Native American Flute Workshop (All Ages)

The Native American flute is an instrument that is simple to play and requires no previous experience with music or instruments.

In this workshop, participants will learn about the Native American flute through storytelling by Deitz Peters while they decorate a durable PVC flute of their very own. Once the flutes are created, participants will learn and practice the basics of flute playing and the etiquette of playing in a Native flute circle with other musicians. Register today for $5!

Participants under 10 must be accompanied by an adult that is also registered for the workshop.

This workshop is generously supported by a grant from the Clackamas County Cultural Coalition. Space is limited to 30 participants.

Deitz Peters:
Deitrich Peters was born in Oregon, and is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. He is Kalapuya, Rogue River, and Umpqua. His given name is Cosa Tance, which means “Sky Dancer”.

Deitrich has a deep love for his culture and traditions, including making items by hand, working with feathers, beadwork, traditional dancing, and storytelling. His personal favorite is playing the flute. He has learned these many skills from tribal elders or considers them gifts from the Creator.

Nicholas Emerson:
Nicholas teaches music production, songwriting and composition, guitar, ukulele, and bass at YMP. He is a registered descendant of the Colville band of the Nez Perce tribe from Northern Washington.

He is very active in the local Portland music scene helping to cultivate the incredible wealth of youth talent in the Pacific Northwest and is involved with organizations including Fear No Music Young Composers Project and Northwest Children’s Theater & School. Nicholas also teaches at Reed College and Portland State University and is passionate about teaching music with a compositional approach, to enable students to learn how to compose their own music as they learn how to play their instrument.