I heard that there is going to be a flute circle meeting tomorrow in Banning,Ca. Does anyone have any details?

Is anyone going to this circle?

I went to the Inland Empire Flute Circle yesterday. It was held at the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center in Banning,Ca. This was my first flute circle. It was very informal.

I brought 6 flutes to show off including my new Mac Lopez curly buckeye in G that I custom beaded. I was kind of hoping that Mac would show up since the flute circle was right down the hill from where he lives but he didn't make it.

Nashtavewa was there. Unfortunately I didn't bring the G# that I bought from him recently. He did bring some very nice drones. I WAS O SO TEMPTED!!! He also brought some of his clay flutes, drones, whistles and ocarinas. His clay flutes are very nice and would make an affordable alternative to a Meadowlark flute for somebody who wants the advantage of clay/ceramic but can't afford $200-300 (Nash only charges $60 -70 for a clay B, Bb or A). They are also much lighter than the Meadowlark. He does not claim that they are wet out proof but he did say that you have to play them for a long time before they get saturated. I think he once told me that they can be played in any temperature weather. They were very sweet sounding.

One person brought a Scott August Anasazi and a Mojave Flute. Several of us attempted those flutes...few succeeded.

I played Mark's Song by Mary Youngblood on my Ed Kortz E. I was so nervous (I am no performer for sure). Nash passed out rattles and he drummed whlie I played from the heart. I jammed a little on an F# with another player. I am not so sure how good I sounded but it was fun trying.

All in all my first flute circle was a great time and I look forward to going again.

YEA! Congratulations! Glad you enjoyed it and risked playing!

Sounds great. I used to live just down the road from Banning...in Riverside, long before I became involved in the NAF.

Went to a musical holiday gathering, not exactly a flute circle, but similar.

Had some interesting folks there, including a Biwa player (Japanese stringed instrument, used to back up vocals), a composer who incorporates Japanese instruments into his compositions, shakuhachi, silver flute, and me with world flutes, and a vocalist.

Well, it was midnight before we even had a chance to look at a watch, and I listened to a very moving composition written in remembrance of 9/11, with shakuhachi, cello, keyboards, and violin, that was very moving.

I played transverse bamboo flute, shakuhachi, xiao, and NAF, some with mid eastern tuning, and played a duet with a shakuhachi player, on NAF with mid eastern tuning that was pretty cool.

We also played and sang some carols, some more obscure ones that aren't commonly heard, and it was a very fun gathering.

I took a day off work once to get to one of their regular(?) meetings. But since I work almost all weekends, I haven't been able to frequent them.

The time I went, there were probably 30 people there, but only maybe a half dozen flutes around that I saw. And except for a little doodling-about to try out a flute or so, there was no performing. Scott August was there and basically refused to play at all because everyone wanted to hear him, but were unwilling or uninclined to play themselves. A pity, really.

I was even greener and more shy about my playing then, and didn't even have this forum to relate to -- just playing by myself and wondering whether I was doing anything at all right. I went in the hopes of learning by watching others play and (if I could screw up the courage) maybe even break the ice and play in public for the first time myself.

All of the people there were very nice -- real salt of the earth people. I wish that I could get to their functions, but work calls.

Glad you had a rewarding experience. As far as I know, that and the So Cal Flute Circle that is (or maybe sometimes still) hosted by Guillermo Martinez, are the only circles I know of in SoCal. At least you have one resource close to you that is active. Enjoy it.


Harold

It was a small group this time less than a dozen people. One guy gave a lesson in the next room it was a little too basic for me but several people sat in for that.

Nobody played more than a few notes. Most there make their own flutes and much of the discussion centered around flute making. The reason I ended up playing is because I drove 1 1/2 hours through rain, sleet and pea soup fog and derned if I was going to sit around and not play my flutes. Anyway, whether I was any good or not everybody was very gracious and listened.

I have played in public before (not on stage just impromptu, like while standing on the brink of the Grand Canyon) but I think I get even more nervous when I know that the people watching me are flute players. Also, I play my best (as do we all) when I put my heart and soul and emotion into the flute. This makes me vulnerable in a way, hence nervous.

Well, you did good! We're proud of you!

I think you should reward yourself with a new flute! Just a thought .....

I'm grateful for our small circle (usually only 4 or 5 people). Fortunately we're not too shy about playing.

And therein is the value of having a regular group you can gather with... not only being able to play, but feeling free to play to people who understand your instrument and what you are going through, who can offer incouragement, praise, help and friendly banter against the performance anxiety. Family of the flute. At least, that is what I'd like to find in a circle.

And of course, nothing takes away the anxiety as much as seeing others step up to play, regardless of their own skill level, or the incompleteness of a new composition, or the number of people attending. That is why I said it was a pity that nobody played at the one gathering I made... its like we all robbed everyone else of the ooportunity, even as we gave up our own.

Harold

Next time let's both try to attend. We could play a duet. The "add a note game" sounds like fun. I'd like to try that too.

I agree this circle had too much talk and not enough play. But I bet it would not be hard to change that.

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement

Why be nervous around flute makers/players? We all had to start out at some point; we got encouragement and learned techniques through constructive criticism. Plus we learn from watching other players. So don't be nervous; just have fun! And as for putting your heart and soul into the music...that's what these insturments were made for!!!

I remember hearing Carlos Nakai lecturing at last year's Potomac Flute Festival. He went to the heart of the matter when he described the NAF as 'the instrument of personal expression'. I myself, when I begin a new person on their flute journey, always tell them to just sit back and let the FLUTE play THEM...just let the flute give a voice to the heart's own music.

It is human nature to be apprehensive of our peers. But our peers have all been where we now journey; so don't fret. Just play, and let the music come.

Circles tend to be predominantly makers or players, for some reason. Those that are makers, tend to be oriented to making, and those that are more players, are more about the playing.

I haven't yet been to one that was really in balance between the two.

Ours is more about playing, but we try to use the ensemble method, rather than the flutes only method. Flutes only, gets tougher to do well.