One of the beauties of the Native American flute is that it is within reach of people who have no musical background at all. The majority of Native American flute players have no formal musical training. I say formal because I believe that most human beings innately have music inside them. We respond to rhythms, melodies, and harmonies from birth, or even while still in the womb. It is all part of being human.
However, I meet many NAF players, or people that are thinking about becoming one, that worry they don'’t have any musical training and therefore they lack something when it comes to making music. In my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth. I’m not saying that musical training doesn't help, but a lack of it is no reason to avoid playing the Native American flute. Music is a basic expression of human emotional. If you are drawn to music that desire for expression is already stirring within you. Besides, there are plenty of people with little or no musical musical training that are world-famous musicians. Many rock, blues and pop musicians have very little musical training and yet we hum their tunes and buy their recording all the time. They must have something in their hearts...
The music is already inside you, you just need to get it out.
WHAT IS PLAYING FROM THE HEART?
Playing from the Heart is what the Native American flute world calls improvisation. To improvise is to make something up while performing...
To read all of Playing from the Heart, part 1 click here.
This was so well-written and helpful it's hard to know where to start. You literally place something that can seem unattainable to the average individual within reach. Your positive focus and encouragement cause the reader to WANT to make a greater effort toward discovering their own signature NAF style(s). Mistakes happen, but they make you better...now, THAT'S good teaching! Thank you very much for sharing from your decades of experience!
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