Testimonials

“It is an honor to work with Helen as an apprentice in my NASF Mentoring Program.  Helen is a gifted and skilled educator and flute instructor in her own right.  Her heart is beautifully dedicated to her students, her audience, and to each note she plays to connect with beauty, peace, and harmony.”

Jan Michael
Looking Wolf, Global Music Awards recipient Odyssey Award for Lifetime Achievement Music.
lookingwolf.com 

While I have not known Helen for very long, she has become a dear friend. Her persistence and dedication to the Native American Style Flute is why I have chosen to assist her in my online flute sessions and provide her with new ways to express her feelings with this beautiful instrument. While I cannot speak on behalf of the classes that she offers, I can say that she has the patience and dedication to provide those looking to learn more about the Native American Style Flute with the opportunity to find their voice in their playing abilities.

Timothy J.P. Gomez

Award-Winning Artist, Composer, Performer, and Educator of the Native American Style Flute

TIMOTHYJPGOMEZ.COM

Helen is extraordinarily passionate about life and the Native American Style flute and enthusiastically shares this passion with the world. It was because of this enthusiasm and passion that I reached out to connect with her and learn more about her unique take on her original concept of Destination Fluting™ with her flute students. As I got to know Helen, I discovered she is a very determined woman who embraces the true art of learning new things and applies this in her flute journey. With the development of and connection to how her own voice and style flows through the flute, she is inspiring her students to try new more musical exploration with sound. I know Helen shares all her learning, knowledge and experience with her flute students and colleagues. Helen epitomizes the joy of musical exploration with her Native American Style flutes and I am deeply honored to be part of Helen’s flute family as a colleague and one of her mentors.

- Terry Mack
The Wind Weaver, Intuitive Player of the native American Style Flute, recording artist, and music creator.
www.windweaver.ca

“I have taken Native American Style Flute lessons from Helen Yetman Bellows for two years.

As a teacher, Helen shows passion for both playing and teaching the Native American flute. She shares her enthusiasm and skills with her students.  From selecting a flute, to teaching basic fingering, she gives a solid foundation of instruction. Later, she encourages more advanced techniques.

Helen’s encouragement and suggestions have given me confidence to develop a sense of personal playing style on the NA flute. I feel comfortable playing with students from other classes because Helen has built a flute community amongst her students.

I recommend Helen as a Native American flute teacher to any person even thinking of playing. She will coach and inspire you. 

Personally, playing the NA flute has given me joy. In life there are things you do with your heart and playing the NA flute is one of them.“

–  Sharon Rosenfelder

“Helen is a brilliant teacher. She has techniques planned for each class but remains flexible in terms of what we need in the moment. She is able to teach a group of students such that each individual receives personal instruction in order to develop at his or her own pace. Helen receives instruction from greats such as Jan Michael Looking Wolf and Timothy J.P. Gomez. As students we benefit from that lineage.

What impresses me most about Helen is her passion, not only for the Native American style flute, but for her students as well. I was recently the runner up in a talent show sponsored by the Gift of Life, an international Bone Marrow Registry. As a result, I was asked to produce a video for their recent Virtual Gala/Fundraiser. Helen encouraged and coached me the whole way and helped produce my video. At the time I had been playing the flute for just seven months. I couldn’t have completed the project without her support.“

–  Carol Ziva Hatch

“Helen loves teaching Native American style flute and it shines through with her energy and enthusiasm. Even if you have never played an instrument before your first lesson, she makes you believe that you can play music. 

From the time you pick up a flute and follow her instructions, you are immediately making music.  Helen's lessons are well-planned and implemented in such a way that an hour speeds by and you are looking forward to next one. 

I love taking group lessons.  Helen has a talent for connecting her student classes together in such a way that everyone learns and gets exactly what they need at the right time.

When you find a teacher with a passion for people and teaching, you just don't want to let them go. Helen is that gem.”

– Joyce Sabato

I was so fortunate to be able to attend Helen’s drone workshop as an auditor even when I had yet to receive my drone flute back then. Just watching and learning how she teaches and made sure her students repeat the exercise when she felt could be better helped to push their playing skills up a notch. Her love for flutes and teaching shows up so passionately as she gives advice from her heart. I am very honored to know her, and having her as my flute teacher and support, even though we are separated by 12 hours apart time zone. I feel safe asking her flute questions, knowing that I will be greatly supported. I look forward to more fluting workshops with Helen. I only wish I am closer physically!

– Joey Lam, Singapore

“Three years ago I visited Helen at Squirrel-Eze and fell in love with the Native American flute. I have been listening to Native American flute music for years, but never considered that I could learn to play. Helen’s Willow Wind has taught me that anyone who can breathe can play! Helen’s enthusiasm is contagious and her patience and passion for teaching others this magical and revered instrument are endless. I now have 9 flutes, 8 of which I purchased from Helen, who is excited to demonstrate, compare, and discuss the attributes of each! I still have a lot to learn, but I am enjoying fluting and being able to create wonderful music, by myself and with others during class and on Destination Fluting events! I can’t wait to teach my little granddaughter all that I have learned and to share this passion with her. Thank you, Helen! “

– Dee Nyberg

I purchased my first flute and started taking lessons from Helen two years ago. Helen teaches with humor, humility and positivity, leading you to new levels of confidence and creativity while instilling a respect for the instrument and the tradition of the Native American flute.
Two years and several flutes later I continue to love being a part of the Willow Wind tribe.

- Judith Baker

I am grateful to Helen for bringing the Native American Style Flute into my life. It amazes me how a piece of wood with holes in it can bring such beauty and peace into my world. I am a nurse and my job is stressful. I play my flute before I go to work, playing and praying for the day, I play my flute for myself just before I go to sleep. I have given myself permission to take time for myself. I have never been able to just sit and meditate but now I feel I can musically meditate and that is very good self-care.

– Jean Powell

“Helen is a great teacher of the Native American Style Flute. Her knowledge of the flute is both in breadth and great depth.

I knew very little about the flute when I first signed up for a class. I was stepping outside of the box when I first started learning to play.

In addition to teaching how to play, how to practice and how to read Nakai Tablature, she teaches how the flute works, troubleshooting problems and how to repair the flute.

I’ve known Helen close to a year now, and have taken classes at a community college to Zoom classes when COVID-19 hit, and onto Covid compliant classes at a local concert venue. I have taken classes nonstop since October 2019 which says a lot about how much I enjoy learning to play from Helen.

In between classes she also organizes Destination Flute gatherings inviting her pupils to participate. A very rewarding experience too!

I’ve seen her grow her business and broaden her interests by adding her special Flute Topics™ interviews with renowned and awarded flute musicians. The addition of a YouTube channel and videos is another way of growing her interests.

Personally, I’ve enjoyed all the classes. I admit at times I have found it mentally challenging, but I keep going back to learn more.

I highly recommend Helen if you are interested in learning how to play the Native American Style Flute!”

– Bob Clark

I remember well the first time I walked into Helen’s artisan shop, she was playing her Native American Style Flute. I asked her to keep playing while I shopped. As she wrapped up my purchases I asked her about her flutes. She told me the history of the flute, why she started to play it, and that she could teach me to play my own song, on the spot, in five minutes. I laughed and told her that I love music but have never played an instrument. She told me that was perfect, no bad habits to contend with, and she told me we would have a few good laughs along the way. She was so sure I could do it that I was excited to try. I went home with a flute that day and now have several. I love my lessons with Helen, I always feel energized after a class knowing I can go where I never thought I could before: I can play music, my own music. I enjoy making up new songs and feeling the day’s pressures slip away when I do. Helen, I thank you!
– Mary Jean Spaulding

I have had the pleasure of being a student of Helen`s for the past 16 months. After a trip to the American South West many years ago I fell in love with the haunting sound of the Native American flute. Soon thereafter my wife purchased a beautiful, hand carved flute for my birthday. Despite reading books and listening to CDs by noted Native American flute players, I did not seem to making progress. It was an exercise in noise making and not a very pleasant one - frustrating. Where were those haunting sounds that I had heard on my trip to Arizona and New Mexico? I placed the flute in my closet where it languished for about 10 years. My wife found a notice for Helen`s Willow Wind Native American flute lessons while searching for something else on social media. She asked me if I would like to try lessons and hearing a "yes", signed me up! My classes with Helen have been live and more recently, over Zoom. I could not be happier with Helen`s teaching, her dedication to her students and with the satisfaction that I have received learning to play this wonderful instrument. I have taken a solo lesson but mostly have been in classes with other students - all good!! Playing with others under Helen`s guidance has been a terrific learning experience. I now feel much more comfortable playing the flute. It is an expressive instrument and allows me to follow my heart. It is also capable of a variety of musical styles, from free bird to funky, from medieval to meditative... There are so many flutes with a wide variety of voices. They are works of art reaching out for what's next.

– Joe O

Helen Yetman Bellows is one upstanding, outstanding person. I “met” her through Brent Adams when looking for an “A” key drone. No, Helen didn’t have one but readily referred me to someone that did, S Jay Stealth.

Helen demonstrates how people, flutes and the love of art, are the drivers in her life. She stays in touch with me even though I have not yet taken a lesson or bought a flute from her. She and I had a fun play date on line and I was invited to audit a group lesson and I am very intrigued. I will definitely join in when we get planted in AZ in November.

Thank you Helen for all you do contributing to the fluting family, not only for your beautiful music that you share but for the inspiration and encouragement for those of us just stepping into this wonderful world. You have made a lasting impression on me. Blessings

- Michelle C. Oregon

Helen - I wanted to let you know the impact that being a member of your Native American flute classes has had on me. I tried for years to learn how to play the guitar and never felt that I made enough progress to enjoy the effort. I have been taking a weekly class from you for 9 months. While I do not always feel that I am making the progress I wish I could, that is due to the limited time that I have to practice and 'get out of my head' like you often tell me! My job is highly stressful and I have to push myself some weeks to join the class. In fact I have been near tears at the start of many classes due to my stress level and frustration that I have not had opportunity to practice prior to the lesson. However, you have never failed to get me 'out of my head' in a lesson. Your gift is knowing just the right exercise for each person in the lesson to help them expand on their skill set. Your intuitiveness allows you to give several rounds of incremental challenges that are suited to each individual. And, yet, I feel that we each learn from the mini-lessons you are giving the other students. No one can hide in one of your classes, everyone is asked to push a bit each round and your very specific feedback each time enables the students to find meaning in the task you are asking of them. I feel fortunate to have met you and to have continued lessons, even though they are via zoom, they are none the less just as meaningful as if you were in my living room! Thank you

- Kathi McCollumn

“Helen is a kind and patient teacher.  She finds the BEST in everything you play, and offers endless encouragement and good humor.”

– Christine Mann

Helen has profoundly changed my life. I have arthritis in my hands, asthma, I am a recent widower and live alone. I play my flute to my dear wife every day, it helps me feel connected to her, my hands feel stronger and I breathe better. When I play in the local park people stop and chat and I don’t feel so lonely. I also enjoy the music I make, I play pretty good for an old guy.

– Robert Cabashaw

I met Helen at a craft show, she was selling flutes and her jewelry. I could feel her energy, passion, and enthusiasm for the flute and for life as she played. I listened and watched her for a while before I went up to the booth to talk to her. I saw her sell flutes to all levels of players, young and old. I always wanted to play the Native American Flute but was afraid to try. I waited until there was a lull at her booth and stepped up, knees shaking, afraid I would make a fool of myself. One look in Helen’s twinkling eyes and I knew I had found the right person to help me find the courage to try. Try I did, laugh we did, and we played together, all as if we were old friends and had been playing together for ever. Was it the greatest music you ever heard? No. But it was music just the same. I am so glad it was Helen who introduced me to the flute. When I have a bad day I just pick up my flute and think of that day under Helen’s show tent and I play me heart out and my day turns bright before my eyes. If you want to learn to play the flute but were afraid to even try, then Helen is your girl!

– Jasmine Coats