Native American Shop

Reviews

The flute had a fresh coat of varnish when it arrived. The smell of varnish lingered for a while, and it was kind of sticky. I couldn't really play right away, but I was very anxious to try it out. When I finally did get to play it, I was wonderfully surprised. It has a very nice tone. It is in the scale of Am, but I have heard one in F# on the flute maker's website (google Navajo) which sounds magical. I plan on getting it soon. It is a great flute for the price (and as with anything, I think you get what you pay for). This was a great buy for me. The flute is very light even though it is made of wood. If you want something more challenging, you should check out Quena flutes. Quenas are wonderful, but harder to play. The manual that came with my flute said I could play it in the key of C, but one of the note was out of tune for some reason. This is my fifth flute, and enjoy playing this one very much. I recommend it if you are a beginner player, or want to get into flutes in general. With this flute, I don't think you can really play any tune that badly. I listen to a Peruvian Indian Group called the Alborada, and I play some of their tunes on this flute, which makes me want to buy even more flutes... Go ahead, get yours today. And no, I don't sell flutes. I just play them.

Reviews

Best CD I've listened to in many years. It's the most beautiful, calming music my ears have heard in a LONG time! During and after listening to it, I felt totally calm and relaxed. I highly recommend this CD to everyone!

This CD was recommended to me by my Reiki Master. It provides a wonderful combination of music to create a peaceful environment for Reiki, Yoga, Meditation, etc.

Carlos Nakai is an extraordinary individual. However, my favorite NAF CD's are, " Wind Tamer" by Jeff BAll, "The Shape of Light" by Jeff Ball and "Thunder Chord" by Coyote Oldman. All three very different CD's but all very uplifting. Also if you want to learn to play the NAF check out "Trailhead of the American Indian Courting Flute w/CD" by Jeff Ball and Bruce Whitten. GH

The natural sound of Nakai's flute will calm you and help you concentrate; at the same time will create a positive and prosperous environoment. Must be experienced to understand my opinion. A very good compilation of Native American soft music. If you like this kind of music, this CD is a must for your collection.Canyon Trilogy: Native American Flute Music

I have read the many praising reviews of this cd, but in the end I disagree with them. This album is not bad, and it is nice for what it is. However, it is your run of the mill Native American flute music that sounds like every other cd of its kind. If you love this kind of thing, and obviously many people do, then you will be in seventh heaven with this album. But for me, I could go to Wal-mart and pick up a cd that sounds just as good from their little Sounds Of Nature display.

Reviews

I am in love with Native American Music flutes etc. Was very happy to find this one. Very, Very nice. Listen to it all the time. Would highly recommed it to anyone out there who need a little peaceful music at the end of the day.

This album presents a nice sampling of Native American artists. Every cut is top-notch, and the music is basically Native American flute, chant, and drumming. There are minimal sound effects. Some similar albums embed the Native American music in a smooth jazz or new age "nature" format, which may or may not work for you. In any case, Tribal Winds is strong enough to stand on its own with being framed in any other context.

If you even so much as like N.A. music, you'll love this CD. The best I've ever heard. Very relaxing and poignant.

I recently purchased Tribal Winds, and I have to say that I have several native american CD's and this one is by far one of my favorites.

This has a good variety of artists so you get a nice mix of some beautiful flute music. Sometimes one artist can get a little redundant, so I liked the variety on this CD and would recommend it if you like this type of music.

Reviews

I have a few Native American Flute CDs for those times that you want to just listen and relax. This is a great one to add to the collection. It has now become one of my top three CDs (of native American Flute music).

This CD has some great flute and drum music. I use this album to play in the background as I'm giving or being given massage and spa treatments. It sets the mood really well.

Reviews

The Ivory-Merchant-Jhabvala team established a particular style in their film productions. This film and HEAT AND DUST are even more special because they are based on novels written by Jhabvala herself.

This movie has a low-budget, homemade feel to it. I guess it was one of their very first films. It's in black and white and the sound quality is so poor that sometimes it's difficult to understand what the characters are saying. The Indian background music is often shrill and jarring, like fingernails on a blackboard. Also, the acting seemed pretty amateurish to me. The story is quite slow, too, and for me it dragged a bit. I would say this is only for the SERIOUS Merchant-Ivory scholar!

This is a great film from India about a newlywed husband being troubled by his independent wife who seeks advice from his overbearing mother and his American friend.It's a must see great film!!

Reviews

I was disappointed with this product because the video provided no close ups of the work in process. Everything was shot with a camera that was situated on a tripod about 4 feet from the gentleman who was demoing the process. I would expect a video that showed a little better detail of the process and shots of the milling process before and after each step. Otherwise, I don't see the value of even including the video. Secondly, I would expect to find a table for the hole spacing for a 6-hole flute like the one for the 5-hole flute he produces in the video and book, at least for the price you pay for the package. Lastly, the book is not bad at explaining the construction process however the photos were all out of focus! Between the poor videography and the blurry photos, I can't give this product a thumbs up, especially considering the money charged for it. If the author would be willing to clean up the photography work and do a little better job on the video, perhaps I'd recommend it. Otherwise, you can find stuff on the web for free that does as good if not better job at describing the construction process.

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This is a delightfully relaxing experience. I highly recommend you try this CD if you are having trouble winding down from your day...it literally puts me to sleep in a matter of minutes!

Reviews

R. Carlos Nakai is probably the most famous and accomplished of the Native American flute players. This book is for serious players interested in investigating the subtleties of the art and for those interested in learning more about Nakai's contribution to it. Amateurs like myself will probably be lost after the first few pages.

if you have a little musical background, this book will get you going in the right direction with your native flute. when i first started playing my cedar flute, everything sounded off-key. after reading carlos nakai's introduction and learning to play his tunes from the scores in the book, i understood the intervals of the native flute and which notes sound good in what patterns. Soon i was able not only to play nakai's beautiful songs but also to improvise on my own. being able to read music is a big help but if you have that skill, this book will give you hours of fun and learning.

For anyone interested in a generic understanding of the Native American FLute they may find it here. However for those who would like to learn to play and have no prior musical knowledge they will find it a discouraging study...difficult to understand without first mastering musical theory. The most valuable parts of "The Art of The Native American FLute" are the musical transcriptions of Carlos Nakai's songs written in flute tablature. They are though beneficial only for the advanced player that can read. John Vames, Author, "The Native American FLute: Understanding the Gift"

I thought Native American flute music was from the heart, this book teaches writen music and memorizing notes. it was disapointing to me because thats not what i want to do. But for someone you does its a very good book.

"The Art of the Native American Flute" is both a comprehensive reference and a fun read. A reader with only passing familiarity with Native American flutes and music (read: has seen a photo or heard one played once) will easily be able to play the role of expert after reading this tome. The book begins with information on the flute's historical and legendary origins. After this introduction, the reader is invited to look at a deconstructed flute and understand how all the parts fit together to form the whole. The authors discuss the flute's similarities and differences to such instruments as the pipe organ and the European recorder, and they also give a detailed analysis of how each flute's unique sound is produced. The reader will go on to learn about care, cleaning and maintenance of the flute. Of course, the reader will also be shown how to properly play the flute (including topics such as altering tones and tablature-to-key relationships). After reading these sections, the reader can go on to practice any of a number of included songs. The book wraps up with extensive lists of bibliographies, discographies and references, and even an essay on the authenticity of both the style of music and the instrument itself. This book is indispensable for anyone who has the desire to learn more about Native American flutes. Get the book, get a flute, and begin to enjoy unique beauty of this wondrous instrument.

Reviews

This is a very enjoyable, readable book with lots of diverse information about American Indian flutes and has many options for playing as well as many interesting and delightful songs to play. I have thoroughly enjoyed this music book. I like the picture of Kokopelli on the cover.

This book provides a great overview and promotes complete understanding of the Native American Flute. It provides considerable detail in how the flute works and how to play the flute. There are plenty of practice charts for learning to key the notes and for learning to play songs. Further, it provides techniques for both beginning and advanced flute players. This is an excellent book for anyone desiring to play the Native American Flute.

This artist who wrote the book is an accomplish Native Americn Flute player. His book is very informative and it also comes with a CD that allows you to practice the techniques that he is teaching you.

If you were expecting a book to learn how to build a flute, forget it. The book only glosses over history and construction. The book is basically a primer for a newbie that just wanted to learn about the Native American Flute and some suggestions as to how to play the new flute they purchased. If you want to learn how to build a flute get the Flute Shop. Not worth the trouble to return it. It at least has some good history lessons for the book shelf.

I rated this book with 3 stars because (1) it's not the most recent edition, (2) it's not spiral bound, and (3) if you want to hear the songs as played by the author, you have to buy not one, but two, CDs that come separately and are not even offered as options when you buy the book. Not much more is added in the newer edition, but it does come spiral bound, which is quite helpful when you're trying to keep the pages open to a particular song or exercise. Otherwise, there are lots of songs for 4-, 5-, and 6-hole Native American flutes, and the instruction is good. Recommended, with the above caveats.

Reviews

Vames has done an exceptional job in creating this beautiful piece of work that really helps individuals who have never touched a flute to be able to find their way into the beauty and sound of the Native American Wood flute. This book is ideal for the beginner as it sets out the basics needed to be able to play and apperciate the beauty and simplicity of one of our own creations as Native North American Indian people.I would recommend this book as a starter and then have the student graduate, if need be to R. Carlos Nakai's book on the Native American Flute. One does not need to know a thing about music or musical theory to be able to pick up the flute and learn to play it and read music written in Nakai tablature. This book is "The Gift".

I purchased this book because of the good reviews and how everyone said it was ok for a beginner. You actually have to be able to read music to get the most out of this book there are only 2 songs that have fingering the rest are either in Tablature or sheet music? I guess it's called that. I can't read music and have never tried to learn tabs either so rely on fingering so this book for me was a huge let down. Maybe the CD is ok I dont know I havn't bothered to open it. cheers Frazz

This is the best book you can buy to learn how to play the Native American Flute period. It Starts out simply and works through everything you need to know to develop your own style and playing ability. The cd that comes with the book is concise as well. This man is not only an excellent flute player, but teacher as well. Everything is spelled out in a concise manor step by step. It covers everything from what is called fingering, Embouchure, Ornaments, and Tabulature, to the reading of music. Even pro's can pick up useful tips from this book. Tonguing and slurring, breath control and care of the flute are other topics covered. If your thinking of buying a N.A. Flute. This book is a must. Buy it, you won't go wrong.

This is the perfect book. I wish I'd had it when I first began, but even now, it has expanded my knowledge greatly. I take little bits of it to my flute circle and everyone is always so excited. There's so much more to learn and it's all in there. I can't wait to progress all the way through.

John Vames' Native American Flute is the most comprehensive, easy to understand, helpful lesson book I have found. The accompanying CD supplements the written explanations nicely, allowing a student to listen to various techniques and their application in particular songs or improvisations. I recommend it enthusiastically.