David Key, a sound therapist, is a performer, composer, teacher, and recording artist. In performances, on recordings, and in therapeutic sound sessions, David's vocals, flutes, and frame drums provide a deep meditative state and a place of healing.

Honoring Space

A photo of me playing at The Arboretum, Wilmington, NC, for the rededication of the Japanese Tea House there.

 Supporting Ceremony

Providing music (drum and flutes), along with Mikel Jones, for a beautiful Lantern Floating Ceremony, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC.
Photos Alan Cradick

Connecting

Providing therapeutic sounds for Lennie, a lifetime resident at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Surf City, NC.
My recent album, Turtle Journey, came from my work with these incredible sea turtles. Turtle Moon, an earlier short album of shakuhachi music, was inspired by sitting for a nest hatching.

Sharing

Improvising on a Native American-style ​Horse Flute beside the Tree of Life statue in the garden of the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center. You see just the turtle head and a part of the shell that has that Tree coming up from it in the YouTube video link. The complete sculpture is seen in the photo to the left of the video. I had provided therapeutic music for patients and their families for some years at the Hospice Center in Wilmington, NC. I was revisiting that healing space to play some music in the garden.

Creating

Most often, my instruments are created by professional instrument makers. I have made a few of my own instruments, including two frame drums, a rattle, a nose flute, and a few shakuhachi flutes.. That intuitive, creative process helped me connect to those instruments in a deep, personal way. 
Most recently, I purchased a low bass Native American-style flute "blank", a length of beautiful Alaskan yellow cedar routed out by Scott Jones (woodwindflutes.com).
I did all the rest to create a unique side-blown bass flute. Here are a few photos of the flute, and a SoundCloud link to an audio of me improvising on it. 

​One of the ways I can use this new flute is to cover finger holes as needed to produce just one low note, employing a length of surgical tubing to play that note as I also play another flute. This creates a wonderful drone for the second flute, and a bit of an interesting look! Enjoy this embedded YouTube video of a short improvisation.

 © 2018 David Key
photos © Jeff Janowski

David Key Music
17 Indigo Court
Hampstead, NC 28443
910.200.2820

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