As few notes as possible....

...is a rule.

Every year, 25 or so Navajo and Hopi high school students each have about 10 days in which they are required to conceive and handwrite a musical composition for string quartet. When I say 10 days, I may be off, because the end result is most likely music that they have had waiting inside of them for years, but have not always had the reason nor means nor even excuse to let it out and treat us to it.

I am amazed every year, but I should not be, by the amount of drive put in by most students to finish a 2-3 minute piece in such a short amount of time. Most of these students are guitarists and I almost fear something wrong with the water in Kayenta, AZ: nearly EVERY teenager there not only has a strong interest in music, but many are very capable and talented guitarists.
Why are there so many musicians here and why so good? It is probably not important in the end to investigate, since we already know the answer. It is a rule....

Monument Valley HS student Collin Billie jams with resident string quartet ETHEL.

My fear however, is that the students will turn in a hyper-speedmetal-baroque piece of music, not at all resembling the songs that their great-uncles sing; the score only visually looking like a Navajo rug without the sounding like one. And sometimes that is the end result. But I have only recently realized that the students want to test themselves, to see if they can create a music in the style of great Anglo long-hair-dudes (Bach to Dimebag Darrell). I will allow these compositions to be turned in because I suppose that they are "baby steps", like how the first works of a contemporary Native visual artist usually looks like T-shirt art (see: mascot bashing).

My hope is that the program will expand to include more schools/students/communities, longer lessons, and more Native composition teachers. Then can we begin to talk about the true goal they we are wanting to accomplish. The goal is to learn to walk. It is learning how to communicate, whether that includes white-man's notation, improvisation, learning your tribe's songs, creating your own notation or all-of-the-above. If you ask me, the goal is to have every Navajo band criss/crossing the country, all on tour at the same time...

...playing the quietest loud music in the world.

-rc

Ahe'hee' to: Clare Hoffman and Robert Bonfiglio, The world's most rockinest string band ETHEL, Chinle music teacher Eric Swanson, Tuba City music teacher Blair Quamahongnewa, Hopi High music teacher Brian Logan, Mike Begay, Grand Canyon Music Festival, Rosanda Suetopka.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NACAP

http://ethelcentral.com/

http://www.ringtonesociety.com/ ** Each student was required to write a 10 second piece in addition to their quartet. This is a group of Dutch artists who have recorded the students' music and turned them into cell phone ringtones. Check them out/download them.

,.,.,,.,.

Posoh

So here I am with maybe little to say but hoping good intentions will prevail. My wife and I just had our fifth beautiful baby. We are so happy and yet time is never on our side for getting anything completed.
The reason I got into music was for the passion that it allowed me to exercise and the negatives that it helped me to exorcise. I'm still living and surviving in that crazy dream that some say isn't a real job. But as my family grows, it takes more support from outside sources such as the FNCI grant. Grants can be a means of survival for those who wish to keep moving forward despite living in a world of commercialism disguised as art.
My advice for those who are looking to apply for funding sources is to show your heart, passion, and keep your integrity while applying. In this way you will find support. Art keeps our culture alive, that is why in war, many times it is the art centers that get bombed.
My newborn daughter, Rain is crying again so I have to quit writing for now. Waewaenen for your time!
Wade Fernandez
Wiciwen Apis-Mahwaew
www.wadefernandez.com

First time blogging for me too!

Good Morning Artist, Musicians, Composers!! I imagine you all wear many hats to exist in this world as we know it.
At any rate, this is my first time blogging too. Thought I'd give it a whirl. I must tell you that in my current position with FNCI as an Administrative Associate, I do get to see and hear of the many, many wonderful and exciting things going on in Indian Country. From all of the waaaay coool music/projects/proposals that come across my desk to economic development/health/sustainable ag/philanthropy thats happening now as we write!!! Again, I will say that I am quite honored to be part of this and I Love, Love, Love hearing about all the exciting projects going on out there.
Now, if there are any questions please feel free to call or email us at FNCI. We can definitely walk you through this process. AND it seems to be quite easy!
One of the reasons were blogging is to help some of the new to the world of applying for grants. Many of us have no idea how to put a budget together and as in the Welcome, we want to hear from you, your challenges and joys.
Jewell

WELCOME

Through this blog site, we invite all current, and/ or past FNCI Common Ground & Community Engagement Grantees to share their experiences, trials and tribulations, and triumphs throughout the length of their grant project activities.

We invite you to share your experiences in order to inform, educate and enlighten other established and/or emerging Indigenous artists as they travel on their career paths. Your shared experiences will serve as a model in assisting them, should they decide to apply at some future time

We invite you serve as on-line mentors and representatives of your respective genre’s and, particularly to our Native Youth.

Through on-line information and discussion, the American Indian musical arts will, we hope, be celebrated and advanced.

We invite all who share these interests to use and to contribute to this interactive blog site.