MYPressKit
MARY YOUNGBLOOD'S PRESS KIT
Mary’s third album ‘Beneath the Raven Moon’, won the 2003 Grammy Award for “best Native American Music Album”. Silver Wave Records considered this a poetic concept album - the title of each track being from Mary’s thematic poetry reflecting the Human Journey. Mary’s beautiful voice harmonizing along with her many flutes debuted with the instrumentation of award winning producer Tom Wasinger. Of Mary’s exemplary flute playing coupled with two of her favorite American music styles, Classical and Blues, Dirty Linen Magazine stated, “Mary Youngblood brings a fresh perspective
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to original melodies.”
Mary’s fifth album “Dance with the Wind” won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album”. In an interview after accepting her award, Mary told the media that “Dance with the
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Wind’ was created during the 2006 winter storms in Northern California. The storms brought in extremely high winds; a tall oak lost a few good sized limbs and the maples took a thrashing. Having an incredible affinity to trees, Mary looked at them in her backyard, and thought it would be hard to be a tree right then. But as she watched them, she notices how the trees were almost moving with purposeful rhythm, and with something resembled… JOY. Mary related her own personal stormy times to the dancing trees and realized she could be like they were. She was not going to give in to the elements either; she was going to learn to be more like the trees… and “Dance with the Wind”.
Follows Mary Youngblood's GRAMMY AWARD winning album Beneath the Raven Moon. She returns with fresh and unique performances on the Native American Flute with her signature melodies and sweet vocals framed in captivating arrangements spanning a variety of musical styles. With special guest appearances by Ian Anderson, Bill Miller, and Joanne Shenandoah, Feed the Fire is full of energy, warmth and passion.
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"Absolutely enchanting! Youngblood beautifully demonstrates the talent that earned her numerous Native
American Music Awards."
-Billboard
Mary’s second album ‘Heart of the World’ found Mary weaving her flute melodies with the lush accompaniment of guitar, percussion and the exquisite voice of Joanne Shenandoah. ‘Heart of the World’ won “Best Native American Recording” by The Association for Independent Music (INDIE Award), the New Age Voice (NAV Award), and the 2000 Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) for “Best New Age Recording”. The Track ‘Cold Wind’ will blow right into your chest and thump you hard. It is amazing.
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Sacred Place - Mary’s sixth album for Silver Wave Records is a compilation produced by Silver Waves staff. Of “ Sacred Place - A Mary Youngblood Collection”, Silver Wave writes, “With rich vibrato and notes that melt your heart, Mary Youngblood takes the artistry of Native American flute music to it’s highest level. Her song writing brings forth some of the sweetest original melodies ever performed on this instrument, and the collection herein showcases the most sublime.
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Mary’s debut album ‘The Offering’ was a solo flute effort recorded live to DAT in the huge underground chamber of the moaning cavern in California. The natural acoustics lent an amazing echo and organic quality to the distinctly memorable melodies that Mary created with her flutes. The Monterey County Herald News wrote, “In addition to the haunting sounds of various handcrafted wooden flutes, the listener can only occasionally hear the drip of water in the cavern, which adds a surreal you-are-there feeling.”
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The Spirit of Sacajawea - This film is narrated by Tantoo Cardinal, with the original musical score by Mary Youngblood and Jim Brock. For their work, Mary Youngblood and Jim were nominated for an EMMY in the following categories; Music, Producers-Documentary-Historical, Writing & Editing.
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Mary Youngblood
(Workshop) Program Descriptions
Beginning N/A Flute Embellishments & Techniques
Students will learn basic Native American flute embellishments and techniques- such as how to pick out the right flute for them, breath control, and beginning embellishment exercises which will encourage new students in getting familiar and comfortable with their flutes. If you ever wondered how flute players bend those notes, or make their flute bark- this workshop is for you!
Intermediate N/A Flute Embellishments & Techniques
Students will further discover more advanced embellishments and techniques with their N/A flutes. Such as breath control, playing with accompaniment, letting the notes ‘fall’, bending notes, tonguing, scales and vibrato. Students will have the opportunity to ask Mary questions and see up close and personal, the techniques that Mary uses in performance and recordings.
Advanced N/A Flute Embellishments & Techniques
Mary discusses her techniques in using visualization, to assist the more advanced player in obtaining their musical goals. She teaches that even embellishments have embellishments- Mary will share advanced details of these special embellishments such as breath control, vibrato, bending the notes, and ‘the bark.’ Students will have the unique opportunity to ‘pick Mary’s brain’ about how to further advance their own flute journey.
Performance Readiness
Are you already performing for live audiences, schools, church’s or in your community? Are you feeling ready for the stage, a recording, or gaining the confidence needed to play in front of people? Do you have questions about recording, PA equipment, microphones and/or the performance world in general? Then this workshop is where you want to be.
Come find out how to further your wonderful N/A flute journey… Mary will also focus on confidence building.
Talking Circle (Theme- The N/A Flute)
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience a Native American style “Talking Circle.” A feather is passed around and folks will have the chance to share their own N/A FLUTE journeys. (Mary believes that the flute chooses US!) Come share your own personal experiences that brought you to this beautiful instrument. Mary was once the facilitator of The Sacramento Urban Indian Health Project’s, “Indian Women’s Talking Circle” in her home town. Mary promises that this time of sharing will be a wonderful and spiritual experience for everyone…
Music & Healing w/Mary Youngblood
Mary will facilitate a ‘journey into the importance, relevance and application of music and the arts as they pertain to healing.' In such challenging times, we often find ourselves searching for and wishing to maintain what brings ourselves, our families and our communities peace, contentment and healing into our lives. Students will further discover their own potential for using the N/A flute in healing in their own personal, and/or professional lives. Mary will lead attendees through a series of creative and fun exercises that will motivate and encourage flute players who wish to explore their own natural healing abilities.
