Robin Star Light – I am not a musician by nature. Or maybe I am who knows? Maybe it’s that my true expression had not found me just yet. In my childhood and teen years, I studied recorder, piano and guitar. It seemed that as much as I would practice, the music could not make the connection from my brain to my fingers. In contrast, the first time I picked up a Native American flute to play -- not so long ago -- the music simply flowed from within, through my breath and through my fingers without forethought. Not that I am a virtuoso, but I could actually make sounds that were pleasant. Imagine that! The second time I played a flute was only a few months ago, during Loping Wolf’s excursion to Stardust Flutes in Dobbins, California. This is where Jim Pappas creates his incredible musical instruments. I think it must be Jim’s care and attention given to each flute that made each one I tried absolutely resonate in harmony with my world. That was it; I was smitten with the sound, the feeling, the vibration of the flute. I didn’t leave his shop without my very own expression of harmony in F#.

My first appreciation of the Native American flute was awakened when I discovered cassette tapes of Carlos Nakai, oh so many years ago. I listened to those tapes for years. Time passed, tapes wore out, replacement CDs purchased, and while I still listened to the soulful sounds of the flute, the idea of actually picking up and playing a flute never entered my thoughts. More time passed, my household musical influences began to shift to bluegrass music with friends and family playing banjos, guitars, mandolins, dobros, and didgeridoos. I remained the listener, the appreciative audience. Guitar chords would not reveal themselves if I attempted to play; as in my youth, the barrier remained within the distance of my fingers and my thoughts and the music being played.

Then my dear friends, Dan and Sheree DiCicco, and Dick and Sue Lovan, introduced me to the music of Mary Youngblood. We went to her sold-out concert in Grass Valley in February 2006, and it was then that I began to long for my own flute. The enveloping warmth of her music filled my heart with a quiet joy and appreciation of the flute once again. The achingly beautiful resonance of her music continues to stir all sorts of music from within my own spirit, and I cannot resist the urge to pick up my flute and release my own expression of joy. And there is no barrier, the music finds its way through the flute without forethought or contemplation. So far, the neighbors have not complained. The dog does not howl along with my music…at least not too often. The cats seem oblivious to the sounds. All is well in the world – as long as my flute is nearby.

Star Light,

Star Bright,

I Can Hardly wait,

To Play My Flute tonite!