Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Thanks for sharing the fine video, Roman, and welcome to the forum!

You are well on your way, sir.

That was a great video. It was fun hearing you play some of the same songs that I have been learning. Keep up the great work!

Thank you all for nice responses. I'm really happy to join this forum. I study by Masayuki Koga's book and never had a lesson with a teacher because there are no teachers in my small town. As far as I know there are only 2 teachers in Russia, both live in Moscow.

These days I'm working on meri and highest notes in kan register and try to play "Sakura" I'll record more videos when I learn more pieces.

Welcome to the forum Megus. We have several other Russian members, it's great to see shakuhachi spreading around the globe.

Welcome. What a great video. I had a teacher for 2 years, and I cannot even play Yu-yake Ko-yake !!! Excellent work.

airin wrote:

I still struggle to play those same pieces with good tone and even long breaths.

... I don't know if I find your progress inspiring or disheartening....LOL!

same here

Megus wrote:

Well, people say that Shakuhachi Yuu which is made of plastic is easier to play than a bamboo shakuhachi, so who knows if I could be able to play this on bamboo flute after 6-7 months of self training

That really depends on the particular bamboo shakuhachi; some play easier than others (true even for 'good' shakuhachi). All shakuhachi Yuu's will
play pretty much the same (although there are some out there that have been 'enhanced' by Monty Levenson).

I started to take lessons via Skype recently. And it's my teacher (Alexander Ivashin from Moscow) who taught me to play U with 1st and 3rd holes shaded As far as I know this note is played differently in different shakuhachi schools.

Jon wrote:

I am glad to hear you are taking Skype lessons. Yes U is one of those notes with many variations!

I couldn't find your teacher on google but just read of the events in Moscow. My thoughts are with your fellow countrymen in Moscow.

I'm not sure if Alexander is well known outside Russia. He is one of 2 teachers in Russia and has Chuden certificate in Kinko-ryu. I took several lessons via Skype and when I was at Moscow couple of weeks ago I took a lesson with him in person.

radi0gnome wrote:

Sakura is a folk song, are these really played differently depending on the school?

Regardless of the answer to that question, my opinion is that since it is a folk song it doesn't really matter. I've noticed Japanese players seem to have few reservations of playing folk songs on 7 hole shakuhachi or choosing a key for the song that avoids meri (head bent) notes. Eventually learn it both ways, but you might as well do it as your teacher suggests for right now.

I think shakuhachi players of different schools will play folks songs differently At first I learned to play U note with only 3rd hole open in meri position, it sounds more melodic and less windy this way. But now I follow my teacher's suggestions.