Introduction

Ken Light of Amon Olorin Flutes offers a variety of educational events, group presentations, and consultant services based on his knowledge and artistry with the native American flute as well as long experience as a professional educator.

Programs designed for teachers, administrators, curriculum developers and program leaders, as well as presentations for many types of groups are possible. Options include residency and non-residency workshops, group presentations, seminars, lecture/demonstrations, and a variety of informal performances.  Consultant services are offered to provide the framework for developing nA flute educational projects.

The ultimate goal of Ken's work is to assist anyone interested in developing a personal relationship with the native American flute to first have a good workable and traditionally tuned instrument, then to increase their cultural, historic, and contemporary knowledge of the flute, but most importantly to nurture their skills so that they may better express themselves through this wonderful music. Anyone who plays knows, the magic is the music.

Ken's innovative development of an inexpensive and high quality ABS resin native flute has now made it possible for entire classes of students to have in their hands a high quality, traditionally-tuned, durable and easy to play instrument.  The availability of his student flutes in combination with his experience and expertise as a flute teacher, provides a realistic and practical route to successfully access the native American flute for teachers and student groups.

Workshops Ken's main educational event The Renaissance of the Native American Flute, held yearly in June near Helena, Montana, is a week-long residency workshop now in its twelfth year. Co-facilitated with Navajo-Ute performance artist and cultural educator, R. Carlos Nakai, with whom Ken has been working since 1987, RNAF has helped a generation of new fluteplayers and educators to access the instrument for themselves and for their students.  Light and Nakai have also held RNAF workshops in Tucson, Phonecia, NY, and Hawaii, as well as numerous other presentations and lecture/seminars.   In February, 2001 they served a teaching and performance residency on the Leech Lake

Band of Ojibway reservation in northern Minnesota.   Light returned in July for a four-day workshop, working with teachers and program leaders to provide the groundwork for the subsequent development of numerous flute education programs on their reservation.

Another ongoing project has been assisting R.Carlos in the creation in 1995, and continued development of INAFA , the International Native American Flute Association, a non-profit educational organization where they serve on the founders board.  INAFA's first national convention was held  June '01 in Kent, Ohio where the educational archives of the organization are housed. INAFA continues to grow, serving the educational needs of contemporary flute players nationwide as well as overseas.  INAFA's second convention is planned for Taos, NM, July 9-13, 2003. There are currently forty-nine local flute "circles" across the country and two abroad.  Here is an opportunity for fluteplayers to gather and share their experiences with the flute, and access a wealth of information presented in INAFA's quarterly publication, The Voice of the Wind. Both experienced classroom teachers, Nakai and Light are working toward an unprecedented contemporary contribution to the growing phenomenon of interest and involvement in the ancient flute of North America. To learn more about INAFA visit the website: www.worldflutes.org

Consultant Services

Ken offers consultant services based on his long experience as an educator and program developer to organizations interested in creating their own flute programs. Widely recognized as a contemporary scholar of the native flute and considered a leader in providing and promoting flute education in this country, Ken brings a unique perspective as a former classroom teacher and curriculum developer.   Perhaps most widely recognized as a flutemaker, his knowledge of the flute in both physical/scientific and cultural/personal contexts gives him a broad base of expertise from which to draw upon in terms of practical methodologies.

Education and Experience Ken's formal education includes a B.A. in Biology from Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA and an M.S. in Environmental Studies specializing in innovative program development in environmental education from the University of Montana. Ken has seven years classroom teaching experience, four years in public schools and three years at alternative tribal high schools on the Rocky Boy and Flathead Reservations.  Ken also held a teaching assistantship in science teacher education during his graduate studies. For the past 16 years, he has developed his home-based business, Amon Olorin Flutes, combining his interest in flutes and flutemaking with performance, recording, teaching, and consulting.

Ken also volunteers as an on-call EMT, firefighter, and serves as assistant chief of the Arlee Fire Department in charge of ambulance services.

Instructional Philosophy

The native American flute has a long tradition of cultural use as an instrument of personal expression,  a means to honor the feminine principle, ceremonial uses,  and to entertain at social gatherings.   The overall goal of workshop events is to provide participants with practical knowledge, tools and methodologies, and affective domain support in order for them to access this unique instrument for themselves (and for their students) in the context of personal self-knowledge through musical expression.  Instructional style and technique relies heavily on principles of oral tradition, as well as innovative contemporary educational methodologies.

Presentations and Performances

Ken brings to group presentations his artistry with a variety of traditional native flutes of his own make:  Lakota, Southern Plains, Great Lakes Woodlands, Athabascan, as well as several of original design.  In addition, his knowledge of the mythology, cultural uses, and contemporary evolution of the flute provides for an engaging and informative program.  Ken radiates the spiritual and emotional involvement that has grown with every aspect of his work with the flute, and demonstrates a deep personal commitment to the messages carried in its voice. 

Fees

All fees are negotiated at time of booking. For more information about program offerings, scheduling, fees for events, etc. please email or call and we can discuss.

Ken Light 492 Lemlama Lane, Arlee, MT,  59821  | 406-726-3353 | aoflutes@blackfoot.net  www.aoflutes.com: