Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

lowonthetotem,

Greetings!

I find that everytime I practice the shakuhachi I am meditating. Perhaps you are trying too hard to make the flute fit into your formal meditation. If practicing on the couch brings you peace then let it be. You might also consider beginning your formal meditation with practice and then meditate on how your practice went. Who knows there might be some control issues to work through.

Peace
pstl

I've heard a few people say that there is no one around, but I've also heard that Dale Olsen is professor and shakuhachi teacher at FSU. Does anyone have any info about him?   I think Philip Gelb was one of his students.

lowonthetotem wrote:

I have been reading a few posts on this forum for a couple of weeks.  I bought a very inexpensive shakuhachi about 3 months ago to see if it was something that I wanted to pursue.  I have enjoyed it a great deal.  Recently, I decided to invest in a nicer flute from Yung Flutes, a 1.8, non-root-end.  I find myself enjoying posts on here, but a number of varied view points are often presented, and I have difficulty deciding which best applies to me.

Hi lowonthetotem, Thanks for your posts.

As you know, many people play the shakuhachi with different approaches and what works for one may not be applicable for another.

I find that I can play the first five notes pretty easily when I just practice informally, and the tones are what I think are pretty accurate.  There is not a great deal of "breathiness" in them, and I don't have to blow hard at all to get them to come out clear and with some volume.

Sounds like you're off to a great start!

I sit in meditation for an hour or so each morning and use my Shakuhachi during the last 15 minutes to half an hour of my sitting practice.  During this time, I find it much more difficult to create the notes that come so easily when I am just goofing around while I sit on the couch.

Then I would suggest just goofing around on the couch with the shakuhachi for a while. Daily practice of anything makes that thing become a natural activity. Heres' what someone wrote to me a while back. I've edited out the thank yous.:

" Dear Perry,
...I have been playing the 2.9 shakuhachi as part of my
meditation practice almost every night and many of the mornings since
it arrived. I had never played a flute before, although I have been
meditating for many years. Yet I am already able to blow the /ro/ note
often when I try. I can even play little improvised melodies along with
the train sounds, bird sounds, wind sounds and traffic sounds outside
my window. Then I set the flute down and sit mindfully listening and
hearing. Then I pick the flute up again... I feel very connected with this instrument..."

The flute came with a nice brochure and some pieces.  But there are very few step by step instructions.  I guess I am the kind of guy that needs things spelled out.  My question would be twofold, what is the best way to  use the Shakuhachi during seated meditation, and what is a good training regimine to follow?  I realize there are posts concerning this, but as I said there seem to be several points of view expressed in each, and I wondered what would be best for my skill level.

The fellow who I quoted from above found a natural way of applying the flute to his practice. I think that once you feel more comfortable with the flute, you can find a natural and personal way to integrate it. As a suggestion, perhaps you can start your meditation by blowing long tones first for for ten minutes or so. Then, put the flute down and move on to your normal  practice.

I'd enjoy getting a teacher, but there are none near me, and my wife is already a little on edge that I spent money on a nicer flute.  It may be a while before i have the money to invest in a teacher.  I know this is not ideal, but it is what I have to deal with.

Sorry for the length of the post.

Please do not apologize. We like long posts

Since my booklet is mentioned. I thought I should say a little about my intention with it so that others know where I'm coming from. I played the shakuhachi in my own way for over five years without ever even looking at a shakuhachi book. Then I started with traditional lessons and that opened up my idea of music and technique. Since then, I've read many books on 'How to Play" the shakuhachi and studied with some of the most  experience teachers in the world. My booklet is intended for those who may never get to meet a teacher face to face, or want to. Here's is the opening statement in the booklet:

The best way to learn the shakuhachi is to sit in front of an experienced teacher whose sound you find compelling.
If that is not possible, the next best thing is a guide such as this.

This guide is intended as an introduction to appreciating the essence found in a single tone of the shakuhachi.
In a few months, you may study with a teacher of a particular style and in a lifetime become a master.
Or, you may discover that you choose to cultivate peace in blowing one or two long tranquil notes.

Ones approach to playing is ever evolving. Enjoy the process."

Since I wrote this opening statement, my mind has changed slightly. Mainly, because I have seen great things happen through internet lessons. When I was at Michael Chikizen Gould's Shakuhachi Camp, I met some of his internet students and was very very impress at their skill of playing and understanding of the music.

The connection with shakuhachi playing and meditation has been touched upon on a couple of threads already. I'm sure more will come. Although they may not necessarily be one thing for everyone, I believe one can enhance the other.  I hope this helps.


Namaste, Perry

lowonthetotem wrote:

I think I am ready to start on the first Honkyoku, although it still seems pretty daunting.

The honkyoku will still be there when you are ready for it, Grasshopper 

Hey, Steve.  With gas the way it is, I don't travel much.  I've even started riding my bike to work a few time a week.

I've been riding a bicycle for twenty-one years in Kochi.  Japan is more bicycle friendly than the U.S.A., with all high school students and a fair number of oldsters on bicycles.  My wife drives, but we didn't buy a car until about five years ago.

Very nice.

Condolences on your flute.

Hope the dog still lives....

eB

lowonthetotem wrote:

Can we have a translation forum?  Just Japanese to other language.  Maybe, we don't need a forum.  Can I get a literal translation for "Otsu", "Kan" and "shaku".  Even "sun"?  I run iton words like this all the time researching what I should know about this instrument, but some LITERAL translations would be great.  Often on dictionary sites, you are required to select among several different meanings.  However, if some native speakers couls explain this specific translation to us, that would be ideal.

http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=1327

We have a groovy search function here and if you type "dictionary" "glossary" "terminology" etc. in there you find things like this.

So, I am guessing that this is one of the longest introductions on the forum.  It is going on four months.

Thanks for the translations Zak.

I posted a link to my new blog (I am pretty pathetic about keeping up on those things, so this is merely my latest attempt at keeping one going) in the "Memorizing Honkyoku" thread.  This one is different because I actually have media to post on it.  Yes I have discovered the "record" feature on my computer, much to everyone's chagrin I am sure.  I only bring it up because I really got some useful feed back from a few folks that have changed my practice regimen.  At the risk of sounding like an attention whore, I just wanted to let everyone know that I've put the blog in as my website on my avatar.  I'd invite everyone to listen if you have time and the stomach for it (I am really not very accomplished at all), in the hopes of getting more great feedback.  Thanks for your endulgence.

Also, I just wanted to say thanks to the folks on the board who have been helping me out along the way.  Perry, Ed, Phil, and others.  You guys have really been alot of help, and I appreaciate it.  I just wanted to let you guys know.  I've never really tried to learn an instrument before, besides some lame attempts at the guitar and an adolescent aquaintance with the harmonica.  This has been one of the most rewarding things I've done for myself in the last ten years, and everyone has had a hand in making it such.  Thanks again.

edosan wrote:

Hmmm...is the accompanying 'slide show' designed to keep the listener riveted to the screen?

Oh my God!