Native American Flute

lula · Post by **lula** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:52 pm

So I've been thinking for awhile since school's out I might pick up a new instrument. So I've found something I want to play: the Native American Flute. I love listening to it and my family has Cherokee heritage and I think it would mean a lot to my grandfather. So does anyone know much about this instrument? Is is hard to learn to play? Is it anything like regular flute? And will my playing of almost six years help any with this flute?

Thanks in advance!
-Lula

P.S. I know this has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but I can now play open hole flute!!!!

Heirii · Post by **Heirii** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:48 pm

I have a native american flute CD... and I really love the hollow sound of this instrument

I wish I knew more about it. But in a few days I'm going to a flute workshop and I'm supposed to be learning about and playing different flutes, one of them being the native american flute.... so when I know more about it I'll post~

Bo · Post by Bo » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:55 pm

I have a pan flute, a quena and a pinquillo....

lula · Post by **lula** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:28 am

Does anyone know if the Native American Flute is hard to play?

JButky · Post by **JButky** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:16 pm

lula wrote:Does anyone know if the Native American Flute is hard to play?

It's pretty simple, but there are various "signature" techniques. Understanding the culture is a big part of getting that part of it.

I played some concerts with Joseph Firecrow. He makes these flutes (among many others) and is a fine player. We both lived in the same town and I accompanied him a few times for some concerts. I played my favorite 6 hole bamboo flute and performed a program piece for a benefit concert with him once. We had an interesting discussion on how we were struck by the thematic material of each of our pieces being similar and that the themes were derived from mythical warriors.

R. Carlos Nakai is perhaps one of the all time best at the NA flute.