://www.maryyoungblood.com/Retreat/music_workshops.asp
Or the Loping Wolf website: http://www.lopingwolf.com/

Weekend Events: May 3-4

You can alway check out the 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, May 3

• Loping Wolf presents: Retreat with Mary Youngblood

Save the Dates: Mary Youngblood Musical Retreat

Loping Wolf is sponsoring several workshops with two time Grammy Winner Mary Youngblood. This is a great opportunity to learn how to play and improve your playing with one of the best Native American flute players.

Mary is offering three Musical Retreats:

• May 3rd, 2008
• June 7th, 2008
• July 5th, 2008

The events take place at LOPING WOLF RANCH. A nominal fee of $45 will buy you 6 hours of fluting and drumming fun including a workshop of your choice. Workshop space is limited and can only be offered to the first registrars.

Bring ALL your flutes (plus “A” minor’s for the workshops) drums and percussion instruments. Mary Youngblood books, CDs and other merchandise will be available for purchase.

Here's a great video with highlights from the first event earlier this month: http://www.maryyoungblood.com/videos/Clips%20Rev%20b.WMV

For more information and to register: http://www.maryyoungblood.com/Retreat/music_workshops.asp

NCFC Spring Gathering 2008: Igor Sedor

We're less than a week away from the second annual NCFC/NoNahme Spring Gathering in Georgetown, CA. To highlight the event, I thougth that I would feature a short introduction or review of each of the vendors who will be selling flutes next weekend. There will be a lot of other vendors with awesome crafts for sale, far too many for me to talk about each of them. But since I know personally, or know of all of the flutemakers, I thought that I would spend a few moments letting you know what's in store so that you bring a few extra bucks with you, just in case...



I met Igor Sedor for the first time at the NCFC Spring Gathering last year. He lives near Las Vegas, NV and drove over with a caravan of folks from the Las Vegas Clan of Loping Wolf. He had a handful of his wonderful flutes with him last year, and I expect that he'll have even more this year. Be sure to stop by his booth and/or the Loping Wolf Tent and check out his handiwork.


For a complete list of vendors, check out the festival page: http://www.softcom.net/users/greebo/festival.htm
Don't forget that the NCFC/NoNahme Spring Flute Festival is April 26-27, 2008, in Georgetown, CA. 8 AM - 6 PM each day

Loping Wolf "Barn Raising" this weekend

Sheree and Dan DiCicco are getting ready to sell their home. As many of you know, they put a tremendous amount of their personal energy and resources into scheduling and delivering all of the great flute circle events for the central and northern Sacramento area.
They need some help this weekend (Saturday, March 8) to help tidy up and prepare their (empty) Lake of the Pines home to get ready to put it on the market.
If you can help between the hours of 9 AM - 2 PM, it will be a great way to say "thank you" to Dan and Sheree for all of their time which they dedicate to helping make the Loping Wolf Clan such a success.

Afterwords, everyone is invited to their new ranch for a potluck and flute/drum circle.

For more info, check out the Loping Wolf Clan website: http://www.lopingwolf.com/
To get access through the Lake of the Pines gate for this event, contact Dan DiCicco at:
flutecircle@lopingwolf.com

Special Thanks to Loping Wolf

Wow. I can't believe that the week is half over and I haven't had a chance yet to post a HUGE THANK YOU to Dan, Sheree and the rest of the Loping Wolf crew for pulling together such a wonderful event last weekend!

The day started early and slow with folks starting to trickle into the event starting with vendors before 9 AM. There were lot's things to look at. Fairyring Mushroom, Brian Revheim and Lew Price all had flutes for sale. Robin and Ricardo had some wonderful jewelry and handmade arrows and Dave the Drum maker had a selection of Ashikos and Djembes.

Mike and Alex set up the sound system early and a few brave souls serenaded the early arrivals. Things kicked off a little after 10 am with Ricardo presenting an opening blessing. This was followed by Doc who danced and told us some wonderful stories. Food was served around 11 AM and following this there were some wonderful open mic performances until the workshops started a little after noon.

I presented an "Absolute Beginners Workshop" to a wonderful group of 17 newbies, who all tried every exercise I asked them to and exceeded my expectation (Great Job!).

Dan R presented the next workshop along with his recording partner Pat who played the piano keyboard. The focus of this workshop was on playing with other instruments. Dan and Par have just completed the recording of a new CD with piano music which is designed to easily play along with on your pentatonic tuned flutes. Dad demonstrated several songs and Pat played live while the students all had the chance to experiment with the song. The students all left with a copy of the CD.

Finally Mary Youngblood presented a workshop on Ornamentation to an excited group of folks. Lots of wonderful sounds came from the workshop room during this workshop. Mary was there all day selling CD's, songbooks and generally greeting everyone who wanted to chat.

We were amazed with the view of a wonderful sunset from the Lake of the Pines clubhouse with the lake in the background and the colors of the sunset painting the water a memorable hue.

Once again a fun event all around. Thank you Loping Wolf!

REMINDER: NCFC Winder Gathering sponsored by Loping Wolf

Just a reminder that the Loping Wolf Clan is sponsoring the Winter Gathering on December 9th. If you are planning on attending, you need to RSVP NOW to Dan DiCicco, to reserve your spot. This will be a really fun event. There will be several workshops, including an improvization workshop by Dan Ricketts, anWorkshop with Mary Youngblood and a Beginners Workshop with Mike Oitman. There will be plenty of open mic time. And there will be a couple flute vendors, just in time to buy a flute for that special someone on your list (even if that someone is you...)

Complete details are on the Loping Wolf website.

I hope to see everyone of you there!

What: 2007 NCFC/Loping Wolf Winter Gathering
When: Sunday, December 9th
Time: 9 AM - 7 PM
COST: $15 prepaid
Where: Lake of the Pines Clubhouse (the big one this year!)

Reminder: Moaning Caverns with Mary Youngblood

Just a reminder that the trip to Moaning Caverns is coming up in little over a week (Oct 27), and tickets are going fast!!! If you want to attend the event as a spectator, you need to buy your tickets now.

Here's the link for tickets: http://www.suttergold.com/concert/Mary_Youngblood.html

Also, Mary has invited a limited number of NCFC members to play with her during the concert. You must be a current NCFC member and RSVP (and space is limited) for this event.
To RSVP send an email to Dan Dicicco: flutecircle AT lopingwolf DOT com

Mike Oitzman and Friends in Concert, Sept 28th

I wanted to let everyone know that we're planning a small Native American Flute recital this Friday, prior the Fourth Friday Lecture series presented by the Placer Nature Center, in Auburn. I'll be joined by Dan & Sheree DiCicco and a few other Loping Wolf Clan members on stage for the event. If you come, please get there early, as we're going to start at 7 PM sharp and we only get 40 minutes before the lecture starts. The lecture also sounds to be very interesting this month. I hope that you'll come out and support us.

Here the details:

WHEN : Friday the 28th, 7:30 p.m.
WHAT: Placer Nature Center 4th Friday Lecture Series Ethno Botany: Ancient Wisdom for the Earth (Ecological Medicine) featuring Sage La Pena, Nomtipom – Wintu Cultural Educator, ethno botanist, author, herbalist and historian will share the indigenous perspective for personal and global healing and health. Native American flute recital opens lecture.
WHERE: Unity of Auburn, 1212 High St., Auburn.
COST (for the lecture): $12 ($10 members, $8 students) Discount available for full series.
CONTACT: Placer Nature Center, (530) 878-6053 or nancy@placernaturecenter.org for info or tickets.

Save the date: April 21, NCFC Spring Gathering

The NoNahme Clan is busy at work planning the Spring Gathering for the NCFC. Marion Cole, Lew Price, Dave Blonski and the others are doing a great job putting this event together. The details are still being worked out, but here's a glimpse of what's being planned:

When: Saturday, April 21. All day.
Where: Georgetown, CA (East of Sacramento)

There will be workshops, including a NAF Beginners Workshop with Mike Oitzman. A Flute Makers Workshop with Lew Price, and a Digeridoo Workshop with David Blonski. There will be an open mic all day. The event is already posted on the Native Gatherings website.

The event will be in beautiful Georgetown, CA at the Black Oak Mine School Distict's 'Nature Area' and Ampitheater, located just north of Georgetown. At the IOOF Hall, in the evening, will be a concert benefit for our local KFOK FM Volunteer Radio Station. Details on the lineup for the concert will be announced shortly.

Upcoming Loping Wolf Drum and Flute Circle

Just got the info on the upcoming Drum and Flute Circles from Dan DiCicco:

Once again, the combined Drum and Flute Circles will be October 29 at The Bear River Campground just west of Colfax California, Planet Earth, 11:00 AM until the cows come home.

BRING -

"Everything but the kitchen sink", and Drums, Flutes, Rattles, Stories, drinks (stay sober), blankets for the ground, folding tables, chairs and FOOD to share (Actually, almost EVERYTHING ends up being shared....)

Also, bring EVERYBODY you can muster - Elders, Stan Padilla, Mary Youngblood, Aunts, Uncles, Parents, Kids, ANYBODY! Feel free to pass this information on to all beings....

We will have some flutes you can use (or buy) and some T-shirts you can buy. (As of "press time", it does not look like JP Gomez's 2nd order of "A" flutes will be here, but we can always "put it out there", and it just may happen. One of our stories may include how we "put it out there" last Saturday, with startling results....)

WEATHER ? The campground is outside, so dress appropriately. (If the weather is really rotten, there are these GREAT concrete toilet rooms....)

DIRECTIONS -
[ ] From Auburn CA, take I-80 East toward Colfax about 14 miles.
[ ] Take the CANYON WAY exit - EXIT 133. (If you hit Colfax proper and the Hwy 174 turnoff, you went too far.)
[ ] Turn LEFT onto CANYON WAY, and go less than .1 mile to "ILLINOISTOWN ROAD"? (That's what Mapquest says, but it's the road that turns left up back over the freeway.)
[ ] On the other side of the freeway, turn LEFT onto PLACER HILLS ROAD (or S. Auburn Street?)
[ ] Keep going PAST the Westbound Freeway o nramp, (do NOT take it, unless you want to go back to Auburn) and continue on along a slightly winding road for a little over a half mile and cross under the railroad tracks through a ridiculously narrow and short tunnel.
[ ] Just through the sorry excuse for a tunnel, turn LEFT to stay on PLACER HILLS ROAD and go about .7 mile.
[ ] You will come along to parallel the railroad tracks on your left, and a sign that says "Bear River Campground" that points down PLUMTREE ROAD. If you hit Cedar Valley Road or Mount Hood Road while you are still on Placer Hills Road, you went too far.
[ ] OK, traveling down Plumtree Road and/or Campground Road, after about 1.3 miles, you will come to the picnic grounds on your left. We will be another .3 mile at the camping part, also on your left. LOOK FOR THE LOPING WOLF BANNER.

If you get lost, call Dan on his cell (see below). He will not know where you are, but you will be able to hear us....

Now, you can Google a map for yourself, or go to Mapquest for a STUPID list of everything BUT Bear River Campground near Colfax CA. Dan had to settle for "Bear River Canal: Colfax CA US, which will get you very very near the campground.

Let Dan & Sherree know if you want a ride, and they will try to hook you up with somebody. Contact: -Dan & Sheree DiCicco of Loping Wolf Clan
(530) 613-4197 cell
www.lopingwolf.com