Friday, June 19, 2009

I've been at it again! Falling Waters

I had a wonderful time again at Falling Waters.
This month we did our Music Afternoon in the Cinema room. A lovely intimate, and cosy room with good acoustics for the flute & drum. So much easier to 'connect' with the people who were there to enjoy music and each other's company. This time there were 2 people present who aren't even residents in the facility, but came just to enjoy the music.
They have a new DVD player which I have permission to use next month, if I want to put a video of background visual as I play. I'm certainly going to give it a go, recording a video to match my music will be a challenge and so much fun to do. Gives me an opportunity to really learn how to use my 'soon to arrive' MacBook Pro computer.
I have also been given a few song 'requests' to learn for the next session, so I am being kept on my toes in my learning and sharing with these wonderful people.

Until next time,
Namaste

Sunday, June 7, 2009

The photos of the Drum












These 4 photos show each 'side' of the drum. It is a wooden frame which looks like it may have been made from a solid tree log and the pegs look to be handmade from wood as well. A quite thick leather hide is used as the drumming face.

I have been Gifted a Drum

I feel so privileged to have been gifted a drum.
It is one which I have never seen the like of before, and I am so thankful to receive this with deep gratitude.
It sounds wonderful to my ears, playing both sides at once, or one at a time. As I become more proficient at the 2 sided drumming, I expect to be putting an MP3 on the music player for others to appreciate.
If anyone has any idea of what 'type/name' of drum this is (photos on front page) , I would appreciate the information. The previous owner didn't know much about it herself, besides that one of her relatives used to travel extensively in his lifetime and this is one of the items which was brought back from overseas.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Falling Waters

On Saturday the 9th May I had a further wonderful experience of being part of the LiveTown Club live performance evening at Littlehampton. I was again asked to do the 'opening act'. For the introduction to the following performances I played just the one 'song' from my heart, as each performer really does put their hearts into their music and creations of 'their songs'. It was a great evening with new acts and musicians experiencing their debut to public performance. Great for the soul and Spirit. It is also a bonus to get great feedback and I thank those who shared their appreciation and thanks with me.

I have had another lovely time at the Falling Waters nursing home centre. The people are so friendly and are growing in confidence, and are now more willing to take part with the music making. I took the medicine drum, rattle and a shaker this time so there could be a few more sharing in the music at the same time. They looked like they were really enjoying it. And I definitely was!

I have now done a meditation CD sampler for Market Days and am looking to complete a CD recording of my NAF playing for the residents of Falling Waters (and any others who would like to purchase them of course).

And life continues to move forward and ........ who knows what will be next?

Friday, May 8, 2009

Such a long time ago

Wow, it seems such a long time ago since I last posted here.
I have been to Falling Waters Nursing Home again and thoroughly enjoyed the time sharing with the residents. What a blessing when doing things I enjoy that can be such a joy to others.
In a few days time there is another LiveTown event at Littlehampton, where I am contributing to the evening. Looking forward to sharing with an audience again, and seeing and hearing some exciting new participants with Live music.
The Flute Circle is still continuing onward, with a lovely group of interested people joining in when they can.
There are some new ideas in my mind to share the Native American Style Flutes with others. These I will keep you posted on as they become reality.
So much to do........... it is a wonderful journey.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Playing at Falling Waters

I have had a great week, and the highlight was playing my flutes and drum at a local nursing home. As it was a small group of residents, I was able to see their faces as I played and connect with them directly. It was a wonderful experience to feel relaxed and just play what was needed to the backing CD. The group began with about 8 people and by the end of my playing, there were about 15 people in the room.
It was a real buzz to be asked if I had any CD's of my music at the finish. So - that is my next challenge.
One of the offshoots was a guided tour of the premises and being asked to come back again.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Flute Circle and Market Day

Hello to you all again.
I seem to be having a busy time. It was Flute Circle on Saturday just passed and we spent a worthwhile few hours playing some scales, and then our heart songs and finished with joining together with Amazing Grace. It was a lovely time.

On Sunday I took the NAF's to the Strathalbyn Market and had a lovely time there as well. Although I didn't sell a flute, quite a few people came over to look at the 'recorders'! It opens the perfect opportunity to share with them that these aren't recorders but a unique instrument, and then I play a sample for them. Many are quite surprised at how they sound. It is good to share my time in this way, as people can connect directly with the sound and vibrations of these beautiful music makers, and healing tools. It's also good to share with them the meditative qualities of the music, and finding your own song within that playing.
I met a lovely lady who has begun working with a new local nursing home, and she has asked me to play my music for the residents soon. That has now been organised and I'm looking forward to that. Not that I have a big repertoire, I do have enthusiasm and one of the best things about the NAF - don't have to read music sheets to play.
Play from the heart.

Till next time - Namaste