Raven Song Flutes/Playing the Flute

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Playing Your Native American Style Flute

People often look at my flutes and say, "they're beautiful, but I have no musical ability". To me, that is the perfect response, because one does not need musical ability to play these flutes, and play them well. Training in modern, western music often becomes a block to the simplicity of playing an end-blown, pentatonic flute. My mentor, Hollis Littlecreek loved to have someone ask him, "how do you play these flutes?" He would pause and look at them, then, with a twinkle in his eye, respond, "exhale and wiggle your fingers". I will admit from my own experience, there is a bit more to it, however, you get the idea that we are not talking long hours of practice. Practice has its rewards, however learning to play the flute for self satisfaction and personal enjoyment can be accomplished by spending about one half hour a day for a month.

Pictured above are the proper playing positions to allow for good breathing. The picture on the left is standing and the picture on the right is sitting.

In coaching people to play the flute, I try to maintain my philosophy pf simplicity. First, and probably most important, relax. Whether you are standing or sitting, keep you back straight and hold the flute up at a right angle to your body. If you are hunched over with the flute pointed toward the ground, it will effect your breath. I realize Kokopelli played all hunched over, but then again, he was Kokopelli. Next, using the three middle fingers on each hand, it does not matter which hand is on top, cover the six playing holes. Try to feel the hole under each finger and get a good seal. Next, blow gently into the flute, If you get a squeaky sound either you do not have a good seal or you are blowing too hard. Practice doing this until you can pick the flute up in the dark and get a good seal. When you get a nice low tone, which is the fundamental tone of the flute, you have the holes all properly covered. Next, practice lifting the farthest finger from your mouth and go back and forth from the fundamental to the first note and back. Once you have that mastered, lift the next finger, and the next.

My flutes are tuned to both mode 1 and mode 4 of the pentatonic scale. Mode 1, which is what most Native American flute music is played on, is played by keeping the forth hole from the bottom of the flute covered at all times. Mode 4 is played by keeping the third hole from the bottom of the flute covered. This give you a good way to hold the flute while playing. Finally, keep going up and down the scale concentrating on nice clear notes that please you.

Now you are ready to try some combinations. Concentrate on making pretty sounds and combinations that please you, and keep in mind, you are the only one you're trying to satisfy.

Next, take your flute out doors and look for some natural settings that please you; a water fall, a running brook, a hawk soaring overhead, or maybe a flower box on your patio. Now play your flute to the rhythm of the scene. If your playing to a hawk soaring, when it goes up, play up, when it dives, go down. This is what I call playing from your heart which is the way I feel the flute was, and still is intended. I think the following excerpt from a story by Bradd (Thaweno'ken) Powless would prove helpful here:

The Creator's Sheet Music

By Bradd (Thaweno':ken) Powless

And so…this is what the Creator instructed…..

From the first new moon until the first full moon, take you flute iinto the field and play the tree tops. If the tree is high, play a high note. If the tree is low, play a low note…if there are three trees in a row…count three beats…two trees, two beats. If the wind rocks the branches play the wind….hard or soft. Change your field, your vision and the notes will come…the trees always have good music and are never wrong...trust this.

From the next new moon until the following full moon, play the grasses and small scrubs in your meadow. As they bob and sway and pulse on the tiniest of breezes, so should your notes. The grass and small scrubs always have good music...trust this.

From the next new moon until the following full moon, go back into the field and follow your friend, the Woodpecker's flight with your breath. If he flies high, play a high note. If he flies low, follow him with a low note. If he flies fast, follow his speed. When he slows down, you slow down too. If he twitters and twists, try to do the same with your note. Follow your friend, I have given you his flight to play…trust this.

And on the last day of the full moon, go out into one of your meadows at night. Close your eyes. See the trees, watch the bird in your mind. Open your heart and I will be waiting to hear what it says. It is never wrong. Always…trust this.

The boy did exactly as his Creator instructed and by the time he was done, he could play any note he wanted at any time, he could speed up when needed, soft when the feeling arose, loud to clear the soft. He trusted and he always played from the heart. What he played he automatically remembered and repeated with astonishing accuracy. After all, it was never new…it was always right there in his heart. He had learned the importance of the Creator’s sheet music….and he trusted his heart.

I have received calls and e-mails from people who have my flutes saying, "you won't believe what happened. I was playing my flute in the woods behind my house, my eyes were closed, I opened them and there was a deer, a hawk, or a fox right in front of me". These things happen because the spirit of these flutes is so magical and in harmony with the natural world. They can, and will happen to you. The flute will make a difference in your life.

There are just three rules to "caretaking" one of my flutes. First- Take good care of it and treat it like a good friend. Second - Play it every day if you can, and Third - Any time you touch it you have to play it, even if for only a moment.

Now a brief word about TABlature. I have spoken about playing the flute from the heart, which is what I feel it is best intended for. However, if you are interested in getting as much out of it as possible, you might wish to learn a little TABlature . Learning TABlature will take some time and practice, but it will open up worlds of possibilities and broaden your ability. There are a number of books available on TABlature for the Native American Flute. I recommend Flute Magic: An Introduction to the Native American Flute (third edition) by Tim R. Crawford. Your local book store could order it for you, ISBN: 0-9659110-2-0, or it is available through this web site by going to the Catalog page.

I hope you have found something useful here. Whether you are just thinking about a flute or are a seasoned flute player, Raven Song Flutes invites you to discover the magic of the Native American Flute. The flute will make a difference in your life.

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