There really is NEVER enough time! therefore, one needs to make room for the important things . Priorities in life usually require one to take that time out, seek it and devote the moments necessary to what they have as passions, work or the things that make them happy. Shakuhachi playing and life is one of those things. In my own life, I find I do have to carve out time to play and practice. Admittedly, there has not been a lot of progress with my studies in the playing arena. Reading about the instrument, following posts and articles...sure. The student of the instrument, it's history and all there is to see and do has always been there. But making time for practice and really getting down to the actions of LEARNING and PLAYING new songs has been a struggle for me. By now, I'd hoped to have four or five new songs from my Koga book memorized and "under my belt".
Alas, I have still only two learned from this delightful book and have had a difficult time in getting my head wrapped around learning more.
Is it my brain NOT being able to memorize or digest it? Not really, as I can listen to a piece and know it when I hear it. Perhaps it is the possibility that I cannot play them after all. No, I can. It is simply a matter of taking time, doing it over and over again and LEARNING the pieces.
What I have is...monkey mind. It's all over the place, like a monkey from limb to limb. Jumping to and fro, never staying in one place. As soon as I start to play and learn something new, my mind moves to other things. What is one to do when the brain refuses to calm down?
A solution is available to me that will be put into place starting now. More meditation . This time, WITH the shakuhachi . Perhaps blowing Ro while I meditate, or even scales. Working on pitch, embouchure or the fluency of notes. Whatever it takes, this will have to be done. I have now been involved with and playing the shakuhachi for five years and things need to change if I'm going to progress. Many have suggested lessons again or getting together with others. While the former sounds delightful and I'd LOVE to do that again with my sensei, funds are not available for that as it is simply too expensive. But getting together with others...now THAT is a ;possibility. I shall look into announcing some sort of get together in Portland for all shakuhachi lovers and perhaps there are some things we can all share. The Pacific Northwest Shakuhachi group on Facebook has quite a few members now so maybe some would be up for meeting somewhere to play, share tips, enjoy the friendship.
Until then, each day I shall try my best at meditation with the shakuhachi, Hideo for sure, and to better my playing and progress. This needs to happen if I'm ever going to play in public or at a Matsuri, which I hope happens this next year, either in Seattle or Portland. Might have to look into that.
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