A new piece and the World Shakuhachi Festival

                  Musical adventures can be so much fun yet sometimes be as frustrating. Last month was just that for me as what was continuing as a delightful path for my own learning abruptly changed with my going back to self study and research. My teacher and I have parted ways due to not being the right match, and that is OK!  Not everyone is a good match for such dynamics and finding the right one continues.

In the meantime, something else presented itself that same week: winning a scholarship to the World Shakuhachi Festival in Texas this April! One thing I never expected, and that was being chosen for this delightful privilege of attending and learning of my favourite instrument! 

 As I peruse the site for this event , my excitement grows in what will be on tap. Workshops, concerts, open mic options as well as meeting so many players and friends! I'm afraid I might be quite the fanboy while there, relishing the opportunity to be around the amazing people and friends I've listened to and chatted with for many years! Some of these incredible players are who inspired me to learn and embrace the shakuhachi!

 In the meantime I have been contemplating which shakuhachi piece I want to learn next. While I have been learning Sanya Sugagaki since December, I honestly am not all that in love with it. It is not a bad piece, not at all . It simply doesn't call to me as one of the compositions I want to learn right now. Also...it is not a real easy piece to learn. So I have looked over what calls to me and will choose soon. Now, I need to practice!!!  🙏

Link to the WSF site!!

https://wsf2025.com/

                         

Ah, the mind and its trickery!

                     As the new year begins, challenges remain in full force and view as far as my shakuhachi journey goes. My last lesson with Sensei Araki was splendid and I learned a lot , especially some tips that will help my melon. Ok, my brain. One source of struggle for me has been the Kinko ryu notation and wrapping my head around it. If I were coming to Kinko as a beginner and fresh in learning, it wouldn't be as much a struggle. But my first teacher as well as subsequent instructors and lessons were rooted in other notations such as Tozan and Myoan. Or different styles of print and handwritten notations. So...when the kinko style was shown to me for reading and practice, my mind melted.  

This score is of Sanya Sugagaki by Satō Seibi and one of a few of this piece I have. When I first saw it, sure...I recognized some of the notes and markings but also was puzzled by many others. This became an instant question for sensei as I was not grasping it. He mentioned perhaps writing the notes down the way I know how from the previous years of instruction. A good idea as this was going to take time. And as I age, this mind is not as sharp as it once was!

Fast forward a month and I've SLOWLY been learning the new notation. It is not easy and this is a challenge for me as a shakuhachi student. I can easily play by ear and fortunately, this is a positive thing when learning shakuhachi as opposed to some instruments. The nuances, ornamentation and dynamics of tone are very important in shakuhachi play and interpretation. Especially tone and colour. This makes my situation a bit better as I pick up on pitch and variations easily. And also a good reason to have a teacher.

Above is the original notation and beginners sheet I started with way back in 2010. Quite a change to go from that to the Kinko notation. So, my new goals this month are to learn the Kinko notation the best that I can and also learn Sanya Sugagaki as well. 🙏

New additions to the shakuhachi family!

 Two new shakuhachi have been added to my growing family of flutes!

     I have been wanting a Kinko style shakuhachi with the same utaguchi insert and yet didn't have the money to purchase one. So, I made a tough decision and decided to trade my two Ellis Pueblo Native flutes for two shakuhachi from a fellow musician in Maryland. After a week of travel and delays, these two lovelies arrived! The one on the left is a 1.8 model from Nomura Godo and has a lovely kinko utaguchi as well as silver accents. Plays sweetly and sounds delightful! The second flute on the right has no hanko but is a 1.9 with a Tozan insert. This is my only bamboo shakuhachi without any bindings.

They both play well and are a welcome addition to the growing collection! As for my playing...that is still and always will be a work in progress! My last lesson with Araki Sensei went very well and I have now added Sakura to my list of pieces. Currently I am working on Sanya Sugugaki which is and will be a big challenge for quite awhile. Yet, even in the few lessons I have had with Kodo Araki VI, there has been much learned and gleaned! I confess that money is tight and I am not sure how many lessons I can afford in the future, but at this point I will do my best .

The shakuhachi itself is not only a beautiful instrument of sound but a work of art! To own these amazing flutes is in itself a pleasure . Even if I were not a player, owning them is a privilege and honor. They also play a role in my spiritual life as well, within the framework of meditation and mindfulness. On this holiday after a week away up north adventuring with a loved one, the time calls for getting back to practice and learning again. The break was necessary for my mind and heart.                                         

A new beginning? What changed?

                                As the remaining months of the year arrive, new dynamics and events have changed my shakuhachi adventure! As of October 2024, my new shakuhachi teacher and sensei is Araki Kodo VI, or Hanz Araki. After much thought and consideration as to whom I could turn to for further instruction as well as someone local to the Pacific Northwest, I asked Araki sensei if he'd consider myself as a possible student. Thankfully, he agreed! Now, there are no illusions as to this when it comes to finances and time. 

As a shakuhachi scholar, student and music lover, I knew that I couldn't follow the traditional route of a student. I simply don't have the finances to take lessons every week, or two weeks. The most I can do is maybe a lesson per month if the budget allows. After two lessons now from my new sensei, I can see this is going to be a very fruitful adventure!

                                    Here is a link to the blog of Araki Kodo VI as well as his website for more information: 

 Kodo Araki VI  (website)

 Kodo Araki VI blog

                           I've decided to restart, or rather, continue my blog here at Shakuhachi Adventures instead of starting a new one. For now, I will post this and then add more next time regarding my studies, shakuhachi flutes as well as other new insights.

                                                          Till then, Namaste! 

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Hiatus

After a rather long hiatus from the shakuhachi due to other pursuits and life in general, I have returned to my roots, pardon the pun. More later on the past year and my goals for the future.

Shakuhachi and Covid 19

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          Seriously? Has it truly been ten months since posting on this blog? Unfortunately, yes. :-(

               And there is no excuse other than letting things get away from me. This included practice and playing of my flutes. Summer and autumn extended into winter and it wasn't until today that I was electronically "kicked in the rear", though not intended, by Kiku Day and her post regarding playing Robuki to the planet for healing and show empathy for those affected. My wee light bulb went off and I was shocked at how long it had been. I felt immediate shame and sadness as well as anger at my lack of discipline.

While I TRY so hard to not beat myself up for such things, I had good cause to this time. Simply put...no excuses due to time constraints. I just have way too many interests and need to make a decision as to whether I want to continue playing this amazing instrument.







           Sure, what a stupid question. Of course I do!! And what a time for this to happen as now I have more time than ever. As of last week, my employment has been postponed for awhile. My job is still there, just that the college has shut down due to safety and the governors orders for non essential functions to be closed. While I will not be getting paid (unemployment rejected due to not having the minimum hours over a calendar year), this will be a good opportunity to start fresh and play again.

           So many months off has made playing really depressing but within an hour I had some stronger Ro notes going on Hideo, my primary shakuhachi. So, out came all the books and music as well as forming my mind around the culture and pieces again. It is amazing how quickly one can get back into the swing of things!!


                   

                         Covid 19 has been devastating to the planet and so many people have died or are infected. This is NOT a flu bug nor something to be taken lightly, as some have maintained. And being such an extrovert has not made this easy. Still, after a week off and away from others (most others), I now know what a perfect time this is to get to work on not only playing my shakuhachi again, but back to meditation and the tings I miss, that really inspired and calmed me, soothed my soul. Life can be horribly demanding and having the mindset and discipline to maintain the positive activities and actions can be tough.


                       Therefore, today marks the start of starting again. Of delving and immersing myself once more into those worlds that made me who I am in many ways. I'll never thank such things as a virus for creating such havoc and pain but most certainly will learn from this and adjust to it in the best way possible! _/||\_ 

                                                                  Namaste!

                                                             

New flute!!

            This year has been a quiet one for my flutes and any playing for a host of many reasons. One is due to the constant busy my schedule is and how much I am doing. The other deals with the fact that the facial hair I have grown is making an embouchure much more difficult and therefore that playing is considerably tougher. So the flutes took a back seat as the classical guitar came out. Still, I find myself still trying to get some decent sounds out of the flutes! Then, a few weeks ago a fella in our flute group saw my Ellis Pueblo flute up for sale (made of maple) and wanted to discuss a trade. Up for offer was his Ellis (https://www.ellisflutes.com/) shakuhachi, also of curly maple.


  So, yes...this was certainly a trade I could do and within a few weeks, the new shakuhachi was in my hands. Amazingly, I was able to get some rich sounds from this flute and lo and behold, apparently the facial hair had grown long enough to allow it to lay flat enough and make an embouchere work, even on Hideo, my beloved bamboo shakuhachi!

                                               Here are a few pics of the new arrival!!

                                                         













This delightful flute is incredible and while no, it is not bamboo, it has qualities that the latter does not. Especially it's stability as regards cracking. I will be playing this flute now and then as it will never replace my Hideo . but what a welcome addition to the collection!