Post by Moon Seeker on Aug 10, 2009 20:08:46 GMT -5
Man enjoys teaching the Native American flute
By Adolfo Flores
The Dispatch
Published: Monday, August 10, 2009 at 5:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.
After coming back from Vietnam, Carl Brown took up a job as a truck driver. After suffering an injury, doctors deemed him unable to work. The war left him with constant headaches and the accident with a lot of time.
He always knew he was part Native American from one of his parents, but upon investigating his roots Brown discovered he had that part of his heritage on both sides of his family.
When searching for a distant relative in Cherokee, Brown became lost and saw a man playing the Native American flute. He must've stood there for almost an hour listening. As is it turned out, the man was his relative, and to Brown's surprise his headaches were gone after listening to the music.
“I don't even know when it left, it just left … all the noise and stuff from (Vietnam) went away,” said Brown, who walked away from the experience with a flute in hand and a reason to learn to play.
Brown, also known as Kali “Stone Eyes” Wudiga, now spreads his knowledge of the Native American flute with locals at Lexington's Gallery Hall twice a month as part of the flute circle, where participants are provided with flutes to practice on.
Sitting beside pieces of Native American art at the end of the gallery, participants fill the room with songs such as “Amazing Grace.”
Because each Native American flute for the most part only plays in one key, playing can become addictive.
“Once you learn how to play they become addictive because you want one in each key,” Brown said.
For Lesia May Hew, who has attended the flute circle twice, it's a stress reliever. She equates aspects of it with meditation.
“This will de-stress you … it's very simple, very natural, and it has a pretty flow,” said Hew, who works as a saleswoman at Bass Pro Shops. “(Brown) has a very soothing way of teaching as well.”
Brown will play the flute along with the people in attendance. When they mess up, he'll just go with it and afterward offer suggestions.
“I look forward to it; it's just something different,” said Margaret Sink. “I've heard it before, but I never thought I could play it.”
She's getting better, but she's not quite ready for her concert, Sink said laughing.
“It's harder than it looks,” she said recounting her flubs on the flute. “I know the Indian Fathers are looking down on us and saying, ‘Take those flutes away from those white people.'”
Andrea Hall, owner of Galley Hall, has been playing the Native American flute for four years. She wanted people in the community to experience the “beautiful and natural” sounds.
“It's very easy to learn, and it's a universal language,” Hall said.
Brown also makes Native American flutes. Carefully hollowing out different pieces of wood and creating the slow air chamber, it's easy for him to become lost in the process. His favorite part is applying acrylic to seal the flute and the sense of accomplishment it brings.
“When I feel it, it makes me feel good that I did a good job,” Brown said.
Adolfo Flores can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or adolfo.flores@the-dispatch.com.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
www.the-dispatch.com/article/20090810/ARTICLES/908099996/1005/NEWS?Title=Man-enjoys-teaching-the-Native-American-flute
By Adolfo Flores
The Dispatch
Published: Monday, August 10, 2009 at 5:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.
After coming back from Vietnam, Carl Brown took up a job as a truck driver. After suffering an injury, doctors deemed him unable to work. The war left him with constant headaches and the accident with a lot of time.
He always knew he was part Native American from one of his parents, but upon investigating his roots Brown discovered he had that part of his heritage on both sides of his family.
When searching for a distant relative in Cherokee, Brown became lost and saw a man playing the Native American flute. He must've stood there for almost an hour listening. As is it turned out, the man was his relative, and to Brown's surprise his headaches were gone after listening to the music.
“I don't even know when it left, it just left … all the noise and stuff from (Vietnam) went away,” said Brown, who walked away from the experience with a flute in hand and a reason to learn to play.
Brown, also known as Kali “Stone Eyes” Wudiga, now spreads his knowledge of the Native American flute with locals at Lexington's Gallery Hall twice a month as part of the flute circle, where participants are provided with flutes to practice on.
Sitting beside pieces of Native American art at the end of the gallery, participants fill the room with songs such as “Amazing Grace.”
Because each Native American flute for the most part only plays in one key, playing can become addictive.
“Once you learn how to play they become addictive because you want one in each key,” Brown said.
For Lesia May Hew, who has attended the flute circle twice, it's a stress reliever. She equates aspects of it with meditation.
“This will de-stress you … it's very simple, very natural, and it has a pretty flow,” said Hew, who works as a saleswoman at Bass Pro Shops. “(Brown) has a very soothing way of teaching as well.”
Brown will play the flute along with the people in attendance. When they mess up, he'll just go with it and afterward offer suggestions.
“I look forward to it; it's just something different,” said Margaret Sink. “I've heard it before, but I never thought I could play it.”
She's getting better, but she's not quite ready for her concert, Sink said laughing.
“It's harder than it looks,” she said recounting her flubs on the flute. “I know the Indian Fathers are looking down on us and saying, ‘Take those flutes away from those white people.'”
Andrea Hall, owner of Galley Hall, has been playing the Native American flute for four years. She wanted people in the community to experience the “beautiful and natural” sounds.
“It's very easy to learn, and it's a universal language,” Hall said.
Brown also makes Native American flutes. Carefully hollowing out different pieces of wood and creating the slow air chamber, it's easy for him to become lost in the process. His favorite part is applying acrylic to seal the flute and the sense of accomplishment it brings.
“When I feel it, it makes me feel good that I did a good job,” Brown said.
Adolfo Flores can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or adolfo.flores@the-dispatch.com.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
www.the-dispatch.com/article/20090810/ARTICLES/908099996/1005/NEWS?Title=Man-enjoys-teaching-the-Native-American-flute