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#1 2015-01-15 02:07:33
- David Naess
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- From: Rochester, NY
- Registered: 2015-01-05
- Posts: 12
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Practice BEFORE one has developed their embouchure
I have just started and have yet to develop my lip muscles and to attain a halfway acceptable sound out of my shakuhachi.
I find that practicing too long only leads to frustration. Thus, at this point I only practice for about 5 minutes, two or three times a day.
Is this the correct approach at this time?
I am still awaiting the arrival of:
Hajimete no Shakuhachi (Beginner's Guide to Shakuhachi)-English
which I ordered from Mejiro and intend to use that as my standard lesson guide.
Last edited by David Naess (2015-01-15 11:47:59)
HowdyDave
Rochester, NY
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#2 2015-01-15 10:07:06
- Peter Schreiber
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- From: Oldenburg, Germany
- Registered: 2014-06-27
- Posts: 11
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Re: Practice BEFORE one has developed their embouchure
Hey David,
it's clear that the right embouchure comes from training, training needs patience and time.
When started I did also some 5 to 10 minutes practicing. With the growing number of exercises and pieces to play the time you play each day will increase automatically. After some time I bought the great "Shakuhachi Workbook" it offers scales, long tone exercises and so on which became part of my practicing day.
For now start with that book and don't worry too much about the time as long as you have fun playing your shakuhachi. 
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#3 2015-01-18 08:14:54
- David Naess
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- From: Rochester, NY
- Registered: 2015-01-05
- Posts: 12
- Website
Re: Practice BEFORE one has developed their embouchure
While the Beginner's Guide to Shakuhachi-English has some outstanding information in it (especially the "Troubleshooting Guide for Beginners"), I am a bit disappointed...
It uses western musical notation and was written for a 1.6.
While I can use it to play music, it is technically incorrect for my 1.8.
Wish that they had incorporated shakuhachi notation in it instead (or as well.)
In my opinion, if one wants to learn the shakuhachi, one should learn shakuhachi notation as well.
Last edited by David Naess (2015-01-18 08:42:58)
HowdyDave
Rochester, NY
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#4 2015-01-22 15:40:45
- David Naess
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- From: Rochester, NY
- Registered: 2015-01-05
- Posts: 12
- Website
Re: Practice BEFORE one has developed their embouchure
I've got to stop watching online instructional videos!
I almost get my embouchure when...
I watch a guy with the online name of "selftrance" talk about spitting out watermelon seeds and I lose it.
I watch Perry Yung talking about "the Buddha's smile" and half-articulated "P"s and I lose it.
From the very beginning, I started by extending my lower lip and blowing over the smooth interior surface; so what they are all saying is probably not applicable.
I will approach this as a solitary path for a while... just as I did with Jnana Yoga.
Last edited by David Naess (2015-01-22 15:50:09)
HowdyDave
Rochester, NY
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