Circles of Change: Conversations with Dr. Zara Larsen
on Change Leadership and Career Fulfillment
July 13, 2008
“Winds of Change”
Guest: Vince Redhouse
www.vinceredhouse.com
Live Selections played by Vince Redhouse on the Native American Flute:
Pocohantas, original piece by Vince Redhouse
Claire de Lune, classical piece by Claude de Bussey
Road to You, jazz piece originally for guitar by Pat Matheny
Anchoring Points:
- Born and raised as a Navajo in Monterey, California, I was nonetheless never formerly introduced to the Native American flute. It came to me by happenstance, and I’ve taken off without any reference since.
- The flute has but six holes, yet I do not think in terms of the limitations of the instrument, but my limitations. I continue on an adventure to explore, learn and access.
- My instruments are handmade, with custom appointments such as the red tail hawk carving, in memory of my rescuing an injured hawk, “Rusty” and transporting him with me to Tucson. It was a profound experience, part of my questioning and accepting my Indian-ness at age 40.
- Tucson is an amazing place for artists. Not just affordable, but offers an openness to thinking what you CAN do, creativity, being close to the earth and seeing the horizon.
- Performing outdoors is an amazing experience, the flute being in natural resonance with the surroundings, and makes me believe that everything around us – animals, trees, plants, earth – has heard this sound before. A connection with a past that is humbling yet easy to overlook.
- With Gabriel Ayala, a classical flamenco guitarist, I am now moving the flute in a new way, with long phrasing not necessarily interacting with the intensity of flamenco, but soaring over yet fitting together. I did not plan or even dream of this, and in fact was blindsided it.
- Becoming a Grammy nominee was personal validation of growth from a very, very difficult journey. It took tremendous courage for me to leave the Bay Area, something I had been a part of for such a long time, and move on – my transition, all those steps, elements of changes in me, my education (pluses and minuses), and my music.
- My life goal – The Big Goal – now is to effect the next generation of Native American children by teaching them to play the flute by the system I have developed. I see clearly the importance of what I am doing – a new context – going far beyond my performing to mentoring and being a live example for youth.
Use the gifts that you have, constantly practicing and expanding beyond the obvious. Surprises can happen.
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