Intro to Native American Flute | Online Flute Lessons

This course was originally designed for a community college's lifelong learning curriculum and has been successfully offered for nearly a decade through that program.  While traditional music lessons in the classical approach may require students to spend years learning basic mastery, students find that they are often able to achieve basic mastery of the Native American style flute in just a few lessons.  Simple to learn, and easy to carry along on travels, hikes, and pretty much anywhere, students find that the Native American style flute is easy to fit into daily life, and often brings them great enjoyment.  This course is unconventional in approach and gives students a lot of freedom in learning to play.  Students will learn:

1. Technique ~ including proper hand position and posture, finger position, embouchure (mouth position), and fingering of the full range of the instrument
2. Breath control ~ students will learn different approaches to breathing and air usage to create a beautiful tone quality
3. Style ~ students will learn standard elements of style and technique used in Native American style music and will apply those techniques to music they create and learn in lessons
4. Listening ~ students will learn a deep listening approach that will inform their approach to playing and will guide them in the creation of original music
5. Creativity ~ students will learn a method of listening to the world around them (nature) to inform them in creating original music.  Students with no experience in composition and / or improvisation are welcome in this course, as this approach is accessible to all students, even beginners.  
6. Culture ~ students will learn about some of the traditions of the Native American style flute and will explore these traditions through bringing together music, storytelling, nature connection, and contemplation.  Personal student interest will guide the approach we use.  

This course does *not* require the ability to read musical notation, and music reading will not be taught during the course.

About Angela Blueskies: Angela Blueskies, a graduate of Peabody Conservatory, has been teaching and performing for over thirty years, and is a creative and passionate educator. Her multi-genre career has found her in a variety of performance settings, from symphony orchestras and chamber music to off-Broadway productions, to world music and improvisation, to touring healing arts centers across North and South America offering music and sound meditation events and workshops. For many years, Angela was an artist-in-residence for both the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Choral Arts Society of Washington, bringing music integrated programs into K – 12 classrooms. She has just released her third album, Ayni, a collection of original songs inspired by her path of music and meditation. Angela lives in the greater Washington DC area, and now teaches flute, Native American flute, and voice exclusively online.

Angela Blueskies is also seen as a medicine woman, facilitator, and visionary musician who has a deepened understanding of the healing power of both music and the Earth. Angela has been playing the flute since the age of nine and was mostly self-taught until she attended high school. Angela has immersed herself in global music styles, such as African trance drumming, the music of the Himalayas, Native American flute music, traditional Celtic folk music, and ceremonial songs. Angela has performed in churches, concert halls, yoga studios, schools, temples, and in sacred ceremonies across the world. She has also released two albums: Songs of Spirit and Sound Medicine Meditations.