I caught the bug. Uh-oh. It annoys me that I got into it about a week after the NYC international shakuhachi festival, since I live an hour and a half north of the city. But anyway, I find that playing the whistle and flute prepared me for a nice embouchure on the shakuhachi, and I find the tone mesmerizing. It’s so rich and full. It makes my Irish flutes seem thin in sound. Anyone else have this particular interest? It seeems fitting that I should get into it after years of loving sushi.
(I posted this on the whistle forum, too, as there are lots of people who go only there, and lots of people who come only here.)
I lived in Japan for over two years and could never find a teacher…until about three weeks before I left…bad timing.
I’d love to really get into playing shakuhachi at some point, but what with all the Irish and Scottish stuff that I do, it’s kinda been put on the back burner…well, actuallly, it’s been taken off the back burner and tossed in the fridge. As soon as I’ve got regulators for my D set of pipes, a flat set, a new R&R-style 8-key flute, and a new set of Highland pipes in A, then I will no doubt turn my attention to getting a top-quality shakuhachi and really tearing that s**t up. Many people who play shakuhachi in Japan take it up after retirement. At my current rate, I should be right on schedule…
I do have one of Carl Abbot’s PVC jobs that I occasionally fool around with. I don’t know much Japanese music, but it’s a fun instrument to make noise on.
[quote=“JessieK”]I caught the bug. Uh-oh. It annoys me that I got into it about a week after the NYC international shakuhachi festival, since I live an hour and a half north of the city. But anyway, I find that playing the whistle and flute prepared me for a nice embouchure on the shakuhachi, and I find the tone mesmerizing. It’s so rich and full. It makes my Irish flutes seem thin in sound. Anyone else have this particular interest? It seeems fitting that I should get into it after years of loving sushi.
Dear Jessie:
If you haven’t checked out this site you really should.
This business is run by Monty Levinson who is a noted maker and player.
I’ve used three of his instuments for about 13 years now and swear by them (a standard “D” or 1.8, a high G, and a low A or 2.4)
He is terrific to work with, and his site is spilling over with fascinating
info about Shaku and other woodwinds.
Anyone interested in this instrument should check out his
standard “D” or 1.8 -
item *TH-6 D I Shaku Ha Sun 1.8’ 54.5 only $325.00
go to this page: Shakuhachi Flutes & Accessories Price List.
Lastly, he has my favorite Shakuhachi recording in stock:
SY3a. ZEN - CLASSICAL SHAKUHACHI MASTERWORKS
performed by YOKOYAMA KATSUYA
This is all solo pieces. Yokoyama plays a low instrument, a 2.3 or a 2.4
if memory serves me right - identical in range to a low Bb or A wood flute. (I can’t find my copy and need to get a new one!)
I play and make Shakuhachi. I’ve never played a flute really at all, but I’ve taken to this quite quickly, actually. I feel really connected to it in a very short period of time. Of course, I think I might have been japanese in a past life, lol.
I’ve only played student shakuhachi, and that’s all I make right now, but I’d love to get at least one good Root-End. I’m going to buy a Shakuhachi Yuu soon; it’s made of abs resin, and sounds quite good, especially for a non-bamboo flute. This early in my flute-playing career, I’m not going to spend too much money on a flute at the moment. I’m also thinking about going to Japan with the Vancouver Shakuhachi Society next winter, to harvest my own Madake and such. It’s $4,000 canadian, so not much different than buying 3-4 really good quality root-ends yourself. Also, you get to choose what you like, and you make it all yourself in a workshop. Pretty cool idea.
Yes, I really like Monty’s site and have enjoyed some e-mails back and forth with him. I bought my first and only bamboo 1.8 (I do have a plastic Yuu, too) from him. It is made from Chinese madake, so it has an orange-brown color. It plays phenomenally well (from what I can tell) and I adore it.
