Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hi, I've had my Yuu for a couple of weeks now and feel that I'm progressing pretty well, but I just have a couple of questions about playing in the kan register. I'm working on playing kan notes at the moment.. I can hit Ro, Tsu and Re probably 70% of attempts by a combination of tightening my embouchure, getting closer to the utaguchi and using a bit more pressure in my diaphram (overblowing), but I was wondering how to play kan notes quietly and with control. It seems I have to really be playing loudly to hit them, and they are quite breathy and unstable, often dropping back down into otsu. From trial and error it seems to be mostly about lip tension and narrowing the embouchure, but then it also seems that too much tension in the lips completely loses the sound.

I guess it's probably just a matter of practice and training the embouchure day after day. I am having my first lesson with a qualified teacher later this month, but it'd be nice to get a bit of advice in the mean time. When I hear those sweet, mellow kan tones of players like Riley Lee, with so much control, and so subtle I just... ahhh well all in time :-)

Thanks

Last edited by Danny (2010-06-08 05:17:46)