tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60240961886890317392024-03-12T17:21:31.377-07:00Shakuhachi - Brian's Florida Shakuhachi BlogBrian's Florida Shakuhachi blog specializes in dokyoku style shakuhachi. With shakuhachi teachers like Michael Chikuzen Gould, Yoshinobu Taniguchi, Katsuya Yokoyama and Watazumi do.Brian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-85875978112076726652019-01-27T08:30:00.000-08:002019-01-27T08:30:04.592-08:00<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new spark!</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My old friend Jon Kypros has outdone himself with his new creation! He has created a new affordable shakuhachi called "The Bell". I have been away from playing for some time but when I saw his new creation I was intrigued. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He has created a molded flute made of an "eco-composite" that is element resistant and actually looks real in person. I can't tell you how many people have had to see the mold line on the rear of the flute to believe it wasn't bamboo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I own some very nice flutes and have played some amazing flutes in my time including treasures from Taniguchi's collection and this flute is very balanced and the tone is beautiful. It has become my go to flute for daily playing. It is balanced between the octaves with no issues achieving full tones rivaling my professional Senryu jiari flute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out this video below and do yourself a favor... get one while he is still producing them! <a href="http://www.flutedojo.com/">http://www.flutedojo.com</a></span><br />
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Brian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-42245772689063940582011-10-05T14:56:00.000-07:002011-10-05T15:26:38.898-07:00Here comes the camp!!Florida Shakuhachi Camp kicks off in just a couple days. I will be posting pictures and info here after the camp. It is beautiful outside and we still have room for one more if anyone changesBrian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-62720258157217708232011-09-13T18:06:00.000-07:002011-09-13T18:08:47.603-07:00Final call for Florida Shakuhachi Camp.If you are still considering coming to camp I need to know by Sept 15 so I can reserve your room. Please email me at <a href="mailto:%20brian@floridashakuhachi.com">brian@floridashakuhachi.com</a> if you have any questions. Thanks!Brian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-76016973548206969842011-08-11T11:42:00.000-07:002011-08-12T11:17:36.532-07:00Shakuhachi Prints for sale.I commissioned a young lady to draw a komuso print for me to offer for sale for those that are interested. It is on 11"x17" acid free card stock and the actual image is 9 3/4"wx16"h. The cost of the prints is $20usd plus $5usd shipping in the states and $10usd overseas. Below are some pictures of the print with some close ups to show the detail in the print. brian@floridashakuhachi.com
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/komusoprint1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/komusoprint1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/komusoprint1.jpg">
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<br />Brian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-23459257303190295682011-08-09T07:52:00.000-07:002011-08-09T08:23:07.506-07:00A weekend bed and breakfast with Chikuzen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsx2PZObMOHJcEePEIXD8BdjXoUGcSrVjRGmtdFoBjEAFfTiAirHuEo7jFGX65x4_B_X7SlEwAZ-OzakX2IzeEeoqYQc4lQBEl4hImS7nsuhyphenhyphenpJzYS5MGD3yPERYTDy2_c59VVUTbsiaM/s1600/tengai.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsx2PZObMOHJcEePEIXD8BdjXoUGcSrVjRGmtdFoBjEAFfTiAirHuEo7jFGX65x4_B_X7SlEwAZ-OzakX2IzeEeoqYQc4lQBEl4hImS7nsuhyphenhyphenpJzYS5MGD3yPERYTDy2_c59VVUTbsiaM/s400/tengai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638877033454593826" border="0" /></a>
<br />I headed out Friday morning to Cleveland, OH for some very needed one on one time with Michael Chikuzen Gould. After jumping through the airport hoops on the way I finally arrived in Cleveland where I promptly took the train from the terminal to meet with Chikuzen. It had been some time since I had studied with him in person as real life tends to catch up with us all.
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<br />When I got there he picked me up at the train station waiting with that big Chikuzen grin I have grown accustomed to seeing every time we meet. We hopped in the car and went to his house for some quick BBQ and went right to playing.
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<br />It always amazes me how effective in person intensives with a great Sensei can be. Skype is a great tool to use for weekly lessons but I definitely feel they should be in partner with the quarterly one on one meeting whether it be at a camp or one of Chikuzen's bed and breakfast retreats where you get his attention for one weekend solely.
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<br />We worked through some of the pieces I have been working on for some time now including Yamagoe, Yama Tani, Takiochi and others. I love how he breaks pieces down into bits sized morsels you can actually ingest in a useful way.
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<br />If you are like me, you have pieces you play and there are always portions that you aren't quite 100% sure about. Sometimes, even using Skype I don't quite get it in total for some reason. Sitting there with him and having him casually observe my playing throughout the weekend gave him the ability to really assess my strong points and week points. Towards the end of the weekend Chikuzen wrote out some "homework" based on what he saw I needed to work on most and gave me some much needed forward momentum.
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<br />If you couple all the shakuhachi playing and learning with great food and some casual walks through some of the most beautiful neighborhood parks I have seen in some time with his dog, Casey, you have the recipe for a great shakuhachi experience!!! I really want to thank Chikuzen for his great hospitality and for giving what he worked so hard to learn, so freely. It was a great trip with some great lessons and even better memories!! I don't think it would have been possible to have a more relaxing yet highly productive weekend with an old friend and great Sensei!
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/283227_10150271329404764_720149763_7340997_2322550_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 431px;" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/283227_10150271329404764_720149763_7340997_2322550_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div>
<br />Brian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-6410251904433185012011-08-04T14:23:00.001-07:002011-08-04T14:23:49.101-07:00Just received new and revised version of Blowing Zen by Ray Brooks<div><p>I saw Ray Brooks posted on facebook that there was a new version of Blowing Zen with a new chapter and more pictures.  I just received it from Amazon and at first glance it is nice. The paper is better quality and the chapters have pictures as you read to help you envision the characters in his story.  I am going to read it on my trip to spend the weekend with Chikuzen and I will post a review afterwards. I have read the book before and I can only imagine the new additions will make it even more enjoyable. </p>
</div>Brian Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196913074893629718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-4303895732699779582011-07-20T11:54:00.000-07:002011-07-20T12:04:01.036-07:00Florida Shakuhachi Camp October 7th-9th 2011We will be having the next FL Shakuhachi camp on October 7-9 2011. It is a great time of the year to visit FL and participate in this workshop. It is an intensive weekend of shakuhachi playing in a relaxed nature setting taught by <a href="http://www.chikuzenstudios.com">Michael Chikuzen Gould</a>. The price for the camp is $400 and that includes private and comfortable accommodations. The camp is restricted to 7 people so there will be plenty of personal attention paid to all players and their needs. <br /><br />It will cater to all levels with particular attention being paid to helping beginners and intermediates develop a strong foundation to help them prevent the obstacles which slow most players development down. Please feel free to contact me at <a href="mailto:brian@floridashakuhachi.com">brian@floridashakuhachi.com</a> with any questions or comments.<br /><br />For full details including pictures of thearea and accommodations and schedule, please see: <a href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com">Florida Shakuhachi</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-42929477562151207482011-03-29T09:49:00.000-07:002011-03-29T09:52:58.414-07:00An interview with Michael Chikuzen Gould<span style="font-weight:bold;">An interview with Michael Chikuzen Gould</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How long have you been playing shakuhachi?</span><br /><br /><br />28 years.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How did you discover the shakuhachi?</span><br /><br /><br />I was living in Kyoto and saw a poster announcing a shakuhahci concert. I wasn't sure what it was but I had some time that day before work, and it was close by and starting soon so I went to check it out. I thought the guy on the poster was a samurai.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What aspects of the shakuhachi most appealed to you when you first discovered it?</span><br /><br /><br />The sound(s.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Who were your main influences and what style initially appealed to you most?</span><br /><br /><br />Someone introduced me to John Neptune's teacher, seeing that John had just left Kyoto and was fairly well known there since he did non traditional stuff that got a lot of attention. The person introducing me figured since I was a gaijin that I would fit in well at a dojo that was used to foreigners. While at the dojo I rummaged through stacks of LPs and listened with the headphones on for hours when others were having lessons. I didn't know who anyone was but I fell in love with Yokoyama Katsuya's stuff. A few months later, I was on vacation stateside and in a bookstore in Columbus, Ohio I found two old LPs of Watazumido. I didn't know anything about him either but listened to those scratchy records over and over till I went back to Japan a month later.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What teachers do you feel have had the biggest impact on your playing and conceptions of the flute?</span><br /><br /><br />Taniguchi Yoshinobu for his energy and spiritual approach, Yokoyama Katsuya for his musicianship and Watazumido for his relationship with nature.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When did you move to Japan and were you playing shakuhachi when you moved there?</span><br /><br /><br />I moved to Japan in 1980 and began studying in 1982.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Did you have experience any bias in being accepted into the shakuhachi culture in Japan?</span><br /><br /><br />I think I felt the "inside/outside" stuff DR. Riley Lee speaks of but not because I was a gaijin. I went to study with Yokoyama Sensei AFTER Taniguchi Sensei stopped playing for a while and I was perceived to be and made to be felt like an "outsider" and a "guest" for quite a while. Yokoyama Sensei knew about me as I had been to his father's house several times through Taniguchi Sensei's introduction. I had played with his father and also his mother way before I met him myself. So by the time I met him he had learned to think of me as Taniguchi Sensei's deshi. Some of that feeling never totally disappeared.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How long did you live in Japan?</span><br /><br /><br />18 long years.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What did you do to earn a living while in Japan and studying shakuhachi?</span><br /><br /><br />I first was employed in the overseas division of Yazaki Soogyo where I helped them with their foreign correspondence. After that I worked for a hugh publishing company in Osaka. After I married a Japanese national I began helping medical doctors with translations and speech writing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How have your conceptions of the flute most changed now that you have so much more experience in the culture and the instrument?</span><br /><br /><br />My early conceptions were defintiely influenced through my teachers playing and also through many other aspects of Japanese culture. However, since leaving Japan they have been based largely on my experience of playing itself. One builds off of one's playing experiences and must continue to redefine and build from a self referential experience all the time.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When playing flutes do you have a preference for jiari or jinashi flutes?</span><br /><br /><br />I have Jinashi, jiari and a "little dab'l doya" jimori flutes. I don't like flutes with a lot of ji in them. Just enough to get the pitch and balance I guess.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What schools of music have you studied and play?<br /></span><br /><br />Mainly Yokoyama and Taniguchi style honkyoku. I have studied some Meian and some Tozan but don't consider myself steeped in their traditions at all. I play some of their songs but with my own style.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Do you have one style of music you tend to play more and why?</span><br /><br /><br />I love honkyoku the most, especially "nature based" honkyokyu. Those are songs derived from nature energy and not chanting. I like some of those too but not as much. I like more modern songs for koto and shakuhachi than I do traditional ensemble pieces, although there are some of that work for me too.<br /><br /><br />I developed a relationship with nature and music in my early years of life. I lived the first five years of my life on a farm with my grandparents and mother. I tagged around with my grandfather all day, "helping" him do the work of raising animals and growing food. Every sunday, after a hard week of work, he would pull out his guitar and a small amp and play and sing. He was from Texas and would play Texas blues and country music. He also played a blues harmonica. It was such a wonderful thing to be sitting at his feet and experiencing his music. He wasn't polished as he was self taught but it was 100% pure soul going into it. He had worked on oil rigs, and had been a conductor on the Union Pacific Railroad too. He depended on nobody and it seemed everyone depended on him in some manner. He built everything he needed and raised all the food we ate at home. That spirit of self dependance was strong in his music. Everyone in my family played music, sang or danced and most did a bit of all. My mother played piano and directed choir and my brother played blues guitar too, very well. My other brother was into musicals, which I hated. I'd run out of the house when he stared singing. Anyway, in my family I was the quiet one in the corner who didn't join in. I really liked to sit and absorb it, just listen and feel it though. In college I was introduced to Buddhism and began meditation. I initially went to Japan to learn more about Buddhism but then bumped into shakuhachi. Once I heard the shakuhachi, all of the things I loved in life came together at once. The breath, being able to be so directly involved with sound production, the focus on breath, nature, the quiet spaces, etc.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What school or schools have issued you a Shihan license and which teacher or teachers perspectively?</span><br /><br /><br />My licenses came from Taniguchi sensei.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How do you feel your teaching style is different than traditional teachers in Japan and how do you feel it benefits students over other more traditional teaching methods?</span><br /><br /><br />I teach a lot on skype so the methods have to be different from Japan, where you do more imitation in a non-verbal setting. I feel that a teacher should help students make “progress” with a combination of sharing insights they have but then also not simply spoon feeding everything. If enough insights are provided, the student will catch on little by little and become aware of the many perspectives that one can view this activity of “doing shakuhachi” from.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How long have you been teaching shakuhachi?</span><br /><br /><br />Full time for 14 years now and part time for 3 or 4 years before that.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Is there a more important question or questions you feel I missed in this interview that you would like to share?</span><br /><br /><br />There are so many perspectives with shakuhachi that I’m sure we could come up with several more chapters. Thanks for your time and effort in allowing me to be on your blog.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thanks for your time in answering these questions and for sharing your valuable knowledge!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-53117208778156567932010-12-14T20:16:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:17:49.779-08:00Florida Shakuhachi Camp Feb 18-20 2011We will be having the 5th Florida Shakuhachi Camp in February here in Florida. The camp will be taught by Michael Chikuzen Gould as always. It will be held Feb 18-20, 2011. For complete details see The Florida Shakuhachi Camp website located at: http://www.floridashakuhachi.com . The camp is limited to 7 students so you will get plenty of individual attention. <br /><br />If you have any questions please let me know and I will help any way I can. The sooner we have the students who will be attending signed up the sooner we will be able to develop the curriculum.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-68291255650167215032010-06-22T12:37:00.000-07:002010-06-22T12:51:50.304-07:00Alcvin Ramos Interview<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBRIANP%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBRIANP%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBRIANP%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> 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line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I asked Alcvin Ramos of <a href="http://www.bamboo-in.com">Bamboo-In</a> to participate in my Masters interview series some time ago. I just received the response and wanted to share it immediately.<span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-weight: bold;">-How long have you been playing the shakuhachi?</span>
<br />18 years. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> -How did you discover the shakuhachi?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I first heard the sound of the shinobue played by Hiroyuki Koinuma in the film "Ran" by Akira Kurosawa when I was in high school. It was that sound that awakened in me something that seemed to be lying dormant. <span style="color: black;">I rushed to the library to research all I could on Japanese bamboo flutes. As I read about the various bamboo flutes of Japan I came across the shakuhachi, for the first time. The pictures of these fascinating looking bamboo flutes and interesting history piqued my interest. Upon hearing the deep, husky tones of the flute on a CD by Goro Yamaguchi, I knew I was to learn this flute one day. The question was when? I knew of no teachers or connections to the shakuhachi world at that time, and thought how impossible it would be for me to play this most beautiful and amazing instrument. In university, one of my classmates had a shakuhachi and I tried it, but it was cracked so it couldn't make a sound. But the sheer beauty of the bamboo and it's simple design really impacted me deeply and I resolved to get to Japan somehow to learn this instrument. So before graduation I found a job in Japan teaching for the ministry of Education and that summer right after graduation I was on a plane to Japan to start my new life. The first thing I did when I arrived in my little town (Yanai-shi) in central Japan was to seek out a shakuhachi teacher which wasn't too difficult to find.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-What aspects of the shakuhachi most appealed to you when you first discovered it?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">First of all was sound....so organic and natural; peaceful yet wonderfully dynamic. Then the incredible simplicity of design which veils a profound complexity. Then the rich and fascinating history so intimately woven into Japanese culture, history, and spirituality. Irresistible to say the least!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> -Who were your main influences and what style initially appealed to you most in the beginning?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the beginning I didn't know anything so all styles appealed to me. When I started to listen to other players the ones that guided my desire to progress were Katsuya Yokoyama, Miyata Kohachiro, and Watazumi Doso.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-What teachers do you feel have had the biggest impact on your playing and conceptions of the flute?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everyone! Each teacher encompasses all there is of each other in their own unique ways. But in a nutshell:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Katsuya Yokoyama for opening up my overall vision of limitless possibilities of the shakuhachi especially honkyoku; Marco Lienhardt for his Yamagoe; Kaoru Kakizakai (also for his Yamagoe) as well as Teruo Furuya for training me and giving me the tools to live as a shakuhachi player/teacher; Miyata Kohachiro for his Tsuru no Sugomori; Watazumi Doso for showing me how to be a shakuhachi (or more accurately a "hocchiku") warrior and the importance of being connected in body/mind/ spirit/nature with shakuhachi practice; Atsuya Okuda for teaching me another universe of jinashi sound and how incredibly, utterly beautiful and subtly complex it is once you throw away all your preconceptions; Yoshinobu Taniguchi for the passionate light of love on the Path of Bamboo; and many many more teachers and makers who have contributed profoundly to my life as a shakuhachi player. I still have much to learn on this road of bamboo.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-When did you decide to begin making shakuhachi and did you have any teachers initially?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I decided to embark on making shakuhachi in 1998. My first making teacher was Iccho Muramatsu in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Then Hoshi Bonchiku. Then Atsuya Okuda in jinashi style. Then Murai Eigoro. Then Kinya Sogawa. Then Shugetsu Yamaguchi. My interest is in making jinashi shakuahchi only.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Who has been the biggest influence on your shakuhachi making?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They all have been equally inspirational. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-When did you decide to pursue both teaching and making as a full time venture?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 2001 when I received my shihan license, I decided do shakuhachi as my life sustenance. I am not a full-time maker as teaching and performing take up most of my time.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> -How long have you been running Bamboo-In now?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5 years.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-How have your conceptions of the flute most changed now that you have so much more experience in the culture and the instrument?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The beauty and depth of the shakuhachi is even more incredible now. I am constantly amazed. One of the great things Katsuya Yokoyama Sensei told me was that everyone creates their own shakuhachi world. For me connecting with other aspects of Japanese traditional arts and culture is part of enhancing the shakuhachi experience. Personally, my years of practice of the martial art of Aikido really enhanced my relationship to shakuhachi as the body-mind connection is the basis for all arts in Japan and the martial arts is great way to learn this deeply as well as how to relate properly to others in a learning situation. Many komuso were samurai and so understood and practiced martial ways. I also learned many excellent stretches and warm-ups that benefit shakuhachi playing. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I also studied tea ceremony for a few years which gave me a deep sense of the Japanese aesthetic and atmosphere. There is so much inspiration in the tea experience. How space is used in the construction of architecture; how to relate to other beings in a space in a beautiful way; appreciation of the details of art and the senses; all applicable to the shakuhachi experience. To play shakuhachi in a tea room/house after having tea is a perfect experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I continue to practice sitting meditation (zazen) in conjunction with shakuhachi practice. For example after 2 hours of sitting (interspersed with walking meditation) I play 30 minutes of honkyoku. Silent meditation really energizes my shakuhachi playing in general. Going out by the ocean and blowing RO for 1 hour is also a regular practice of mine. It does wonders for your overall sound. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I organize pilgrimages to Japan every few years to harvest bamboo for shakuhachi making and visit komuso temples to pay respect to the ancestors of shakuhachi and of course to take lessons with the masters and to experience the many joys of Japanese culture. I feel these are invaluable experiences for the shakuhachi student. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everyone is unique and beautiful like each individual piece of bamboo. I consider it a miracle that I am doing what I am doing and am extremely happy. When I first started shakuhachi I told myself, if I ever learn how to play this instrument with even an acceptable amount of proficiency, my life would be complete and I can die happy. There are so many obstacles in learning shakuhachi from the financial, to cultural, to mental and physical. I've dealt with all of these to a considerable extent. But somehow I persevered because of my love of this instrument and have come this far. Hard to believe for me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The shakuhachi has opened up worlds for me that is pure beauty and love. I still have lots to learn and feel like I have only scratched the surface of the shakuhachi experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> -When making flutes do you have a preference for jiari or jinashi flutes and why?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jinashi because this is what I choose to concentrate on.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> -What schools of music have you studied and play?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As far as Japanese shakuhachi styles go: Tozan, Kinko, Dokyoku, Zensabo, Minyo. In the beginning, I mainly concentrated on traditional ensemble pieces. Then it was only koten honkyoku for many years. In other Japanese music, I also played taiko for a year in my early shakuhachi days, and actually came very close to applying for the Kodo apprenticeship program, but decided to focus on only shakuhachi. Later, I studied Satsuma Biwa and singing for one year while I was in Japan with Yukio Tanaka to get a deeper understanding of certain Japanese musical aesthetics. Then later when I felt I attained an acceptable level of technical skill and feel of the shakuhachi sound, I started doing improvisation more in a jazz and rock context then experimenting with playing with other traditions such as Indian, Celtic, African, Chinese, etc. Recently, the world of the Chinese guqin (7-sringed bridge-less zither) has opened up to me and I started studying and playing this most beautiful instrument. I consider this the stringed equivalent of the shakuhachi as there are many parallels in philosophy, aesthetics, music , and history. Very fascinating!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">From an early age, I've always loved electronic ambient music (actually one of the big reasons I started playing shakuhachi was because I got the same feeling when I listened to deep space electronic ambient music!), so now I'm really immersing myself in playing shakuhachi in that sound world collaborating with various ambient atmospheric and live PA musicians and creating music in that genre. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Do you have one style of music you tend to play more?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It depends on the situation. But mostly Dokyoku as that is what I mainly teach. In the last several years, I have been experimenting with playing new music with taiko and percussion players, fusion rock bands, and ambient electronic music. I enjoy playing with other instrumentalists from different musical traditions from all around the world. I recently was introduced to humpback whale music by one of my musical collaborators who is a leading authority on the subject and have been fascinated by their songs and find that shakuhachi can play whale music very well! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-As I understand it you have earned your Dai Shihan license recently with Taniguchi. Did he also award you your Shihan license</span>? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">No. My Shihan license was from Kaoru Kakizakai and Katsuya Yokoyama. Interestingly, I didn't receive a shakuhachi "geimei" artist name from them. Although I didn't study with Taniguchi Sensei for an extended amount of time, he granted me an honorary Dai Shihan title as he felt I deserved it based on his assessment of my skill in playing shakuhachi during our lessons together. I didn't expect that actually. I was ready to study 10 or 20 or more years with him until that time, but he said I was ready. So I accepted it. The name he gave me is 'Ryu Zen" which means "Dragon Meditation". <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Do you teach online or in person more than the other</span>?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mostly online now. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Your website says you offer lessons via Skype. Do you feel Skype is an equally effective tool for teaching shakuhachi?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To an extent. Person to person is the BEST way to learn of course. Through internet, you can't hear and feel the real sound of the shakuahchi and you can't interact with the student and the flutes so closely. So you do your best with the limitations. But it is quite effective despite the limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-If there was one piece of advice you could share with someone aspiring to become the best player they could be, what would it be?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Study with a good teacher consistently learning everything you can from them. Practice long hours. Go to Japan if you can and feel the culture and atmosphere. Learn about the whole process of shakuhachi from harvesting to making, to playing so that you can be intimate with the whole experience of shakuhachi. Connect with nature and your environment; know yourself and your limitations and accept everything in the moment and try to improve daily. And don't forget the feeling you first got when your heart first heard the shakuhachi!
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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Thanks for taking the time to thoughtfully fill out the questions and thank you for all you do for the shakuhachi community!</span>
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is my pleasure!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thanks to Alcvin Ramos again for the time he took to complete this. Stay tuned for more.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-71338984247303782502010-06-16T11:49:00.000-07:002010-06-16T12:53:25.030-07:00Tipping isn't a city in China!We were sitting around at FL Shakuhachi camp the other night and discussing teaching and lessons and etiquette. One thing that was brought up was courtesy for your Sensei. If your Sensei goes above and beyond the call of duty in your lessons and gives you an extra 20 minutes of his time to help you complete a piece or grasp a concept, consider maybe tipping him or her. All too often we think to tip a hair stylist or masseuse because it is customary but fail to consider someone such as our Sensei who is also providing a service. <br /><br />So if in the future you feel your Sensei is going above or beyond the call of duty or exceeding your expectations, give them a tip. It will be appreciated and you will feel good about it in the end. Most Sensei work for the love of teaching the instrument and not the money. Unexpected surprises are always appreciated :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-29836579680886108062010-06-11T04:00:00.000-07:002010-06-11T04:01:38.329-07:00Today is the day!!I will see everyone at the Florida Shakuhachi Camp today!! Don't forget to try to make the concert if you can't make the camp :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-71168178370992213682010-06-02T21:14:00.000-07:002010-06-02T21:19:27.666-07:00Less then 2 weeks to FL Camp!We still have an opening if you want to come to camp. We are getting everything finished up and still looking for input form the participants. So it is not too late for you to be included. Please don't sit this great opportunity out because you are afraid you are too much of a beginner. We have a great beginner group and we would love to help you reach your next level! If you have any questions please let me know!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-13918260664506195712010-05-23T14:21:00.000-07:002010-05-24T14:48:17.726-07:00Michael Chikuzen Gould Florida ConcertDuring the Florida Shakuhachi Camp Chikuzen will also be playing a concert one of the evenings. If you are in the area or coming to camp you won't want to miss it!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/chikconcert.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 776px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/chikconcert.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-41140924552782361422010-05-20T10:14:00.000-07:002010-05-20T10:16:59.936-07:00Florida Shakuhachi Camp Books and CDs.I am in the process of putting the pieces together for the June Florida Shakuhachi Camp. I have two spots still available and I am trying to determine the final level of the pieces. If you are possibly planning to attend please get in contact with me so I can discuss your level and what you would like to cover. We aim to make sure everyones level is catered to. We also try to include any pieces of particular interest also. Thanks! <div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-17119558443431153742010-05-06T18:37:00.000-07:002010-05-06T18:38:52.736-07:00Take Performance Video!Keisuke Zenyoji and Christopher Yohmei Blasdel perform TAKE composed by Yamamoto Hozan at Prague Shakuhachi Festival 2009.<br /><br />Quite an interesting piece. <a href="http://vimeo.com/11192382">Check the video out here!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-8608767360535113772010-05-03T19:47:00.000-07:002010-05-03T19:50:06.888-07:00Florida Shakuhachi Camp Update...So <a href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com">Florida Shakuhachi Camp</a> is arriving soon. The next one is on June 11th-13th 2010. We have 2 spots available at the camp still. You can find the full details at: <a href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com">http://www.floridashakuhachi.com</a>. Thanks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-13138781327427289762010-04-29T08:22:00.000-07:002010-04-29T08:36:57.536-07:00Lessons with Taniguch SenseiAs I am going back through my pictures from the last trip to Japan I was looking at the pictures from Taniguchi Sensei's house and thought I would post some of them.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184435359763_720149763_2716106_2643720_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184435359763_720149763_2716106_2643720_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Taniguchi Sensei was a most gracious guest who provided some great food and fun!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs076.snc3/14367_184435419763_720149763_2716114_4310993_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs076.snc3/14367_184435419763_720149763_2716114_4310993_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Outside Taniguchi Sensei's house.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs035.snc3/12293_387765284763_720149763_3696606_3612499_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 720px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs035.snc3/12293_387765284763_720149763_3696606_3612499_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Me drooling over a Miura flute I would have loved to have.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs035.snc3/12293_387765274763_720149763_3696605_1599518_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 720px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs035.snc3/12293_387765274763_720149763_3696605_1599518_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Taniguchi Sensei<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs035.snc3/12293_387765304763_720149763_3696607_3886061_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 720px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs035.snc3/12293_387765304763_720149763_3696607_3886061_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Michael Chikuzen Gould Sensei<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs056.snc3/14367_184447809763_720149763_2716179_3803959_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs056.snc3/14367_184447809763_720149763_2716179_3803959_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Taniguchi Sensei and me.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184435349763_720149763_2716104_3883948_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184435349763_720149763_2716104_3883948_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is the hot seat where student and teacher meet.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-74105201362197060912010-04-25T06:55:00.000-07:002010-04-25T07:15:13.472-07:00Kyoto Shakuhachi ConcertI said earlier this week I would post more pictures of our trip to Japan. This is the day of our concert in Kyoto. It was a great time and quite an experience to perform in Japan. There was some mixed excitement and nervousness. My wife had come down with a sudden stomach flu and on the way to the concert she had to be returned back to the Iruya house where we were staying. Luckily, her friend was along and she took pictures for me. I can't wait to get back there in November again!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs056.snc3/14367_184924719763_720149763_2718610_2970794_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs056.snc3/14367_184924719763_720149763_2718610_2970794_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here is Chieko and one of her students performing on the koto at the concert. They played so beautifully!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924784763_720149763_2718620_3251133_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924784763_720149763_2718620_3251133_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Chikuzen playing a honkyoku at the concert. The acoustics were good and he sounded great!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184924994763_720149763_2718652_4350924_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 430px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184924994763_720149763_2718652_4350924_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here the group was performing together to open the concert. I was so proud to be seated next to Chikuzen at the opening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924829763_720149763_2718628_2622698_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924829763_720149763_2718628_2622698_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't know this was being taken but I like it. It was right before I was supposed to go up to play Tamuke solo. I was a little apprehensive but it went well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs056.snc3/14367_184924819763_720149763_2718626_7093843_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs056.snc3/14367_184924819763_720149763_2718626_7093843_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here is Chikuzen performing another honkyoku. You can always feel what he is playing as you can see how much he is feeling it here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924879763_720149763_2718635_7063799_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924879763_720149763_2718635_7063799_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Chieko on shamisen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924979763_720149763_2718649_6716800_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_184924979763_720149763_2718649_6716800_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Me performing Tamuke solo at the concert. It was an awesome moment for me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184924894763_720149763_2718638_1719982_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_184924894763_720149763_2718638_1719982_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The koto and shamisen players all together for Kurokami.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs076.snc3/14367_184924909763_720149763_2718641_7877571_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs076.snc3/14367_184924909763_720149763_2718641_7877571_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Michael and I perform Kurokami together with the koto and shamisen. I just wishe we had a picture of all of us together. Jam from shakuhachi forum showed up and performed it with us also. It was a treat meeting him there. He is such a good player!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-34844272685067232522010-04-25T06:35:00.000-07:002010-04-25T06:37:28.799-07:00From our friend Riley Lee concerning Yokoyama SenseiRiley Lee:<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />I wrote the following for the Australian Shakuhachi Society's Newsletter.<br /><br />Yokoyama Katsuya 1934-2010.<br /><br />I can’t remember when I first met Yokoyama-sensei. I think it was in 1972. I was introduced to him after a concert of his in Tokyo. How gracious this already famous, shakuhachi master was to yet another adoring shakuhachi beginner!<br />Shortly thereafter, my friend and long time student of Yokoyama, Ichirô Seki took me with him to Yokoyama-sensei’s Tokyo apartment for a lesson day. I was in seventh heaven for many days thereafter, not caring that he had praised my old Gyokusui 2.4 flute infinitely more than he had my playing of it.<br /><br />After that, I had lessons with Yokoyama whenever I could. But I was rarely where Yokoyama was, so I never had enough. In 1984, after tiring of hearing me bemoan that I was not able to study regularly with Yokoyama, Patricia suggested that I ask him to come to Hawai'i to teach me. What!?! How could I possibly ask that, and how unlikely he would agree!!!<br /><br />But Patricia patiently reminded me that I wouldn't know until I asked. So I finally did.<br />To my amazement, Yokoyama-sensei responded positively, saying that he needed to finish writing a book (his autobiographical "Shakuhachi no Miryoku", The Fascination of the Shakuhachi - the only book in Japanese that I have read cover to cover). He thought that stopping over in Hawai'i for a week on his way home from an upcoming mainland USA tour would be perfect for this task. He'd teach me several hours a day and spend the rest of the time writing, with no other distractions. Wow! I owe Patricia big time!!<br /><br />My treasure trove of Yokoyama memories is miniscule compared with that of his more regular permanent students, especially Furuya, Kakizakai and Matama. And yet, I am satiated with the rich experiences that I have shared with Yokoyama-sensei and with the inspiration and teachings that he has given me. He was that generous.<br /><br />This week, I had to inform a mutual friend of Yokoyama-sensei’s death. The 84 year-old Japanese lady immediately responded by saying something like, “Well then, it’s now up to you lot, the next generation, to insure that Yokoyama’s art continues to inspire!”<br />So true!<br /><br />Here is a photo of Yokoyama's students playing San'ya (his request) at today's wake in Tokyo, sent by Christopher Blasdel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhwy5NgPszemQmaMkmnKSeUPoxIxB_7WW30n2gAbN1-PJ0lQHvo0QXT2Au16DMMGOIwVIqe8shaOCaSEy3AE0ygnxe2BEm2JHn-jhnWWOcHGQowTeou_oPmaPDixE2TSN7Y64RBoct64/s1600/yokoyama_wake.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhwy5NgPszemQmaMkmnKSeUPoxIxB_7WW30n2gAbN1-PJ0lQHvo0QXT2Au16DMMGOIwVIqe8shaOCaSEy3AE0ygnxe2BEm2JHn-jhnWWOcHGQowTeou_oPmaPDixE2TSN7Y64RBoct64/s400/yokoyama_wake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464068535878729730" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-1252334632723047142010-04-24T18:04:00.001-07:002010-04-24T18:12:04.313-07:00Yokoyama Funeral UpdateThere is an update on Yokoyama Sensei's Funeral on Shakuhachi forum from Kakizakai.<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Hi All<br /><br />We are going to have Yokoyama Katsuya sensei's funeral on 26th April by Buddhism style in Tokyo.<br />He had said for many times that he wanted to play Sanya (mountain Valley) in his funeral.<br /><br />We are going to play it at around 11:00 am on 26th Japanese time.<br />This time is<br />11 pm in Sao Paulo on 25th<br />10 pm in New York , Boston on 25th<br />8 pm in Denver on 25th<br />7 pm in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle on 25th<br />3 pm in Honolulu on 25th<br /><br />10 am in Taipei on 26th<br />12 am in Sydney on 26th<br /><br />5 am in Kiev on 26th<br />4 am in Paris, Barcelona,Munich on 26th<br />3 am in Landon on 26th<br /><br />If you have chance to play, please play Sanya together.<br />Yokoyama sensei often said that "Play it without notation, you have to memorize it".<br />And added "If your Meri notes are high(not good control) ,I will come back as a ghost".<br />He liked joking very much. But take care.....<br /><br /><br />Regards,<br />Kaoru<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />With that being said, on April 25th at 10PM I will be playing Sanya. Will you? It is awesome to think of a world of shakuhachi players being able to come together at one time and play for Yokoyama Sensei. <br /><br />I will make sure my meri notes are on pitch so his soul can rest :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-78459730329785647392010-04-23T22:08:00.000-07:002010-04-23T22:20:38.153-07:00What a gift!!You may have noticed the image of the sumi-e shakuhachi player in the upper left corner of my blog. This is artwork done by Taniguchi Sensei that I have permission to use. Up until now I have only had a picture of this artwork. I have used it on shirts and my own coffee mug with permission and it has been one of my favorite Taniguchi Sensei sumi-e paintings.<br /><br />Today, my wife came to my work with a box. The box was from my dear friend Clinton Moy who I have been at numerous shaluhachi camps with. I opened it and inside was a pair of binoculars with my Son Mason's name on then. Some random snacks and underneath of it all was a large envelope.<br /><br />When I opened the envelope I found a green rice paper wrapping with a stamp on it. When I opened it up I found the original sumi-e artwork hand painted by Taniguchi Sensei of the same logo I am using on my blog and other places. What a gift. I couldn't believe my eyes. It is one of my most treasured possessions! Thank you Clinton for your amazing generosity!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/tani1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/tani1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/tani2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 828px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/tani2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-3517885239221557122010-04-23T10:40:00.000-07:002010-04-23T11:10:11.239-07:00Japan RevisitNow that things have slowed down some and I have a little more time I thought I would post some pictures from the trip to Japan with Chikuzen. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs041.snc3/12841_1253845659095_1018167629_30788944_6412421_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs041.snc3/12841_1253845659095_1018167629_30788944_6412421_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Michael Chikuzen Gould, Michael Firman and Brian Purdy playing by a waterfall in Ohara. It was so cold that I couldn't feel my nose or my fingers when I was playing. I had heard of this kind of cold but being from Florida I had never played shakuhachi in weather like this.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs056.snc3/14367_185860689763_720149763_2725991_7293652_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs056.snc3/14367_185860689763_720149763_2725991_7293652_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Playing at a temple in Ohara. It was also cold here and was the beginning of losing feeling in my fingertips for the day. It was out in the middle of the woods near the waterfall and temple we stayed at for the night.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_185860719763_720149763_2725995_6395897_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs076.snc3/14367_185860719763_720149763_2725995_6395897_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the temple we were playing in.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs076.snc3/14367_185860614763_720149763_2725980_5568854_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs076.snc3/14367_185860614763_720149763_2725980_5568854_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here is my wife Tanya getting her first shamisen lesson from Chieko. It was Sakura and I was asked to play along. It was a great moment. All of a sudden my wife had a new appreciation for shakuhachi.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_183599459763_720149763_2711090_3212391_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs056.snc3/14367_183599459763_720149763_2711090_3212391_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are playing Tamuke as a group at a Buddhist Shrine in Kyoto. This was the first day and it was beautiful. There was a monk there who played shakuhachi and asked us to play. We played a few songs there. That is the day I learned the term Dai Jobu. Which is no worries or something close to that. The nice gentleman who was Japanese dropped my camera on the ground. I was told to just tell him Dai Jobu. I was glad someone offered to take pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I will post some more pictures tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by.<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-78802533892859488662010-04-22T05:35:00.000-07:002010-04-22T05:40:58.096-07:00Blowing RO in Puerto RicoI was recently on a cruise in the Caribbean and got to play in some beautiful locations. Here I am playing on a rock in the ocean. I kept a careful eye on this rock to make sure I was safe from the water hitting me while I played.<br /><br />I had to wait until the waves receded to run out and climb on this rock as it was about 10ft out in the water. No sooner did I get on the rock did a huge wave come right over the top of it. I was just glad I wasn't knocked off. I couldn't stop laughing when it happened and neither could my wife who took the picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPyti6TZ318FZ6j-NJGMlVpj4BaXQXDUsfLQHrDLdy0CrsFZqOSITx4kK50u8bFAvDugrCHivveGP0gn6ZKU8zFmd-8ZotvjKI2QCAgeBQ_sXQxVo8L47LzuXUCckoeiUD9WgVPgcAEU/s1600/24958_374038444763_720149763_3413374_2968658_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPyti6TZ318FZ6j-NJGMlVpj4BaXQXDUsfLQHrDLdy0CrsFZqOSITx4kK50u8bFAvDugrCHivveGP0gn6ZKU8zFmd-8ZotvjKI2QCAgeBQ_sXQxVo8L47LzuXUCckoeiUD9WgVPgcAEU/s400/24958_374038444763_720149763_3413374_2968658_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462940750764019042" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6024096188689031739.post-70259468790806758532010-04-21T09:40:00.001-07:002010-04-21T09:48:32.877-07:00Tamuke for Yokoyama SenseiAs I mentioned in the post below this one, we suffered a loss this morning of one of the most prolific shakuhachi teachers and makers of all time. When I woke up and read this I immediately went to play Tamuke for him and decided to record it. Normally, I never share my playing through recordings on the blog but today I would like to do so.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.floridashakuhachi.com/TamukeforKatsuya.mp3">Tamuke for Yokoyama Sensei</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2