Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting Wednesday 9 December 2015

The last 2015 meeting of the Finger Lakes Flute Circle is Wednesday 9 December 2015, 6:30pm, in the Conference Room at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building.

All beginners are encouraged to visit. Beginner flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flutes, with percussion and drums.

$5 contribution is suggested, to help with MeetUp.com and room rental costs.

All comers of all experience levels are welcome, and our members have ranged from absolutely no experience to decades. We will make beautiful music together. See you there!

RSVP

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and MeetUp websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

ICYMI Jefferson Svengsouk/Native American Flute on WXXI Connections for MAG Hidden Passions

In case you missed the December 2, 2015 broadcast of the WXXI Connections show about the Memorial Art Gallery Hidden Passions series (taped November 25), it is accessible as a podcast online: http://wxxinews.org/post/connections-hidden-passions-series

The MAG Hidden Passions Season 2, "Inspiring Conversations About Hyphenated Lives," features presentations from people in the Rochester, NY community, and the non-vocational interests that inspire them. People that include Wendell Castle (Oh, I would have loved to have been paired with him).

On the WXXI Connections show, I'm part of a panel of presenters, and I talk about my passion, Native American flute.

My actual MAG Hidden Passions Season 2 talk is February 25, 2016, 7pm, at the Memorial Art Gallery. FREE. http://mag.rochester.edu/events/hidden-passions-season-2/

Jefferson Svengsouk on WXXI Connections Wednesday 24 November 2015

Jefferson Svengsouk will join the Memorial Art Gallery team on the WXXI Connections radio show Wednesday, 25 November 2015, at 1 p.m. to talk about Season 2 of Hidden Passions: Inspiring Conversations About Hyphenated Lives.

Jefferson is scheduled to speak (and perhaps play a little Native American flute) for the Hidden Passions event at the Memorial Art Gallery 25 February 2016, 7 p.m.

Peter Phippen World Flute House Concert, Rochester NY, 28 October 2015

Peter Phippen World Flute House Concert
Wednesday 28 October 2015, 7pm
Private Residence, Town of Brighton, Rochester, NY
$20 per person suggested donation

A Grammy Award nominee and four-time Native American Music Award nominee, Peter Phippen is a nationally and internationally respected world flute specialist, recording artist, scholar, educator, and producer. In his approach to world flute performance, he is an experiential, natural folk musician with a penchant for creative and artistic musical improvisation. http://www.peterphippen.com


Limited seating. Please email, message, or call to confirm your attendance, and to receive private residence location information.

Feel free to bring a treat or dessert to share for after the concert.

RSVP

14th Annual Rochester Irish Cultural Day: Music, Dance, Singing & Irish Language Workshops - Sunday 25 October 2015

https://www.facebook.com/events/763282417151127/

Free & Open to All
Sunday, October 25, 2015 Noon to 5 pm
Nazareth College Golisano Academic Center,
4245 East Avenue, Pittsford, NY

Enter campus from East Avenue at the north entrance (no traffic light), bear right to parking lot north of building. Signs will be posted; enter the door closest to the parking lot.

Program Schedule

12 Noon GATHER, REGISTRATION, ORIENTATION

12:30 – 2:00 SESSION #1: INSTRUMENTS, INSTRUCTORS

• Fiddle (intermediate): Kit Fallon
• Penny Whistle
• James Hallahan (beginner session)
• Ralph Minervino & John Ryan (intermediate-advanced session)
• Traditional Singing: Adrienne Maher & Becky Farrell Ferrigno
• Irish Language: Dan McGrath
• Fiddle (beginners): Scott Smith
• Melody on Frets: Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki & Banjo
• Bob Taylor & Ben Hockenberry

2:00 pm BREAK for REFRESHMENTS

2:30 - 4:00 SESSION #2: INSTRUMENTS, INSTRUCTORS

• Bodhran (beginners): Kate Ballard
• Accompaniment on DADGD guitar: Adrienne Mahar
• Uilleann Pipes: Mike Ryan
• Accordion: Ted McGraw & Jane Sturmer & Joyn Ryan
• Anglo Concertina: Jim Kimball & Marta Driscoll
• Bardic Journeys: Musicians and Poets Celebrate Irish Poetry
• John Roche
• Flute: Jean Smith

4:00 - 5:00 CLOSING JAM SESSION

FORMAT: Each session will be a gathering of instrument players with a group leader to provide some instruction, facilitate the sharing of tunes and tips or just work on playing and/or singing a few tunes together. If you don’t play an instrument, you can learn how to get started. This is a relaxed, informal setting for beginners.

Sponsored by:
Tom Finucane Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Nazareth College

Website: http://irishrochester.com/
Information: whallah3@naz.edu

Arvel Bird Returns - Concert with Rochester Chamber Orchestra Sunday 18 October 2015

http://www.rochesterchamberorchestra.org/
http://arvelbird.com/

Arvel Bird Returns - Concert with Rochester Chamber Orchestra
Date: Sunday 18 October 2015, 3:00pm
Location: Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 Plymouth Ave N, Rochester, NY 14614
Tickets:

$10 Students

$20 Seniors

$30 Adults

$50 Reserved

Rochester Chamber Orchestra:

Due to public demand, the RCO is pleased to bring back Arvel Bird for his third performance with us. Arvel and the orchestra will be joined by the Bach Children's Chorus of Nazareth College (Karla Krogstad, director) and the Genesee Valley Children's Choir (Amy Cochrane, director). Our performance will be conducted by the RCO's music director, Gerard Floriano.

Arvel Bird continues to entertain worldwide audiences with his mix of classical, Native American, Celtic, country, and rock music, and we are thrilled to have him join us again.

Link for on-line purchases: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1303371

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting Wednesday 14 October 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle is meeting Wednesday 14 October 2015, 6:30pm, in the Conference Room at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building.

Beginners are encouraged and welcome. Beginner flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flutes, with percussion and drums.

$5 contribution is suggested, to help with MeetUp.com and room rental costs.

People of all experience levels have participated, from absolutely no experience to decades. We will make beautiful music together. We look forward to seeing you.

RSVP

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and MeetUp websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

Solo Native American Flute CD Release at Rochester Fringe Festival 2015

I hope you will be able to attend one of my performances at the Rochester Fringe Festival this year.

I am very excited and looking forward to playing Native American flute with my group, the Cobbs Hill Consort, at the Rochester Fringe Festival Sunday 20 September 2015 at the Lyric Theatre: Prince Street Chamber.

There will be two concerts, an afternoon concert at 3:15pm, and an evening concert at 7:00pm.

The concerts will also mark the release date of my CD featuring solo Native American flute:

Peaceful Journey: Solo Native American Flute For Healing And Comfort.

http://rochesterfringe.com/shows/show/cobbs-hill-consort

Cobbs Hill Consort Performs at the Rochester Fringe Festival, Sunday 20 September 2015

Location: Lyric Theater: Prince Street Chamber, 440 East Ave (at Prince St), Rochester, NY 14607
Date: Sunday 20 September 2015
Afternoon concert: 3:15pm
Evening concert: 7:00pm
Tickets: $6

Hear Finger Lakes Flute Circle founder Jefferson Svengsouk perform on several Native American flutes with his acoustic ensemble, the Cobbs Hill Consort, at the Rochester Fringe Festival. There will be an afternoon concert at 3:15pm, and an evening concert at 7:00pm. The entrance to the Prince Street Chamber (not the Main Stage) is on the side of the building, down Prince Street. Ticket price is $6.

The venue reports that other than street parking, they have arranged for parking in nearby lots across Prince Street and across East Avenue.

http://rochesterfringe.com/shows/show/cobbs-hill-consort

A Fringe favorite, the Cobbs Hill Consort returns with its unique acoustic ensemble featuring the Native American flute, supported by the living sounds of guitar, harp, drums and percussion. The music is soothing, emotive, and transportive, engaging you in a journey of the heart. Performers include Jefferson Svengsouk (Native American flute), Sandy Gianniny (harp), Steve Piper (guitar), and Sean Sullivan (percussion). The group looks forward to sharing the gift of their healing energies and creative collaboration.

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting Wednesday 9 September 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle is meeting Wednesday 9 September 2015, 6:30pm, in the Conference Room at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building.

Beginners are encouraged and welcome. Beginner flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flutes, with percussion and drums.

$5 contribution is suggested, to help with MeetUp.com and room rental costs.

People of all experience levels have participated, from absolutely no experience to decades. We will make beautiful music together. We look forward to seeing you.

RSVP

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and MeetUp websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

Rochester Brainery Class: Learn to Play the Native American Flute

Learn to Play the Native American Flute
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
7pm-9pm
$30

Rochester Brainery
(inside Village Gate)
274 Goodman St N, B134
Rochester, NY 14607

http://rochesterbrainery.myshopify.com/collections/classes/products/learn-to-play-the-native-american-flute

Come learn to play the Native American flute! The Native American flute is very easy to learn to play and its design allows for spontaneous creation of beautiful and expressive music that is inside every one of us. The Native American flute today is a contemporary instrument built on the foundation of the traditional indigenous North American flute, revitalized over 25 years ago by recording artist R. Carlos Nakai.

Please note: This class is encouraged for people of all levels of musical experience, including beginners with no musical experience. You'll even get to bring home with you a sweet-sounding $50-value beginner’s flute, included in your class cost!

RSVP

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting Wednesday 12 August 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle is meeting Wednesday, 12 August 2015, 6:30pm, in the Conference Room at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building. If coming down Winton Rd from the north, note that Winton is blocked near Brighton High School due to construction.

Beginners are encouraged and welcome. Beginner flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flutes, with percussion and drums.

$5 contribution is suggested, to help with MeetUp.com and room rental costs.

People of all experience levels have participated, from absolutely no experience to decades, and we all make beautiful music together. We look forward to seeing you.

RSVP

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and MeetUp websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

Flute Circle at Ganondagan Native American Dance & Music Festival 2015

There will be a Native American flute circle activity at this year's Ganondagan Native American Dance & Music Festival, on both days of the festival, July 25-26, 2015, 4:30 p.m. at the demonstration tent by the bark longhouse. Bring your Native American flutes, and drums and hand percussion, and we will make beautiful music by the longhouse.

There will also be a Beginner's Native American Flute Playing Workshop 12:30 p.m. on both days. William Harjo, Harjo Flutes, will provide instruction and beginner flutes to try.

Ganondagan Native American Dance & Music Festival

July 25-26, 2015, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m

http://www.ganondagan.org/Events-Programs/Dance-Music-Festival

1488 State Route 444
Victor, NY 14564
$12/adults; $10/seniors (62+); $7/students with ID (18+); $5/children (3-18)
FREE for Friends of Ganondagan members and children 2 and under

Beginner's Flute Playing Workshop

12:30 p.m. both days

Flute Circle

4:30 p.m. both days

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting Tuesday 7 July 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle is meeting early for this month, Tuesday 7 July 2015, 6:30pm, in the Conference Room at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building.

Beginners are encouraged and welcome. Beginner flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flutes, with percussion and drums.

$5 contribution is suggested, to help with MeetUp.com and room rental costs.

People of all experience levels have participated, from absolutely no experience to decades, and we all make beautiful music together. We look forward to seeing you.

RSVP

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and MeetUp websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

Karen Ní Bhroin 2015 Rochester Irish Music Lessons and Kids' Tin Whistle Camp

Irish music education opportunities via the Rochester Irish Musicians' Association:

Karen Ní Bhroin is a music educator visiting Rochester from County Wexford, Ireland to give lessons in tin whistle, concertina, and Irish songs, and to offer a tin whistle camp for kids.

Tin whistle camp for kids 8 and up from June 29 through July 3, 2015.

 

Location: First Baptist Church of Fairport, 92 South Main St. in the village of Fairport

Hours: 10 AM to Noon

Cost: $100 for the week

The morning will include tin whistle lesson, songs in Irish, and group playing.

Music will be included for take home.

Karen Ní Bhroin is a familiar teacher here in the area. She has extensive music and choral teaching experience and is a member of a traditional ceili band in Wexford, Ireland.

 

Karen Ní Bhroin arrives this weekend and will be playing at the session at Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester, NY Sunday 28 June 2015 from 2 pm to 5 pm if you want to talk with her there.

Please call Jean Smith to sign up at 585-738-0126.

Karen Ní Bhroin is also here to teach, and now is the time to schedule a lesson with her. She can do private and semi-private lessons.

She is teaching at Fairport First Baptist and at Jean Smith's house in West Irondequoit. This is a good time to get your ornamentation straightened out or just get the musical boost that Karen will give by teaching locally. She is so well rounded that she can explain clearly what you may be challenged by, or help you get to that next level of ability.

 

Time is flying along so don’t delay too long. She is here for ten days and then leaves for Toronto.

Shakuhachi Concert, Rochester, NY, 5 July 2015

A Meditative Concert and Presentation

Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin

The Rochester Zen Center
7 Arnold Park Rochester NY
Rochester NY 14607

Sunday afternoon July 5th, 2015
4:00 PM Concert on the Shakuhachi
5:00 PM Free Introductory Shakuhachi Lesson (Instruments provided)

(No admission charge)
CD’s and DVD's Available for Purchase

For those interested in the beginners lesson, please RSVP to Ronnie's email address:  nyogetsu@gmail.com
His web site is www.nyogetsu.com.

Shakuhachi music developed over hundreds of years, played by mendicant monks within a network of Japanese temples. Honkyoku, original pieces, were passed on from teacher to student. They continue to be played today, transmitted by master musicians to their students.

Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) Grand Master Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin is the founder of Ki-sui-an shakuhachi dojo with branches in Manhattan, Rochester, Ithaca, Buffalo, Narrowsburg, Philadelphia and Washington DC/Baltimore. He is also part of the Japanese Music Program at the graduate Center of the City University of New York, has produced many notable recordings, and performed at Carnegie Hall, The Asia Society, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and many other venues. He has received many awards and honors, including both an Oscar and a Grammy nomination.

Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin studied Shakuhachi in Kyoto, Japan with Kurahashi Yodo Sensei, a disciple of Jin Nyodo. In 1975, he received the name Nyogetsu and a teaching certificate at the level of Jun Shi-han in the Kinko school of shakuhachi.

After his return to New York, Nyogetsu was awarded the rank of Shi-han (Master) in 1978, as a result of his efforts to spread the teaching of this instrument in America. In 1980 he received his first Dai Shihan (Grand Master's) License, and his second from the Living National Treasure, Aoki Reibo, in 2002.

He presently has the largest and most active Dojo in the world outside Japan.

Rochester Tin Whistle Week for Kids, June 29 - July 3, 2015

Posted to the Rochester Irish Musicians' Association Facebook timeline June 12:

Rochester Irish Arts announcing formation of a Tin Whistle Week for Kids June 29 to July 3, 2015, 10 a.m. to Noon in Fairport, NY.
Cost $100.
Instructor is Karen Ní Bhroin from Dublin.
Contact: rochesteririsharts@gmail.com or call: 585-348-7576
Morning includes: lessons, songs in Irish/English and group playing.

Some Finger Lakes Flute Circle members including myself attended the camp two years ago when there was an offering for adults, and Karen Ní Bhroin is an excellent teacher. I strongly recommend that you send your kids to learn tin whistle from Ms. Ní Bhroin while she is visiting Rochester from Ireland this year.

Question: Where can you learn to play xiao (or other end-blown flutes) in Rochester, New York?

A question that was posed at this months Finger Lakes Flute Circle meeting:

Do you have a xiao, and can you get xiao lessons in Rochester, New York?

My response (at the meeting, combined with information I later mentioned on Meetup.com, with some additions):

Regarding your inquiry into the Chinese end-blown flute, the xiao. Unlike the Native American flute, which has a fipple sound mechanism like the recorder or tin whistle, the xiao is open-ended and you blow across a sharp cutting edge, something like blowing across the mouth of a soda bottle to make a tone. The Chinese School of Rochester Traditional Music Ensemble performed at the Memorial Art Gallery Asian Pacific American Heritage Family Day this year. The flutist, who played dizi (side-blown with buzzy paper membrane) and xiao, I believe was Yinhao Ye. You might check with the Chinese School of Rochester about lessons <principal@csrochester.org>. I don't (yet) have a xiao, but I do have a number of contemporary, Native American-inspired rim-blown (end-blown) flutes created by Michael Graham Allen, Coyote Oldman Flutes. These are the Anasazi/Prayer Rock flute and the Mojave/Desert flute. Michael Graham Allen is on hiatus for flute production for the rest of the year, but there are other makers of these styles of flutes, such as Geoffrey Ellis and Jon Norris. I will be sure to bring my rim-blown flutes to future Finger Lakes Flute Circle meetings to show and play. The flutes require developing a proper embouchure, forming the lips and mouth to direct the right stream of air over the cutting edge of the rim, and that requires quite a bit of practice, and the result is a very beautiful, resonant sound well worth the effort.

The Japanese traditional end-blown flute, the shakuhachi, is the most challenging of these to play, and is quite formal in approach to instruction. My teacher, Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin, lives in NYC, and regularly travels to Ithaca, Rochester, and Buffalo to teach lessons to his students in western New York.

Question: What are some good beginner Native American flutes?

Question posed after this month's flute circle meeting:

I really enjoyed my introduction to the Native American flute. I was checking out websites post-Meetup to try and find the practice flute model distributed yesterday evening. Saw several others, but not that particular one. Do you have a link, or can you please make recommendations?

My response on Meetup, with some additions:

It was wonderful to make music with you on the Native American flute. The "beginner" flutes we use are from Rich Dubé, Northern Spirit Flutes http://www.northernspiritflutes.net/ These A minor pentatonic flutes may be ordered directly from Rich, or at a discount at our flute circle meetings.

Good values the next step up in pricing include High Spirits Flutes http://www.highspirits.com/ (widely available through many retailers) and Butch Hall Flutes https://www.butchhallflutes.com/.

Brad Young, 4 Wind Flutes, makes nice flutes and Brad is a great guy. You can get these if you are able to attend Native American flute festivals in the Northeast, such as the Potomac Native American Flute Festival (they took a break 2015) http://www.potomacflutefestival.org/ and SunWatch Native Flute Festival http://www.sunwatch.org/program-a-events/special-events/14-sunwatch-flute-and-art-festival. Unlike the flutes mentioned earlier that are quite uniform, each of Brad Young's flutes are individualized and unique.

I hope you will continue to enjoy playing Native American flute.

Jefferson

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting, Wednesday 3 June 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle will meet Wednesday 3 June 2015, 6:30pm, at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building. We will be meeting in the Conference room.

Beginners are encouraged! Beginner flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flute, drums, and hand percussion. The Native American flute is an easy to play instrument that allows people of all experience levels to play beautiful, expressive music.

This year most meetings will be planned for the second Wednesday of each month. Note that this month, and next month, July, will be earlier in the month than usual due to tight schedules.

We will have a lot of fun and make great music together. We look forward to seeing you!

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and Meetup websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting, Wednesday 13 May 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle will meet Wednesday 13 May 2015, 6:30pm, at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building. We will be meeting in the Conference room.

Beginners are encouraged! Northern Spirit flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flute, drums, and hand percussion. The Native American flute is an easy to play instrument that allows people of all experience levels to play beautiful, expressive music.

This year most meetings will be planned for the second Wednesday of each month. Advance warning for next month, June is a busy month, so the meeting then will be earlier in the month than usual.

We will have a lot of fun and make great music together. We look forward to seeing you!

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and Meetup websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

RSVP

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting, Wednesday 8 April 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle will meet Wednesday 8 April 2015, 6:30pm, at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building. We will be meeting in the Conference room.

Beginners are encouraged! Flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flute, drums, and hand percussion. The Native American flute is an easy to play instrument that allows people of all experience levels to play beautiful, expressive music.

This year most meetings will be planned for the second Wednesday of each month.

We will have a lot of fun and make great music together. We look forward to seeing you!

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and Meetup websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

RSVP

Dady Brothers Irish and Celtic Music Workshop and Concert 3/26/15

Dady Brothers Workshop and Concert
Location: Finger Lakes Community College Main Campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Dr, Canandaigua, NY 14424 - 2nd Floor, Stage 14
Date: Thursday 26 March 2015
Time: Workshop 5pm; Concert 7pm
Concert tickets $2

They use instruments including pennywhistle and uilleann pipes.

From the FLCC Connects blog:

Celtic musicians The Dady Brothers will give a workshop and concert at Finger Lakes Community College on Thursday, March 26.

The workshop begins at 5 p.m. in Stage 14 on the second floor of the main campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Several student performers will open the show.

The Dady Brothers are a widely acclaimed folk duo and have performed their special brand of Irish music throughout the U.S., Canada, and Ireland. They use a variety of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, pennywhistle, bodhran, harmonica, banjo, and uilleann pipes. Special musical guests are also expected to perform.

Both programs are open to the public. Entry to the 7 p.m. concert is $2 for the general public and free with an FLCC ID. The FLCC cafe will be open until 8 p.m. the day of the concert.

This program is sponsored by the FLCC Student Corporation and the FLCC Social Science Department. For additional information, contact Joshua Heller, chair of the social science department, at (585) 785-1335 or joshua.heller@flcc.edu.

2015 Native American Flute Festivals (No Potomac)

From Rochester, New York, there are few festivals dedicated to Native American flute that are within a reasonable day's drive. To the south, in the Washington, DC area, there's the Potomac Native American Flute Festival (PNAFF) and to the west, in Dayton, OH, the SunWatch Native Flute Festival. When I first began to play Native American flute, the first flute festival I attended was Potomac in 2010, and for me it was an ideal blend of educational workshops, evening concerts, private lessons from outstanding performers and teachers, and a vendor room filled with beautiful, tempting flutes. This is a well-organized and worthwhile regional Native American flute festival experience from my perspective, and I have attended every year since, except the organizers took a break in 2012, and it seem like 2015 they are taking a break again. The beginning of this year has blown by so quickly it was only when a friend asked me last month about when PNAFF was scheduled that I realized that it wasn't happening. I'm very sad to miss a great festival, but I'm at peace knowing the hard-working organizers can get a respite from a very big project, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

SunWatch is 14-16 August 2015. Other Native American flute festivals this year that I know of are listed below. I've only attended SunWatch, but I hear from my Native American flute community friends that of the East Coast festivals, Native Rhythms is a great one.

2015 Native American Flute Festivals

Musical Echoes Native American Flute Festival, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 24-26 April 2015

Renaissance of the North American Flute (RNAFF) The Gathering, Flagstaff, AZ, 11-13 June 2015

SunWatch Native Flute Festival, Dayton, OH, 14-16 August 2015

Flute Quest Native American Flute Festival, Des Moines, WA, 14-16 August 2015

Medicine Park Flute Festival & Art Walk, Medicine Park, OK, 19-20 September 2015

Sweetgrass Flute & Nature Festival, Hiawatha, IA, 25-27 September 2015

Native Rhythms Festival, Melbourne, FL, 12-15 November 2015

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting, Thursday 19 March 2015

How do you get a "canyon effect" out of a Native American flute? This meeting, we'll find that out and see how these effects can create the feeling of listening in a very big space.

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle will meet Thursday 19 March 2015, 6:30 pm, at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building. We will be meeting in the Conference room.

Beginners are encouraged! Flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flute, drums, and hand percussion. The Native American flute is an easy to play instrument that allows people of all experience levels to play beautiful, expressive music.

This year most meetings will be planned for the second Wednesday of each month.

We will have a lot of fun and make really nice music together. We look forward to seeing you!

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and Meetup websites:
http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/

RSVP

Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting, Wednesday 14 January 2015

The Finger Lakes Flute Circle will meet Wednesday 14 January 2015, 6:30 pm, at the Brookside School (Brighton Parks & Recreation), 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618. This entrance on Winton Rd is south of Westfall Rd. The official address, 220 Idlewood Rd, takes you through the neighborhood streets to the alternate entrance on the other side of the building.

We will be meeting in the Conference room (rather than the previous Arts & Crafts room) due to room rental rate increases.

Beginners are encouraged! Flutes will be available to try out. We will be playing Native American flute, drums, and hand percussion. The Native American flute is an easy to play instrument that allows people of all experience levels, even complete beginners, to play beautiful music in no time! 

A $5 contribution is requested for room rental and Meetup fees.

We will have a lot of fun and make great music together. We look forward to seeing you!

Current meeting schedules are listed on the Blog and Meetup websites:

http://wnyflutecircle.blogspot.com
http://www.meetup.com/FingerLakesFluteCircle/