June 2014 Meeting

Our June meeting will be Saturday the 21st at 2PM. This time, we’ll be at the home of Ronnie Pulley, 408 Lochside Dr in Cary. Ronnie teaches African drumming (http://www.drumsonfire.com/) and leads a performing ensemble (http://www.rhythmicity.org/ — they’re playing tonight at 8PM at Waverly Place in Cary if you want to check them out). If you’ve got a djembe, be sure to bring it because Ronnie is going to give us a crash course in drumming. After that, we’ll talk about playing flutes with percussion and then give everyone a chance to get up to the microphone. This month, we’ll also feature the music of Michael DeMaria and the flutes of Fred Keams.

As always, we’ll make lots of music. If you have a song to share, whether it’s a traditional tune, an improv piece, or a jam with you and a few friends, we look forward to hearing it. If you just want to hang out and listen, that’s cool too. If you’d like to bring a snack to share, feel free to do so.

One quick note from Ronnie: please be very careful about staying off the neighbor’s grass when you park along the street.

The Renaissance of the North American Flute Foundation gathering (http://www.rnaff.org/) is next week, June 5-8 in Townsend, TN, with performances by R.C. Nakai, Randy Granger, Steve Rushingwind, George Tortorelli, Painted Raven, Geri Littlejohn, Gareth Laffely, and many others, as well as a full schedule of workshops. If you’ve been considering going and need an inexpensive place to stay, Marsha Harris and I have a spare bed in our cabin. If you want the details, just get in touch.

Also, an event not to be missed is the World Flute Society convention (http://worldflutesociety.org/), July 16-20 in Eau Claire, WI. The list of performers includes Mary Youngblood, Kevin Locke, Bryan Akipa, Cornell Kinderknecht, Mark Holland, Jonny Lipford, and other Native American Flute players as well as a wide variety of musicians from around the world: Bansuri master G.S. Sachdev, Shakuhachi master Ronnie Seldin, Celtic band Mithril, Hawaiian nose flute player Kalapana Kollars, fujara and overtone flute player Winne Clement, Peruvian quena player Nayo Ulloa, and Chinese multi-instrumentalist Kerry Leung. Most of the performers will be teaching workshops as well. Yes, it’s a heck of a trip from NC, but it’s well worth it. If you have any questions about the event, let me know.

If you’re interested in hosting one of our monthly meetings in your home, please shoot me a message and I’ll put you on my list. And as always, feel free to get in touch if you have any feedback regarding the flute circle. I look forward to seeing you on the 21st at Ronnie’s house.

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Categorized as Meetings

By Jon Norris

Jon Norris is a full-time musical instrument maker living in Holly Springs, NC. He has been playing the Native American style flute since the early 90's, and has been making them since 2002.