The first time
My Native American flute experience began one day when I gathered to share musical gifts with other hospice volunteers. All of us had different musical skills from piano to guitar to even bagpipes! However, one of the volunteers was a Native American flute player and when she began to play, I felt transported by the music. It was so beautiful, meditative and spiritual, that I decided I had to learn how to play one of these native flutes.
My first Native American style flute
Later that year, I received some money as a birthday gift and decided to visit a local store that sold Native American flutes. I was intrigued by the variety and enjoyed playing each flute. I decided that day on a simple Cedar flute in the key of G.
A different way of playing
Although I am a trained musician, I decided with my flute that I would play as much as I could by ear and improvise more than playing notated music. Playing in this ways brought me a lot of joy and freed me from the musical page. The vast majority of the times that I play my flute, I am creating it on the spot… playing it from my heart.[pullquote align=”right” color=”#B55938″]One of the volunteers was a Native American flute player and when she began to play, I felt transported by the music.[/pullquote]
Playing all over
I’ve enjoyed playing my Native American style flute for memorial services, church services, school classrooms and times gathered around the fire with friends. When I play, I feel like I “go somewhere” and each time it’s a different path. I’ll almost always close my eyes and play because I’m improvising and it seems that the flute plays me rather than the other way around.
Spreading the love
I love the thought of more and more people playing flutes styled after the Native American flute. I hope that you will discover the joy that I have playing these artistic and beautiful flutes. May your home soon be filled with the melodic sounds of one of the flutes styled after Native American flutes from Carolina Wooden Flutes.