Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-21 17:33:08

Hi,

My name is Paul, my friends refer to me as "choshi" which as many of you know is the title of a honkyoko piece.
I have been studying the shakuhachi for about 14 years and see sui-zen as an integral aspect of my Zen practice.
I was introduced to shakuhachi by Barry Weiss during a retreat at Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate NY. I studied with Ronnie Seldin, Jim Schleffer and with Ralph Samuelson. I have also taken lessons with Yoshi Kurahashi in Japan and while in Tokyo, I had the wonderful experience of having a lesson with Aoki Reibo. Most recently, I did an intensive with Mike Gould in Ohio, which was an amazing experience with a generous teacher. I practice on my own now, feeling that I have plenty of pieces to play and study. I look forward to the dialogue in this venue as I woul dlike to learn more about the background and history of shakuhachi.

best regards,

choshi

geni · 2009-07-21 19:55:41

Welcome Paul!!

Tairaku 太楽 · 2009-07-21 21:04:38

Welcome to the forum. You've had some good teachers!

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-21 22:02:24

Thank you ! Nice to "meet you both" geni and Tairaku.

Best wishes

choshi

Nilton Machado · 2009-07-21 22:17:11

cool story, chosi.
i've been only playing for about a year and i just hope to be alive in 14 years!
i wonder what the lesson with Aoki Reibo must have been like.

cheers,
nilton

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-21 22:48:41

It was amazing! So much communicated non-verbally. We played the piece together twice, the second time a little faster. In-between, he had me go over a few phrases, also playing with me. In the end we bowed to each other. he wrote something in Japanese om my sheet music, which translated meant "acceptable"

Mujitsu · 2009-07-22 11:51:12

Welcome Choshi. Looking forward to your contributions to the forum!

airin · 2009-07-22 13:31:12

14 years with the shakuhachi; that's a good long relationship!

I hope after playing for 14 years my friends give me a honkyoku nickname too.

Thanks for coming to the forum. Nice to meet you.

cheers,
Erin

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-22 17:23:26

Hi Erin and Mijitsu,

Nice to "meet' you both Thank you for the welcome....

Well, erin, there has certainly been a lot of off time on my part. Tairaku notes that I have had some good teachers, which is certainly true, whether or not I have been a good student is certainly another story ;-)

Best wishes

choshi

Yungflutes · 2009-07-22 18:57:34

Hi Paul, good to see you here!

janemukei · 2009-07-22 22:06:04

Hi Paul, Glad to see you surfacing after all this time. Miss seeing you...maybe we'll catch up soon! Ah, the aroma of tatami...Jane

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-23 09:59:09

Hi Perry, So good to see you here too. I hope this note finds you and family in good health and spirits.

The work that you did replacing my utaguchi was amazing! Now that I have gotten used to the new piece, the flute is playing and sounding beautifully.

Thank you for your excellent and sensitive workmanship!

Warm regards,

Paul

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-23 10:04:44

Hi Mukei,

So good to hear from you too.....Yes, it would be great to catch up. Yes, indeed! the aroma of those tatami mats. They ended up at Ronnie's His were ready for the scrap heap and I owed him $$$$ for the balance on a flute. It was win -win all around.

Believe it or not, I took possession of the Westchester house and have been living there for the past 4 years.

Warm regards,

choshi paul

Yungflutes · 2009-07-24 13:31:00

choshi paul cooper wrote:
Hi Perry, So good to see you here too. I hope this note finds you and family in good health and spirits.

The work that you did replacing my utaguchi was amazing! Now that I have gotten used to the new piece, the flute is playing and sounding beautifully.

Thank you for your excellent and sensitive workmanship!

Warm regards,

Paul

Thanks Paul!

Just curious, did the urushi have any affect on you?

Best, Perry

choshi paul cooper · 2009-07-26 11:03:13

Hi Perry,

Well, actually, the urashi got me high and then it evoked satori...! Seriously, no effect at all.

Best,

~P

Yungflutes · 2009-07-26 14:11:20

Great!

Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

#1 2009-07-21 17:33:08

Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#2 2009-07-21 19:55:41

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#3 2009-07-21 21:04:38

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#4 2009-07-21 22:02:24

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#5 2009-07-21 22:17:11

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#6 2009-07-21 22:48:41

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#7 2009-07-22 11:51:12

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#8 2009-07-22 13:31:12

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#9 2009-07-22 17:23:26

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#10 2009-07-22 18:57:34

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#11 2009-07-22 22:06:04

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#12 2009-07-23 09:59:09

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#13 2009-07-23 10:04:44

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#14 2009-07-24 13:31:00

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

choshi paul cooper wrote:

#15 2009-07-26 11:03:13

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

#16 2009-07-26 14:11:20

Re: Greetings From Tarrytown New York

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