Native+American+Music+and+Instruments

= = =__Introduction__=

Music is a way to express feelings, connect with others, and to set your mind free. For Native Americans, it is a way to express their stories and communicate with others. Native American music is an important part towards their culture. The music consists of flutes, percussions, and singing. Throughout this summary, we will be discussing different types of flutes, percussions, and how singing affects Indian music.

=__Percussions__=

The percussions are said to be the most important aspect in Native American music. The Native Americans believe that the drums are a symbol of the Mother Earth’s heartbeat. Percussions are always used in prayers, ceremonies, or to connection with a being. There are many types of drums that Native Americans have to offer. Each tribe can say that they hold their own unique type of drums. Certain drums, like hand drums and powwow drums, are musical instruments that you will see with the Native Americans.

Here is a picture of your typical Native American hand drum. Skin is the main part that completes this drum. They use animal skin because they feel that they are connected as one with Mother Earth. It is usually the skin of a buffalo that Native American craves their hand drums. They stretch the skin over a wooden ring and they use sinews to keep the skin in place and very firm to make the sound of a drum. Sinews are shredded animal tendons. The hand drum can reach to the range of ten to thirty inches in width. Beaters are used to hit the drums, but you can always use your hands or fingers.

This is your typical powwow drum, or floor drum. These are the types of drum usually played at pow wows. The way they make these are still similar to every drums. They use animal skin as connection towards the Mother Earth. The difference here is that they are mounted on the ground and usually played while the drum is on the ground.

=__Flute__=

The flute is the second most important aspect of Native American music. The way that the flute is represented through Native Americans tells many stories. There is a traditional story that talks about how a man would meet a woman. A young man would make a flute to set himself off from his tribe. He would play the flute, only to hope to be discovered by any of the Native American woman that he would desire. The song that the young man plays would explain his feelings out to the world. A woman would be able to connect about how the young man feels. Once after they join together, the young man would throw away his flute and never play a single song ever again. This story depicts the main reason why the flute was so important to Native Americans. As time begin to past by, the tradition of the flute playing slowly faded away. Eventually, the tradition was no more. Native American began to feel that flute playing was not as popular as it was back then. There are many different types of flutes that Native American use. Some examples include a wind’s song, moonlight creek, and yazzie flutes.



This is an example of a wind’s song flute, craved by Scott Lumis. A wind’s song flute is a plain style flute. Plain style flutes are flutes that came from North America. People say that these flutes tend to have a brighter tone than other flutes. Wind’s song flute is made out of cedar. As you can see here in the example, a craving made out of cedar is in the form of a bird. Reason why it’s a bird is because of how this flute sounds like. It emits sounds that people would describe as soaring.

=__Singing__=

Singing is important towards Native Americans. It is their way of passing traditional stories and to connect with others spiritually. The words in Native American songs are sacred text and personal to them. It is treated to be a serious music instead of entertainment. Some songs can be a ritual. During ceremonies, rituals will be performed. These rituals will have a rhythmic beat to it and will sounds like a song. The vocals that are used in these rituals are vocable words. Vocable words are sounds that you would here in any pow wow festival. There would be a chief in the middle of a circle, singing and dancing. They will make a sound that goes along the beat of the song, usually a percussion instrument.

Although music has slowly faded away, it is still a tradition that Native Americans use to tell stories and connection as one in the spiritual world. This was their way to past down stories and to keep true to their identity.

=__References__=

1) August, Scott. "Native American Flutes Part 3." //Echoes From The Mesa//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "A brief explanation about wind's song flute with images. Explanation talks about how the flute is made and how it got it's name."

2) Baugh, Dick. "A Note on Indian Bow Making or the Secrets of Sinew Revealed." //Primitive Technology, Traditional Skills and Hand-Made Tools//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "Website that explains what materials are used to make a Native American bow and arrow. They also explain some secrets behind the mysterious sinew item."

3) "History of Native American Music." //Professional Translation Services | Interpreters | Intercultural Communication & Training//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "A brief summary that explain the history of Native American music. This text talks about the major importance of music for the Native Americans."

4) Lassiter, Luke. "MUSIC, AMERICAN INDIAN." //Oklahoma State University - Library - Home//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "An article that talks about Native American music from Pow wows, churches, and other events. It talks about certain traditions as well."

5) Lavonis, Williams J. "Edwin Mellen Press." //The Edwin Mellen Press - Official Website//. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . "An evaluation of Native American singing and song. They explain how they feel towards Native American music. They believe that it is a primary need of communication."

6) Montana, Nelson. "Navajo Native American Drums - The Heart Of Native History." //ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "The website explains what the most important aspect is towards Native American music. They explain why drums are the key towards know the true meaning of Native American music."

7) "Native American Drums, Frame Drums, Shamanic Drums, Powwow Drums; Sunreed Instruments." //Sunreed Instruments Bamboo Flutes, Bamboo Saxophones, Didgeridoos, Drums, Musical Instruments Home Page//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "This site shows different types of drums. They explain the materials that makes the drums. There are price tags that show how expensive these drums cost."

8) "Native American Drumming, Native American Rhythms." //World Drum Percussion Rhythms International Music Rhythm Web Percussionist Drums Drumming Drummer//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "They explain about different types of drums used in Native American music. There are visual aids that helps us see how these drums will look like. They talk about certain event and the type of drums that are used in them."

9) "Native American Culture - Music." //Entry Page: Ewebtribe.com, - Menu to Sites//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "Different links that connect towards Native American music."

10) "Native American Flutes." //Native American Language Net: Preserving and Promoting Indigenous American Indian Languages//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "The website shows different types of flutes that American Indians use. Visual aid is posted on this website."

11) "Native American Music — Infoplease.com." //Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "Information about Native American music that explains the important aspect of their music. the website believes that their music is vocal art."

12) "Native American Music :: Music History of the Native Americans -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." //Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "An encyclopedia that explains the history of Native American music. They briefly explain the different aspect of instruments and singing."

13) "Native American Music." //World Music at RootsWorld//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . "Different articles from people given in this website. These talk about their views on Native American music."

14) Photograph. //Http://www.native-languages.org/drum8.jpg//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011// //"A photograph of a typical pow wow drum."//

15) //Photograph.// Http://site.missiondelrey.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Native-American-Hand-Drum2-146x110.jpg//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011 "A photograph of a hand drum."

16) Photograph. //Http://scottreamusic.com/blogphotos/loomis_G_web.jpg//. Web. 16 Apr. 2011// "A photograph of a wind's song flute."

17) //"PowWow: Drum."// Twin Cities Public Television//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. .// "This article talks about how important the drum is during pow wow festivals. It explains how the drums is the heartbeat of the Indian nation."

18) //"The History of the Native American Flute."// Native American Music by Scott August. Native American Flute Music by Scott August//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. .// "This website talks about various types of flutes. It also explains a tradition that Native Americans often used to meet your other half."

19) //"The Spiritual Work Of Native American Hand Drums | Mission Del Rey Southwest."// Rawhide Lamp Shades | Native American Indian Drums | Southwest Rugs//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. .// "Brief description about the hand drums used from the American Indians. They explain traditions and how these drums are made. There is a picture that shows us what these drums may look like."

20) Tyson, Jason//. "History of Native American Drums | EHow.com."// EHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life | EHow.com//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5166077_history-native-american-drums.html>. "An article explaining about the drums. They claim it to be the most important part of music. Example of different types of drums are listed in this article and explains what each of them do.