Here's a video from the recent Native Flute School in Zion Canyon, May 2009:
Background Material
Here are some suggested “background reading” material for the school:
The Listening Book and The Musical Life - a 2-CD set about rediscovering the power of listening as an instrument of self-discovery and personal transformation.
We encourage you to bring any and all musical instruments!
Of course, please bring any Native Flutes you would like to play.
In particular, we tend to focus on the keys of F# minor, G minor, and A minor (low, midrange, or high)
for the purposes of playing in ensembles (duets, trios), but please bring any other keys you like as
there will be ample work in other keys.
Also, please bring:
any percussion instruments you would like (drums, rattles, rain sticks, bells)
any other instruments you think are appropriate
a favorite piece of poetry
Endorsements and Feedback
Flute Haven was a tremendous success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so much to follow up on, it will take months - months of fun.
— Pat Kay, participant, Flute Haven 2010
I wanted to send out my deep appreciation of the truly inspirational expereince I had with everyone.
There was such a positive and supportive energy that was created that helped us all to create.
I gained so much on so many levels and this has inspired me to explore more playing, learning and sharing with others.
Thank you Clint, Vera, Lynn, Eric, and Ron for all the wonderful work, creativity and talent you provide.
— Lynn Saltiel, participant, Flute Haven 2010
Thank you for a great experience at Zion Flute School.
Your class was helpful in ways I didn't expect.
It brought me out of my comfort zone and gave me new insights and encouragement in the NAF.
I look forward to being back.
— Mark Roark, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2010
Wow!! Here I am back home, not quite settled into my life here since the awesome experience of Flute school,
pacing the floors a lot, playing a lot of flute (would grab one between paces) …
Lo and behold, I receive this incredible email in my in-box from you filled with hand outs and resources and so much stuff …
well, I am in a state of appreciation and gratitude to you for doing so much work to provide everyone with such complete and intensive studies and resources to further one's flute path.
Thank you very much, Clint
— Chris Bernetchez, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2010
Once again, I want to say how much I enjoyed the school and in particular, your track.
I just got back from flute circle tonight and my enthusiasm for what I learned bubbled over into my playing enough to evoke comment (positive). Some of your teachings have been adopted by the two circles I attend locally.
— Dennis Bell, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2010
First I want to thank both of you for a wonderful, fabulous, terrific experience!
I don't know if I told you that I have done stone carving creativity workshops all over the country so I think I'm in a good position to appreciate how much energy you both expend!!!l
I have been practicing a lot since I returned home, which is not easy since we're packing to get ready to move West!
Again, Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Arthur Weinfeld, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2010
Thank you for all your sharing, encouragement, playing and fun! The week at Zion was one of the best 'playcations' of my life.
So much looking forward to next year.
I've still got the most delightful 'gotta go play my flute' hangover in the world!
— Jane Campbell, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2010
This was a fabulous experience for me and I'm sure everyone else. It exceeded my expectations by a gazillion!! In the words of the judges on "So you think you can dance" this weekend was BUCK!!
My thanks, congratulations, cheers, whoo pa's, hugs, props, and blessings to everyone!
I will be back to this AMAZING workshop!!!
— Barbara Ackerman, participant, Flute Haven 2009
Thank you, and the rest of the staff, for organizing this incredible experience. I've never participated in anything like this in my life. It was more than a flute workshop; it was a head-to-toe rejuvenation.
See you next year!
— Judith Crawford, participant, Flute Haven 2009
Thank you for a wonderful workshop filled with heartfelt and meaningful experiences. I used some of the great ideas with 24 handicapped persons this morning with awesome success.
— David C. Rogers, facilitator track participant, Flute Haven 2009
I can't express how much I enjoyed attending Flute Haven.
It was everything I tought it would be and more.
I will cdertainly plan to come next year, and possibly bring along one of my harps.
Thanks to you and Vera and the other staff for all your help.
— Lynn Hedl, participant, Flute Haven 2009
I don't know how to thank you all for a wonderful week of fun, learning and self-discovery.
— Jeanne Lyle, participant, Flute Haven 2009
Paula and I really enjoyed the playshops.
Even though I did not play a lot, it was the first time that I voluntarily got up to play before strangers.
Two things helped me. First was you and Vera.
Your supportive attitude regardless of the sound was encouraging.
The second was the realization that I was NOT the least experienced player in the room. Thanks again.
You are an amazing blend of people and that was a magical part of it. I don't believe that you planned it or maybe even really realized it, but your different talents blend in a very special way. Clint, you are both cerebral yet can help people learn to find the music themselves, to really hear it. Lynn, you are amazing and patient at getting people to try something new and find the musical spirit inside of them. Eric, you play so beautifully, and are so kind, you make music fun and so accessible. Ron, your free expression encourages others to do the same and your smile makes everyone feel welcome and valued. Vera, you are one of those people who just needs to be present to make them feel okay. Your excitement with the music is inspiring and your caring nature for others shines through you instantly. I felt that each one of you truly listened to each one of the participants in a way that made us feel valuable, important and truly treasured as musicians and human beings.
— Denise Norwood, participant, Flute Haven 2009
It was a pleasure to meet Vera and to see you at INAFA.
Thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and will introduce some of your suggestions to our flute circle.
I have been enjoying playing with the piano progressions . It is such great fun!
— Mary Neuhaus, participant, INAFA Convention workshop 2008
The School was amazing. Now I'm playing along with blues recordings and ending up on the
same measure!
Thanks so much for your instruction and enthusiasm.
— Christine Oravec, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2008
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you at Zion. I especially want to tell you what a privlage it was to attend the classes you facilitated. Your methods of teaching are infectious and the spirit in which you both present information is astounding. I especially like the way in which you recognize and involve everyone. It is truly one of my most memorable experiences I have had.
Thank you so much for sharing your talents.
— Dixie Garcia, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2008
Thank you again for your generous and warm style of teaching. I found the Flute School at
Zion to be a wonderfully validating experience.
Up until that time I had only had one opportunity to play with other musicians, and while
it convinced me that NAF was a terrific jamming instrument, I really hadn't met many
others with the same enthusiasm. While unable to attend the INAFA convention, my wife and
I are set to attend the Yosemite Flute Festival in September, and Terry Jones (from the
school) and I are planning an open mic performance.
Looking forward to many great days
playing and hope our paths cross again soon,
— Mark Purtill, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2008
What an amazing week! I had so much fun & learned SO much.
I hadn't picked up my flute for about 6 months because I was stale & didn't know what to
do next. You gave me the keys to open the door & I haven't been able to put my flute down
since!
I look forward to seeing you both again next year at the Festival. If you ever get to
Phoenix, let me know! I'll be joining up with Pat Harren's flute circle group so that
will keep the music live!
Blessings on your both - thank you so much again.
— Nancy Haga, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2008
I had a marvelous, challenging, and rewarding experience at the Zion Flute School.
I wasn't quite ready for the intermediate class but by the end of the week of school, the
spiritual zen enhancements, and the weekend's festival and concerts, I found my chops and
confidence.
Thanks for your enthusiastic style of instruction, and insights to creating delightful
music with the NAF. To paraphrase your words of wisdom - I'm showing up!
I hope to attend one of your workshops or performances in the future.
Hi to Vera, she's a sweety.
Go make music!
— Tom Litteral, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2008
During the 2008 Potomac Flute Festival, it was my extreme pleasure to have participated in
two workshops facilitated by Clint and Vera Goss. Without exaggeration, I have to say that
they were the most spiritually and musically rewarding experiences I have ever had since
taking up the Native American flute.
Through their effective, and sometimes seemingly unorthodox, methods of connecting my
inner spirit with the ingrained musical soul of the flute, I came away more in tune to how
my feelings are expressed in the music that I play.
There is so much more to simply blowing into the flute and making music. Clint and Vera
taught me how to shake off the external physical and cultural influences that interfere
with my relationship to the flute, thus freeing my inner creativity and emotions.
The bottom line to their instruction was that I came away more in harmony with my own soul
and with a richer understanding of how my flute can become a musical reflection of my own
being. I highly recommend their workshops to anyone serious about going deeper into their
understanding of the NA flute and for those who are only just beginning their journey and
want to gain a better understanding of how miraculous an instrument the NA flute is.
— Randy “Windtalker” Motz, participant, Potomac Flute Festival, 2008
Just wanted you to know that we are continuing to get good feedback about your workshops.
We had our last flute circle yesterday and there were still people talking about how great
it was!
I will certainly encourage others who do workshops to have you down again this
year if you are available. I'm trying to envision you and the silver flute folks. It
would be great for them, especially the youth, before their creativity is drained out of
them through the "classical" method.
Zion last June was fantastic, and one of the adventures that made it so was your master class.
We came away with a few hand outs, but they were insufficient compared to the quantity and quality of information you provided.
— Jim Murphy, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2007
I wanted to tell you that your workshop gave me enough courage to take some flutes to a church girl's camp
I was helping with last weekend.
I was brave enough to play Zuni Sunrise in the mornings, and do prelude for some of the quiet meetings.
The leaders were amazed at how fast the flute music settled everyone down and got them in the mood for what was to come.
Now several people want to know more and wonder if I could teach a class.
And so it goes ... Thanks so much!
— Judy Curtis, participant, Zion Canyon Native Flute School, 2007
I was one of the participants this past weekend in your several workshops.
Thank you!
I had one of the most spiritually rejuvenating experiences I've had in years ...
and I learned an awful lot about how to play the flute better!
Indeed, as promised ("YES!"), I did play in public last night, accompanied by a pianist
and poetry reader. Did pretty well, too, if I do say so myself ... but then again, in the
Native American culture, and in the world of pentatonic flutes, there are no such things
as wrong notes.
— Paul Roitman Bardack, participant, Potomac Flute Festival, 2007
Just wanted to say thank you for your presentations this weekend at the flute workshop
with the Potomac Flute Circle. I was a participate in three out of the four. Still being
a beginner, I found your encouragement greatly helpful.
Again many thanks.
— Eric Fengel, participant, Potomac Flute Festival, 2007
Hi Clint!
Glad you made it back safe. Your workshops were really great and well-received!
They are very helpful and progressive in technique especially for those new to NAF.
As you
know we try to give as much as we can to the festival participants to take away with them.
I will be going through surveys over the next month, but just skimming them, it is clear
that there were a lot of newbies to NAF.
So nice to meet both of you and attend your playshop.
I have learned how to relax more and now know how to play from the heart.
At least I am at the beginning of this process.
I am practicing jamming with my cd's and trying the various exercises that you and Vera had us do.
At the playshop I was in student mode and absorbing like a sponge, everything you were presenting.
Since getting home and unwinding, I am slowly squeezing the sponge and dribbling out parts I have experienced.
It will take time but progress I will make. I also enjoyed your first CD.
Many blessings to you both,
— Carol Batts, participant, FluteQuest Flute School, 2006
I did not know what to expect when I registered for the workshop.
I just knew I had to register.
I thought it would have more of a focus on the technical aspects of playing and was absolutely delighted to see how you facilitate.
It provided a much richer learning environment for me.
(You see I was one of those people kicked out of piano lessons the age of 8 for committing the heinous and atrocious crime of actually playing by ear).
What a wonderful surprise your workshop was.
You helped me grow.
I hadn't really thought about performing with other people but you showed me that this is attainable even without being able to read a note of music (which I am slowly learning to do). Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I also learned how much the playing of flute music can contribute to the building of community.
You have a great gift as a facilitator. Your enthusiasm (and Vera's) for the work you are doing is absolutely infectious.
May soothing sounds bless you and Vera always.
— Terry Mack, participant, FluteQuest Flute School, 2006
Although I only attended Friday's workshop and Concert I wanted to thank you.
Your workshop was a great experience in sound, body involvement, and interaction with strangers.
I also appreciated your performances on stage!
— Bryan Gall, participant, Potomac Flute Festival Workshop, 2006
I want to thank you so much for being at my first flute conference.
I am sure it would have been a much different experience for me had you not been present.
Thank you for giving me the “tools” to play with my flute and the sounds that it can make.
I am already asking 'and what is another way I can do that' Driving my kids crazy. «««YYYeessssss»»»
I would love for them to be able to attend a workshop with you sometime in the future … Not just about flutes, but around the percussion aspect of your presentation. I know it will come. They would have such fun with it all.
