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| In the fall of 2002, I wasattending a Heritage
Festival in Old Town Spring when I heard the most
beautiful music. I was captured completely by its
haunting sound. I don't remember the name of the
Native American gentleman that played that afternoon,
but my husband and I sat for about 3 hours on the
sidewalk just listening to him play. That Christmas,
I received my first Native American flute. The flute
maker was Raymond Redfeather. My Native American
flute journey began. . I've been involved in music
for most of my life. I began playing classical silver
flute when I was a young teen. Music is something
that comes from deep in your soul. The simplicity
of the NAF opened up a new realm of creativity for
me. It broke all those inhibitions and allowed me
the freedom to express what is inside my heart .
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music is inspired by family and friends and stories
that have been shared with me about some of their
life experiences. Sometimes it is just a thought
or feeling that spurs a new song but my music always
tells a story. I know that as long as I can draw
a breath, I will continue to play.
A few years ago, I ran across a quote that sums
up how I feel....
"With my breath my flute makes sound,
But it is the breath of God
that gives it voice
to touch the hearts of those who will listen" .
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| As a teenager I played trumpet.
In college I took up the classical guitar. I received my first Native
American flute Flute in 1992. One of
the attractions to the flute was finding that I could
improvise, play what I felt, and create my own songs.
I got together with my friend, Gene Fritts who plays
guitar,and we made our first CD, "Spirits of the Canyon".
We call our group Anhinga. The CD was a dream come
true for me. A couple years later our second CD, "Turquoise
Visions", came out and we are now in the process of
making our third CD. Our first 2 Cd's can be found
on
Talking Taco Music label or you will find them on
ITunes. Samples to our third CD "Morning"
can be found on our website
Anhinga Music. |
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I've been very excited about the CDs.
I stopped keeping track of sales after we hit the
40,000 sold mark. Playing the Native American flute was really only
a start as it lead me to other world instruments.
I also play the Shakuhachi, the Didgeridoo, the
transverse Bamboo Flute and the Bansuri.
I am most grateful to what the Native American flute
has opened up for me. The "Spring Cypress Flute
Circle" has given me a chance to join with
others who love the sound of the flute, to play
the other instruments I love, and to make friendships
that are brought together by the love of music.
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I was given my first Native American flutes by my cousin Eleanor, in 2001. She gave me some of her beginner flutes, and also gave me my own new turtle flute for my birthday. I didn't "get it" at first. Eleanor was in Colorado, I was in Oklahoma- there was no one to guide me. I was a piano player as a child- very visual- reading music. I am not Native American so I had no relationship to the traditional songs or ceremonies. I didn't seem to be able to play from my heart.... Then I heard Mary Youngblood's Beneath the Raven Moon and attended her weekend concert/workshop in Norman, OK. I also get to meet Dr. Richard Payne and see his flute collection that weekend.The flutes have made sense to me ever since!
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| I have attended many workshops and retreats that have helped my technique. I have been able to take classes with famous great players and flute makers. The NAF community is really special that way- famous recording artists are still accessible at workshops. Talk about inspiration! I have learned so much about the history and revival of the flutes from academically-inclined researchers. The members of our flute circle also spark inspiration in me. Each player truly shares their heart in their playing, and we all appreciate the songs that emerge- from beginners to experienced. We all play differently, like our lives have all been different. That is the fun of the flute circle- it is a completely mixed-up group (pun intended~!)
I thank my cousin Eleanor, the great teachers I have met at workshops, and cherish the players in our flute circle for encouraging me to take up the flute and let my own music emerge!
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My name is Heather Stacy
Byford and I am a new member to the flute circle. I was born
in Houston, Texas, and have lived in an around the
city my whole life. I am 33 years old and have had
a lifetime of experiences for my age. I have two boys
that I love very much.
My flute journey began with my marriage to my late
husband Chris Byford, who died in 2003. Chris loved
music. He played a guitar and opened my heart to music.
While I had a certain attraction to Native American
voice and music, it was not his favorite. However,
I found peace in the sound. I decided to buy a small
ten dollar flute while me and my kids were away on
a road trip from the gift shop of Natural Bridge Caverns.
It was only an assembly line replica but I tried to
make it sound beautiful. It was not really tuned to
any particular key, so I could only get so far. After
researching the flute on the net, I decided to buy
one that was |
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hand made and
tuned in order to really express mylove through it.
When I received my flute from Cedar
Spirit Flutes, it was like a veil had been lifted.
I had music in my heart but this took me away. Never
having any formal training I just played...it was
magic. Very soon after I received my flute I decide
to nurture Chris's love for music by buying him a
new guitar. My dream was that we could grow closer
by playing together. With Chris's modesty about playing
in front of me, we never actually got the chance because
he passed away less than a month later at the age
of 29. I was broken. I lost the music for what I thought
would be forever. After playing a solo at his grave
with no one around except the funeral director and
one usher, I did not play again for at least a year.
I would not play my flute, I would not even turn the
radio on. About a year later I picked my flute up
and began to play, putting all my sorrow and pain
into the notes. After the song was over and tears
had ceased, I began to heal. The music healed my heart
and made me happy again. Since that moment I have
been playing just to feel the release of any emotion,
be it sad, happy, or crazy. Now I play it all the
time. My kids love it. I enjoy it and it gives me
a connection to Chris as well as my own Native American
Heritage. It has become part of my life. I am getting
better every day about playing where people can hear
me. Like my husband about his guitar, I am shy when
it comes to playing.
After a Pow Wow at my college in 2004 I started to
open up about public playing, I was invited to play
with the drummers on the second day of the Pow Wow.
The native American man that seemed to be the head
of this Pow Wow performance said I had a gift, and
I played beautifully and should not be so shy to play
in public. I wish I could remember his name. I thanked
him and have continued on this journey with my flute
since. I have also put my music on a My Space web
page under the name E qou'ni Wah'ya Cherokee meaning
river and wolf. Self named so because I love wolves
and strengthen my sound greatly when playing in the
woods by a river or creek. I have received many encouraging
comments about my music on My Space and I am getting
braver and learning more everyday. Someday, I hope
to have a CD, if only for my own benefit and sense
of accomplishment.
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I was born and raised in New
Jersey. I attended Bucknell University for 2 years
to study Psychology/philosophy. I was also trained
in secretarial work at Katherine Gibbs Secretarial
School in N.Y.C. In my lifetime I have had the opporunity
to travel to over 60 countries.
In my retirement, I stay very active. I swim at the
Y about four times a week and walk 2-3 miles almost
every day. I am also secretary of a book club, have
a music video group of which we study the great masters
like Mozart, play bridge once a week, and I'm in a
once a month mah jong group.
I am just starting my Native American flute journey,
but throughout my life I have always been involved in music.
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I enjoyed and participated in group singing--
at camp, at school, and in various chorales wherever
I lived at the time. As an adult I sang in groups
which performed at retirement homes. I took piano lessons for several years (mostly
as an adult). As an older adult I decided to take
lessons on the baroque flute. I also took up the modern
open hole flute. Once a week I meet with a couple
of other ladies who play recorder and baroque flute.
We play Baroque and Renaissance duets and trios. As
an older adult I decided to take lessons on the baroque
flute. I also took up the modern open hole flute.
Once a week I meet with a couple of other ladies who
play recorder and baroque flute. We play Baroque and
Renaissance duets and trios.
When I read your recent article in the newspaper about
the Native American flute Circle, I decided to see
what it was all about. It sounded like a lot of fun
and and something I would enjoy very much. After one
meeting with this group I was hooked and knew that
I had found something beautiful. So, although I'm
just starting my journey on the Native American flute,
I'm really looking forward to see where the journey
takes me.
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