John Rainer, Jr. Passed Away

John Rainer, Jr., who was the early inspiration in the Native American flute to one of our own flute circle members, has died. The obituary of his death, June 14, 2011, is quoted on the forums of the Flute Portal.

At the recent June meeting of the Finger Lakes Flute Circle, Ken told the story of how he heard John Rainer, Jr.'s music playing on audio cassette tape in the open air in Taos, New Mexico many years ago. He was drawn to the source, and met the man himself and learned of the Native American flute. John Rainer, Jr. and his music had a profound effect on Ken, starting him on his own journey with the Native American flute. John Rainer, Jr., through his flutes and his music, and through Ken to me, has so had an effect on my own life.

I was saddened to learn this morning through the Flute Portal of John Rainer, Jr.'s passing. I went to his web site, www.johnrainerjr.com, and his music, originally on audio cassette, may now be purchased on Compact Disc. In honor of his memory, in appreciation of his music, and in support of his family, I placed an order for his music and offered my condolences.

John Rainer, Jr. and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

June 2011 Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting

Please note that the June meeting of the Finger Lakes Flute Circle is one week early this month, on Thursday, June 9, 2011, 6:30 pm. Brookside School, Arts and Crafts Room, waypoint: 1680 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14618

Beginners are welcome; we expect there will be other beginners there as well. Please bring your interest and enthusiasm, and flutes and hand percussion. Let's make some music and enjoy the Native American flute!

Beginner Native American flutes and instruction books will be available for purchase.

We request a $5 contribution for the facility rental fee.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Native American Flute Festivals

There are two "nearby" Native American Flute Festivals. Most of the others are in Florida or out west.

The Potomac Native American Flute Festival is later this month, and has enjoyable workshops, concerts, and vendor hall. It's in Arlington, VA, about 7 hours drive from Rochester. Grammy winner Bill Miller will be one of the performers.

Potomac Native American Flute Festival
Friday, June 24 - Saturday, June 25, 2011
Arlington, VA
www.potomacflutefestival.org

We haven't yet visited the SunWatch Flute and Art Gathering, in Dayton, OH, but it is largely a NAF music venue, with vendors. It's about 8 hours drive from Rochester.

SunWatch Flute and Art Gathering
Dayton, OH
Friday, August 26 - Sunday, August 28, 2011
sunwatch.org


Not specifically NAF, our regional Native American Dance & Music Festival at Ganondagan in Victor, NY is an all around wonderful event.

20th Annual Native American Dance & Music Festival
Ganondagan State Historic Site, Victor, NY
Saturday, July 23 & Sunday, July 24, 2011
10am - 6pm
www.ganondagan.org

The Native American Dance & Music Festival is Ganondagan's annual summer event that features a wide range of Native American traditional dancers, musicians, storytellers, and artists sharing their cultural heritage, crafts and arts with festival goers.

This event also features the ever popular children and adult workshops such as cornhusk doll making, native foods such as fry-bread, interpreted programs in the Visitor's Center and Bark Longhouse, guided trail walks, and the family drum jam.

Ganondagan's Native American Dance & Music Festival is the only event of its kind in Western New York and over 4,000 people attend each year from 37 countries and 20 states.

May 2011 Finger Lakes Flute Circle Meeting

The May 2011 meeting of the Finger Lakes Flute Circle is Thursday, May 19, 6:30 pm.

For directions, please see the side bar to the right.

As always, beginners are welcome! There will also be instructional books and beginner flutes available for try out and purchase.

We request a $5 contribution to defray room rental costs.

We look forward to seeing you! Bring your flutes and hand percussion. Let's make and enjoy some great music!

Flute Maker Loses Home

We have heard word that Frank Taylor, Standing Eagle Flutes, who makes Arvel Bird's signature flutes, lost his home in the recent tornadoes, and both he and his wife sustained injuries. Kimberly, Arvel Bird's wife, was visiting, and she was injured as well, and she and Arvel lost one of their dogs, Candy, in the storm. Arvel Bird and Kimberly were in Rochester only two weeks ago, for a concert with the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, and flute and drum workshops.

Frank Taylor, Arvel Bird, Kimberly, their family, and all those affected by the recent storms will be in our thoughts and prayers as they recover from this tragedy.

Field Trip Report: Animal Totem & Flute Circle Workshop with Arvel Bird

Please note: We will not be holding our usual meeting this month, April, and we will resume our regular meeting next month in May!

We had a great time with Arvel Bird at his Animal Totem and Flute Circle Workshop last evening. Alice, Sean, Ken, and I attended, and there were about 30 people participating. The range of people's experience with the Native American flute seemed consistent with many flute circles, from true beginners who had never played, to those with years of enjoying the flute.

It was a simultaneously amusing and amazing experience as we all learned to play a song together, with the fusion of multiple different keys.

Arvel Bird invited a few of us to improvise with him. First Ken and Arvel played a duet, with Ken using his self-made G minor flute. Then I got to improvise with Arvel using my Woodland Voices Colyn Petersen E flat minor flute. It was an awesome experience. I made music with Arvel Bird!

Everyone who attended was invited to continue to experience the magic of the Native American flute at our Finger Lakes Flute Circle meetings, especially beginners, even if they don't own a flute, because we have beginner flutes and instruction books.

Email us at the Contact Us address listed at the bottom of the sidebar on the right, to be added to the mail list for meeting reminders and updates.

Please attend Arvel Bird's concert, "Arvel Bird Returns!" this Sunday, April 17, 2011, 3 p.m. at the Hochstein. Details are in the March 15 posting.

April 2011 Arvel Bird Field Trip!

Looking ahead to April, rather than our usual meeting, we will be
going on a field trip, with Arvel Bird visiting Rochester. We'll be
attending the Flute Circle Workshop and Rochester Chamber Orchestra
events. You should reserve your seat early! Arvel Bird's concert with
the Rochester Chamber Orchestra last year was absolutely amazing!

We will NOT be holding our regular meeting in April.


(1) http://www.ganondagan.org/programs/ArvelBird.html

Animal Totem & Flute Circle Workshop with Arvel Bird
Date: April 14, 2011
Time: 7-9pm
Rochester Friends Meetinghouse, 84 Scio Street, Rochester, NY
Fee: $35/general admission; $20/Friends of Ganondagan members;
$15/students w/ ID

Pre-registration by April 1 is strongly encouraged to reserve your seat.

There is also a separate Drumming Circle Workshop April 9.


(2) http://www.rochesterchamberorchestra.org/

Arvel Bird Returns!
April 17, 2011, 3:00PM
Hochstein Performance Hall
Adult $25.00
Senior $15.00
Student $10.00

Brilliant Native-American violinist and composer, Arvel Bird, returns
by popular request after a highly successful concert with the RCO last
season. In addition to the violin, Bird also plays a variety of Native
American Flutes. His music reflects his dual heritage of the Paiute
tribe in Utah on his mother’s side, and on his father’s side, the
Scottish tradition. He conveys through words and music, Native
American wisdom, the essence of animals, and the spirit of the earth
on which we live. He mesmerizes his audience with his violin, flute
and powerful story telling. And he does all of this with eloquence,
conviction, and inspiration.


These will be some great Native American flute events with Arvel Bird
in Rochester next month! Hope to see you there!