A quote that often I invoke is that without change there is no growth.  And because of my change in my teaching assignment, or as I looked on it, my life, without hesitation I committed myself to the Native American love flute.  The first tunes were often those of attraction and love, a courting instrument, each with its own voice, like that of its creator.  It is still an instrument of love, a love of both humanity and nature.

There are some things in life that flow together.  Once a commitment was made, events continued to confront me that were out of the ordinary flow of events. 

I made many attempts to obtain my flute.  I originally wished to personally meet someone that carved the instruments and personalize the fetish.  I discovered that they were mainly out of my financial budget.  I also frequently visited Pilgers in Omaha.  The instruments available did not have the sound I desired.  I resorted to the internet and with apprehension, studied artists and sent for one.  When it arrived, I opened the box and found it wrapped as a gift, a ribbon included.  It just felt right.

Now the challenge, do you just play from the heart, or do you academically learn the fingering, correct tonguing, etc.  It’s a combination of both.  Listening to various artists and their interpretation helped me search for my own style.  My collection has expanded in the last year to include traditional music to contemporary interpretations.

Not long after purchasing my instrument, I received a call from my parents that they wanted to introduce me to a visitor.  The brother of one of our family friends was visiting from New Mexico.  It turned out that though white on the outside, he is red on the inside and had also been on his own personal growth.  He played the flute, and shared his knowledge with me and gifted me his case for my flute.  He also insisted that I take several of his favorite cassettes. 

The Lewis 7 Clark Bicentennial Signature event at FortAtkinson brought great opportunities, when Carlos Nakai, a respected flutist conducted a workshop on the flute.  In a group of 30, he shared more than musical talents, but the soul of the instrument.  He inspired those that were there to continue their own journeys.  His demonstration of music interpreting nature opened a new aspect to the instrument.

Now, my flute easily travels with me.  While camping in the Rockies, I would bring out my flute and play around the campfire with an audience of stars.  In the Blackhills, I went to my favorite place on a back road to a small waterfall and bubbling stream.  I sat on a rock and improvised.

Through the school year, my flute has often accompanied me to school to share with my students.  They are intrigued by its haunting sound.  In May, K-6 presented the musical, “The Adventures of Lewis and Clark.”  The first and second graders performed a song, “This is Our Land, This is Our Home.”  The 3^rd graders played a composition on recorders in the style of the flute, in a minor key. 

May, 2005.  The keel boat is one its return to Saint Lewis with the many artifacts for President Jefferson.  We are fortunate to have a friend who has joined the rein actors.  We traveled to Decatur, Nebraska the evening they pulled in.  I was introduced to the man representing the Arikira Chief returning with the crew.  He was told of my interest in the flute.  He told me to wait and went to his tent to get his journal. Standing on the banks of the Missouri River, he read me a poem written that afternoon of a maiden playing her flute.  Another connection was made. 

It has been said that the music a flute makes is “…a prayer through musical vibrations.”  Taking a felled tree and bringing life back to it is indeed a journey of personal growth.  I regret that too often we are forced into personal growth, that it takes that push.  Mine has turned into a leap that I hope continues to soar.

Please click on the following link for pictures:   Love Flute

Resources:

Bierhorst, John.  A Cry From the Earth, Music of the North American Indians. 

     ISBN )-941270-53-X

Burton, Bryan.  Moving Within The Circle.

     ISBN )-037203-43-2

Burton, Bryan.  Voices of the Wind, Native American Flute Songs.

     ISBN  0-937203-88-2

Nakai, Carlos R..  The Art of the Native American Flute.

     ISBN  0-037203-88-2

Perkins, Laura Lee.  Native American Flute Tutor.

     ISBN  60

Recordings:

People of the Willows by Keith Bear

Canyon Trilogy by Nakai

Beneath the Raven Moon by Mary Young Blood

Native Flute Music by Jason Hacker

Joseph Fire Crow