a group who encourage and motivate one another to stick to, and get the most out of, our practice time

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I'm back...

From laertes22 on 11/2/2014 3:39:46 PM

Well, I am back in the land of pickers and bowers, as my short self imposed exile has ended.  As I mentioned previously, two of my favorite people in the world got married this weekend, and I was asked to play ukulele for the ceremony, as it was a tiki/island theme wedding.  So, I've spent the last month or two sans banjo/fiddle and just paying ukulele.  I played a uke cover of Beyonce's Halo (just chord accompaniment) for the bride walking down the aisle, and then did a fingerpicked version of Aloha Oe for the presentation of the couple after the kiss.  I was very honored to be asked to play, especially as my uke skills are not great.  I was happy with the way it turned out and people seemed to genuinely enjoy it.  Although I missed my banjar and fiddle,  I do feel like I learned a lot from the experience.  I was also reunited with another lost musical love...I have probably not talked much about my background, but I am a Coharie Indian (as in Native American, not from India) and growing up I played what we called the Courting Flute (commonly referred on the interwebs as Native American flute).  I haven't played in probably 10 or 15 years, but while I was doing my ukulele practices, I'd sometimes need a break, and something told me to whip out the old Courting flute and give her a go.  I have now decided that I am going to write a song for my future wife to play at the wedding (don't worry, I'll be playing banjo in the engagement pictures, soon to come). I am Native American and my fiancee is African American/black, and so we both kind of wanted to include something from our respective cultures in the ceremony.   Also, if I didn't mention it, we've set a date for the wedding. It's going to be a destination wedding-August 15th in New Orleans.  

Back to banjo/fiddle stuff... After having not really played banjo or fiddle for almost 2 months (alright, honestly I did cheat on the uke and play a bit of banjo a few times here and there), I can't remember what I was working on before, and I also have to get my muscle memory back.  So, I  am going to take a week or so to try to get back in the swing of things, get my picking and bowing muscles back in training mode, and figure out what the heck I want to work on next. 

4 Comments
	Zischkale says: 11/3/2014 6:42:40 AM Glad the wedding was a success, G, glad to have you back! I'm not familiar with the Coharie People -- I'll have to keep an eye peeled while I'm listening through old folk music, every now and again I happen upon American Indian music. You must have some fascinating family history. If you know of any Youtube, etc links that show representative Courting flute playing, please post them. Congrats on the upcoming wedding! Awesome choice for location too, especially for a music fan. Welcome back to the world of old-time. I'll take this opportunity to pick fiddle back up, too--I put it down around the time you did and started my way through a Ken Perlman fingerstyle guitar book. Good to have you back!
	laertes22 says: 11/3/2014 6:51:46 AM Hi, Aaron. We are very small tribe, which has state recognition from NC, but not federal government recognition (don't get me started on Indian politics), so we tend to only get mention in sources (books etc) related directly to Native groups in NC. Growing up my grandma made regalia, all of my cousins danced, one uncle was an elected chief, and the other was elected head of an intertribal organization-so my family is very deep into cultural stuff. For my part, I can't dance (except for the occasional Two-Step or Social Dance), so I played the flute instead. If I find some good flute videos, I'll link. I think the two biggest, nationally known players are R. Carlos Nakai (Navajo/Dine) and Kevin Locke (Lakota Sioux). But there are also tons of not famous local players at pretty much any Pow wow (also on spotify/songza). I did not know Ken Perlman had a fingerstyle book-sounds amazing!
	skiptomylou says: 11/3/2014 12:22:41 PM hey...welcome back! thanks for your post - how fascinating - and how lovely to write a tune for your future wife for your wedding...awe.. Like Aaron , i'd love to hear some Courting Flute - if you have a chance to post a little recording some time it would be brilliant. will look up those players you mention, best Jill
	laertes22 says: 11/4/2014 6:52:56 AM Well, I will do my best to record something once I get a chance (been on the road a lot lately, so haven't had a chance to sit down and do much).
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