A quick update

I knew it had been a long time since I last posted .......   but  ....... didn't realise how long ago!

I'm still really enjoying playing my flutes, and listening to the CD's I have of others playing them. For me, the sounds and music of these beautiful instruments takes me to another space. More especially when I am playing them myself. The vibration just flows through me and out into that netherworld of connection with the cosmic.

Back in October last year (being 2010), I spent a weekend in Daylesford at a Sanctum for the Soul Retreat. There was a man there called Dean Frenkl.  His talent of throat singing just blew my mind, and a few others there as well. I had a small inkling of his notoriety, as my interest in googling throat singing and harmonics produced his name as one of the top throat singers, in performing the longest single note from a single breathe in 2009. Since I had taken my flutes with me, I had the extreme good fortune in being able to play with Dean ad lib in the lounge room at Tasma House. It was even more thrilling that he asked me to play with him at the small concert which was held on that Saturday night. Actually, I was a bit overwhelmed by the honour to start with until my friend pointed out he was just a man, not a god!  What a wonderful experience.

And now, having returned from my second attendance to Sanctum for the Soul retreat this last weekend I can say that my experience of playing my flutes just keeps growing in the depths of self-healing they are giving me. Words do not express how I feel. What was also a heart opener for myself, I really do have a VOICE as well.  Not just a talking voice, but I can SING.

Mylor Musical evenings

Been awhile, and have done a few things since the last posting.

As the title suggests, I have been to the Musical evening held at Mylor in South Australia. It's not that far from where I live and a friend invited me along and suggested I take my flutes and medicine drum. It is an open microphone event that when you get there and want to play instruments, recite or perform, you just put your name on the blackboard and wait your turn.

Ah, why not, so we did.

It was something different for me, out of my comfort zone but it was FUN. I really enjoyed the experience, and quite a few were amazed at the flute and drum sounds.

I'll be doing that again!

NAF music crawling

I've just found some wonderful native american flute music and it is by Ronald Roybal.

http://www.ronaldroybal.com/

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

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.

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?