John Wubbenhorst World Music

Rated 5.0  I have been a student of John's for the past 8-9 years, starting when I was in middle school. I have had such a fun time learning from John, he's incredibly passionate about his teaching and his infectious joy when explaining rajas and improvisation moved onto me! John has taught me over 20+ ragas by this time, and we have even done Western music (Bach, etc.), Jazz-inspired compositions, and Irish-folk-song-inspired creations. Coming from a background in Western classical piano, I had no background on Indian music and the music theory behind it. I have learned so much from John, but the best part is how he teaches! He's extremely supportive, joyful, and passionate about what he does, and I couldn't have found a better guru!

Rated 5.0  The bansuri flute is one of the most sensual and serene instruments to come out of India...... Only a couple of Westerners have mastered its intricacy one is John Wubbenhorst.

Rated 5.0   An excellent debut by a new artist in the area of World Musi Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 1999 World Music can often be a hotch-potch of styles but Mr.Wubbenhorst has managed to avoid that in his recording debut. A flutist, who plays both the Western instrument and the Indian bamboo flute or bansuri, Wubbenhorst works with a variety of Western and Indian instruments to create a new and exciting sound. The rhythmic basis of the music, generated by Indian tabla player Sandip Barman is particularly interesting. On top of this, Wubbenhorst layers a variety of colors and patterns, and at the very top, gives us flute improvisations with a mixture of jazz and Indian influences. The end result is a sound that is clean, fresh and invigorating, leavened with moments of meditative serenity that the bamboo flute is beautifully suited for. This is a fine debut. If you enjoy jazz, World Music or any similar genres and you are a little jaded by the sameness of current issues, give Facing East a chance, I think you will be pleasantly surprised

Rated 5.0  As a teacher, John Wubbenhorst communicates a clear and profound understanding and experience of the rich tradition of Northern India’s classical music. The focus of my classes was on Rag Yaman: it’s emotional mood, melodic outline, ornamentations, variations, as well as improvisational approaches to this raga. Studying Yaman as a foundation to understanding other ragas, was a great place to begin to study this vast realm. I learned a lot from my few months of study with John, in which, at my request, he facilitated translating a bansuri approach to the western flute. I highly recommend him as a teacher.

Rated 5.0  “A stunning virtuoso display of the bamboo flute ….. the compositions and arrangements are equally impressive”