We shook hands and Koskanuba handed over the Native American Flute he gifted me. Later he wrote down his other name and contact info on the back of an envelope, the only paper we had handy. I love that he is also Helmer Twoyoungmen.

​Koskanuba, a Stoney Nakoda First Nations man I befriended in Jasper, ran out to his truck to bring back one of his hand-made Native American Flutes after I heard him play. Red cedar, key of A. "Here, play it," he said.

Koskanuba wanted to make a ceremony out of gifting me with his flute. Here he is handing me the Native American Flute he made. We are sitting on two log chairs in front of a Stoney Nakoda teepee at Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum outside of Jasper. BC

This is a story of two blind men, one very old and famous, one very young and a rising star. Listen to some great music and watch the interactions between these guys!  I smile each time I see it. Music goes beyond disability!  

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Koskanuba, a Stoney Nakoda First Nations man I befriended in Jasper, ran out to his truck to bring back one of his hand-made Native American Flutes after I heard him play.  Red cedar, key of A. "Here, play it," he said. 

Listen:

According to a recent article in Smithsonian Magazine, "The brains of people who get chills when the right song comes on are wired differently than others."

Many different genres of music cause me chills……..Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze;” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu;” Handel’s “Xerxes;” and then “Whiter Shade of Pale,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Hotel California.”  Add some Christmas music like “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and “Wexford Carol.”  And I haven’t even begun with the old timey music and gospel and hymns. 

What music gives you chills?  

July 16th, 2016

If you ever were or have become a Mill Run Dulcimer Band follower, listen in and see the spirit of our reunion on July 16th. Lisa Meyers Houff, Terry Houff’s (band member) talented wife, crept around capturing these pix and then putting them all together with music.  

Homage to our founder and leader, the late Keith Young, really got to all of us.  

Seeing this movie made me realize how close, how similar all musicians and their instruments are in this world. Yo Yo Ma is one of those saints whose mission on earth is to connect, communicate, bring together. He celebrates differences by celebrating sameness.  Do see this film. 

It made me thing about adding another instrument to my collection.  My rule is that I have to be able to play it in order to own it.  Which one do you think I ought to try out?

We met and enjoyed the music of Muriel Anderson the other night at Perelandra, luthier Jerry Reed Smith’s home, workshop and recording studio/performance space in Swannanoa.   
Besides the venue being always magical, perched up on the mountain overlooking the tall Blue Ridge, Muriel’s music and Bryan Allen’s photography/videography to her world-class guitar and harp guitar playing were transformative. 

The Bowed Psaltery—perfect for Uncommon Musical Instruments Day (July 31)

I have been wanting to share my experience about a recent patient/friend, Robert, and the bowed psaltery.  
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Robert was in his nineties when he purchased a bowed psaltery from Song of the Wood, up the road from us in Black Mountain, NC.  He learned to play “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and a couple other tunes, but his favorite was “Ashokan Farewell,” the haunting melody composed and played by Jay Unger on Ken Burns’ Civil War series on PBS.  He struggled with this song, so when I was invited to his home I often played it on his psaltery or even hummed it along with my guitar playing.  He melted into smiles and gratitude every time!   

His heart began to fail at age 95, and Hospice was called in.  My offers to play and sing for Robert were readily accepted. Using my music practitioner skills I carefully offered music at Robert’s bedside observing his reactions……unlike his healthy self, his unwell self was not able to listen too long to the music. I chose low-pitched and slow tempo music. I watched for agitation and labored breathing, indicators that the music was too much for a weak heart.  

He asked me to tune his psaltery and he tried to play it but he could not hold it and the bow in place.  He was disappointed.  “That’s what I’m here for; I’ll play it for you.”  So “Ashokan Farewell” rang out from his bedroom through the whole house. His dear wife joined us to witness Robert’s joy in the music.

On my last visit Robert asked me a question: “Will you play “Ashokan Farewell” at my memorial service?”  

“I would be honored.”  And so just a week later I received news that Robert had succumbed to his heart disease.  The day of his service I held not my bowed psaltery in my hands, but his beautiful instrument, his bow. I was surprised to learn that “Ashokan Farewell” would be the first item in his service.  I stood in front of a crowded room, breathed restfully, placed his bow on the strings, and began playing. The same haunting music saturated the room, bringing Robert and his favorite music into the hearts of all. It set the stage for the rest of his lovely service.  

Farewell, dear friend, Robert.  I will never play your song the same way again.