MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (Achieve3000, March 22, 2019). "Trees sing to us." Darren Thompson heard this as a boy. It was wisdom from Ojibwe elders on the Native American reservation where he grew up. The elders also told him that singing trees offer direction.
What did the elders mean? Thompson found out when he went to college. He missed home. So he started listening to the music of Navajo/Ute flutist Raymond Carlos Nakai. It made him remember his childhood.
As Thompson listened to the calming sounds of Nakai's Native American flute, the words of the elders made sense. Trees do sing. They sing through the flutes carved from their wood. These "singing trees" sent Thompson along a new, musical path.
Thompson bought a flute. He taught himself to play. He wanted to connect to the music of his ancestors. Music was part of the Ojibwe's language, culture, and religious traditions, which almost disappeared when government rules forced Native Americans to assimilate.
"I went out to museums to [study] actual instruments that were seized 200 years ago and taken into collections," Thompson said. What he learned was interesting.
For one thing, players traditionally carved their flutes. The Ojibwe call them "bibigwanan." Each flute had two parts. And no two flutes were alike.
"The length of [each bibigwan] would be the distance from that person's armpit to his first knuckle," Thompson said. "The width would be the same as the width of his thumb. Even the spacing of the finger holes is [matched] to the player's body."
Thompson now has several flutes. He carved some himself. Some have only four holes, which play eight notes. Others have five or six holes.
The Native American flute is enjoyed by many. But who can play it? People who play the Native American flute perform around the world. But some are non-Native American and do not belong to any tribe or nation. Sometimes their performances don't sit well with Thompson, now an award-winning flutist.
"The Native American flute is the name of the instrument. So anybody who picks one up and plays it can call himself a Native American flute player," he explained. "It's not so much the fact that they are playing the flute that bothers me. It's the fact that a lot of them are non-Native and try to play the part of a Native…. It's offensive."
In response, Thompson shares the authentic sounds and stories of his people in his shows. In February 2019, he performed at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in New York. Playing there was a dream he'd had for 10 years.
For his performance, Thompson chose songs recorded in the early 1900s, "before our culture got erased." His program captured the history, pain, and spirit of the Ojibwe people. These are stories that only "singing trees" may be able to fully tell.
Look at the events below. Think about the Article. Which happened before Thompson bought a flute and learned to play?
A. Thompson studied instruments that were taken from Native Americans almost 200 years ago and put in museums.
B. Thompson performed at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in 2019 and played Ojibwe songs.
C. Thompson started listening to the music of Navajo-Ute flutist Raymond Carlos Nakai, which reminded him of his childhood.
D. Thompson made several flutes, some with four holes and some with six, to create a number of different tunes.
Which passage from the Article best supports the opinion that flute designs let players make original sounds?
A. For his performance, Thompson chose songs recorded in the early 1900s, "before our culture got erased." His program captured the history, pain, and spirit of the Ojibwe people.
B. As Thompson listened to the calming sounds of Nakai's Native American flute, the words of the elders made sense. Trees do sing. They sing through the flutes carved from their wood.
C. For one thing, players traditionally carved their flutes. The Ojibwe call them "bibigwanan." Each flute had two parts. And no two flutes were alike.
D. In response, Thompson shares the authentic sounds and stories of his people in his shows. In February 2019, he performed at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in New York.
C. For one thing, players traditionally carved their flutes. The Ojibwe call them "bibigwanan." Each flute had two parts. And no two flutes were alike.
A. Thompson studied instruments that were taken from Native Americans almost 200 years ago and put in museums.
Look at the events below. Think about the Article. Which happened before Thompson bought a flute and learned to play?
A. Thompson studied instruments that were taken from Native Americans almost 200 years ago and put in museums.
B. Thompson performed at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in 2019 and played Ojibwe songs.
C. Thompson started listening to the music of Navajo-Ute flutist Raymond Carlos Nakai, which reminded him of his childhood.
D. Thompson made several flutes, some with four holes and some with six, to create a number of different tunes.
C. Thompson started listening to the music of Navajo-Ute flutist Raymond Carlos Nakai, which reminded him of his childhood.
The Article states:
"The Native American flute is the name of the instrument. So anybody who picks one up and plays it can call himself a Native American flute player," he explained. "It's not so much the fact that they are playing the flute that bothers me. It's the fact that a lot of them are non-Native and try to play the part of a Native…. It's offensive."
The author uses this passage mostly to help the reader __________.
A. Think about the role of Native American flute players in Native American music
B. Identify Native American flute performances by non-Native American musicians
C. Learn about how Native American flute players usually dress during a performance
D. Understand why Thompson is bothered by some non-Native American flute players
D. Understand why Thompson is bothered by some non-Native American flute players
Juanita wants to learn more about Native American flutes. She would find the most information by __________.
A. Searching the word "flute" in an online thesaurus
B. Looking up the word "flute" in an online dictionary
C. Reading an encyclopedia article about Native American musical instruments
D. Studying an atlas that shows the locations of Native American reservations
C. Reading an encyclopedia article about Native American musical instruments
Based on the Article, the reader can tell that __________.
A. Thompson wants people to learn about Native American culture through music.
B. Non-Native American flute players are not allowed to perform at most music shows.
C. Most people who play the Native American flute perform modern songs.
D. Thompson is studying other Native American instruments and learning how to play them.