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  •  » What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

#51 2009-04-07 11:37:57

purehappiness
Member
From: Connecticut USA
Registered: 2009-01-13
Posts: 528

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

I feel any instrument can bring enjoyment and relaxation. The shakuhachi just tries to go one step further.


I was not conscious whether I was riding on the wind or the wind was riding on me.

Lieh-tzu

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#52 2009-04-07 11:56:01

lowonthetotem
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From: Cape Coral, FL
Registered: 2008-04-05
Posts: 529
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

I feel any instrument can bring enjoyment and relaxation.

As long as we do not mistake enjoyment and relaxation for something like Nirvanna.  Straight bourbon brings me enjoyment and relaxation, but it is hardly beneficial to Dharma practice.  As far as shakuhachi practice (and Dharma practice for that matter) I think it is a mistake to only pursue that which we find enjoyable.  Learning to remain relaxed when we are removed from our comfort zone is rather important.

The shakuhachi just tries to go one step further.

How? (rhetorical question)

Is it really the shakuhachi that goes (tries to go) one step further?  Keep in mind, it only has one foot. smile It just reacts to your breath like any other instrument.  Romanticizing it too much seems to make it something mysterious/uncontrollable.  Such sentiments would seem to hinder my practice.  But that is just me.
Hua Tuo: "Who is blowing this bamboo?"


"Turn like a wheel inside a wheel."

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#53 2009-04-07 13:59:40

purehappiness
Member
From: Connecticut USA
Registered: 2009-01-13
Posts: 528

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Good point. A shakuhachi is just an instrument to help US go one step further.Perhaps to help US find our buddah nature. smile

Last edited by purehappiness (2009-04-07 14:15:33)


I was not conscious whether I was riding on the wind or the wind was riding on me.

Lieh-tzu

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#54 2009-04-07 15:19:44

Mujitsu
Administrator/Flutemaker
From: San Francisco
Registered: 2005-10-05
Posts: 885
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Let's stay on the original topic:  What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

If you'd like to stray, please start another topic.

Thanks.

Ken

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#55 2009-04-08 09:42:24

lowonthetotem
Member
From: Cape Coral, FL
Registered: 2008-04-05
Posts: 529
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Sorry dad, ... of course you'd probably not want to take responsibility for me.

The other thing that I am practicing is being sure to practice each morning as soon as I get up.  This gives me time to pracitce the annoying sounding drills and long tones that my wife hates while she is asleep.  This means that later in the day I will have time to practice more song-like stuff which is not so offensive to the ear.


"Turn like a wheel inside a wheel."

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#56 2009-04-08 11:34:09

purehappiness
Member
From: Connecticut USA
Registered: 2009-01-13
Posts: 528

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

I could see myself practicing at 5 oclock in the morning. My wife would love that.The dogs would really bark.

On the point of the subject though. I practice as much as I can which is sometimes 15 minutes if I am lucky a 1/2 hour a day. That is before the wife says shut up already. She is really killing my enjoyment. sad I can't wit till it gets warmer so I can go outside. smile My kan notes can get real pitchy right now yikes

Last edited by purehappiness (2009-04-08 11:37:07)


I was not conscious whether I was riding on the wind or the wind was riding on me.

Lieh-tzu

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#57 2009-04-09 01:12:30

ssakamoto
Member
From: Gujo Hachiman, Gifu-ken, Japan
Registered: 2009-02-01
Posts: 43
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

By the way, I wrote earlier that after six months I can almost play kuro kami in time. I was wrong. I've been practicing now with a metronome and I am so far from being in time. I suspect it will be six months before my fingerwork is correct. I suspect it will be another couple of years before my tones are decent after that. I don't mind. Thanks to these forums, I don't feel crazy about the fact that it will be years before I can get close to playing a song well.

I practice scales and kurokami for an hour a day. A half hour in the morning, and a half hour at night. I don't always play, sometimes I sing the names of the notes in time with the metronome, which my teacher suggested. That has been very helpful. He told me to keep practicing the song, and once I can actually play the entire song in time, then we'll worry about how it sounds.


"One thing the bamboo tells you from the start is that it's going to take years and years and years. Better get to work." -- Mujitsu

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#58 2009-04-12 10:24:07

Glenn Swann
Member
From: Central New Jersey
Registered: 2008-03-01
Posts: 151
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

singing the notes is great, also listening to a professional recording of it over and over is very helpful- if you REALLY know the song by listening, it will be easier to play it (worked for me w/ zangetsu just recently, actually always do it when working on a piece). i feel it's really important to just listen to sankyoku alot, whether pieces you are actively working on or not,  by cd's or ideally going to recitals (esp. if you are lucky enough to be in Japan) to develop a feeling for it.

for kurokami, with or without shakuhachi recording would be fine, as the shamisen is playing mostly the same melodic line.


I followed rivers, I followed orders,I followed prophets, I followed leaders
I followed rivers, I followed highways,I followed conscience,
I followed dreamers... And I'm back here,
and I'm back here... At the edge of the sky       (New Model Army)

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#59 2009-04-23 11:07:56

Christopher B.
Member
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: 2009-03-17
Posts: 235
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Hi There,

yesterday I had my first lesson with another Teacher. It was another great lesson but he teaches "Fuke", so I have another notation and other fingerings to learn. I am no practice Hi-Fu-Mi an reading the notation smile I dont know if it is good to learn "Kinko" and "Fuke" at the same time but for now it will work for me. I will see if this works in the future.


In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
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How do you know that life is a dream? Cause there is a way to wake up!
http://naturalbreath.wordpress.com/

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#60 2009-04-23 11:30:35

Tairaku 太楽
Administrator/Performer
From: Tasmania
Registered: 2005-10-07
Posts: 3226
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Christopher B. wrote:

Hi There,

yesterday I had my first lesson with another Teacher. It was another great lesson but he teaches "Fuke", so I have another notation and other fingerings to learn. I am no practice Hi-Fu-Mi an reading the notation smile I dont know if it is good to learn "Kinko" and "Fuke" at the same time but for now it will work for me. I will see if this works in the future.

If you study consistently with both teachers it should be OK. Most shakuhachi players use more than one kind of notation, whether it's Western, Kinko, Tozan, or in this case Hi-Fu-Mi. The larger concern is trying one style and then moving on to another. You can study two at once but give both enough attention, don't flip between them.

Who's the teacher and what do you mean by "Fuke"? What ryu?


'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari

http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie

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#61 2009-04-23 12:08:27

Christopher B.
Member
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: 2009-03-17
Posts: 235
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Hi, I study under Jim Franklin and Dietmar Herriger. Yesterday I had my lesson with Dietmar, he studyed Shakuhachi under "Iso Genyo Oshou-san" in Japan. I am a beginner and not into that stuff so much, so I didn´t now what  kind of "Fuke" it is.

Yeah I hope I can give them both my full attention. Thanks for your reply.

Last edited by Christopher B. (2009-04-24 05:59:17)


In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How do you know that life is a dream? Cause there is a way to wake up!
http://naturalbreath.wordpress.com/

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#62 2009-04-24 06:52:27

Yungflutes
Flutemaker/Performer
From: New York City
Registered: 2005-10-08
Posts: 1061
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Guten Tag Christopher,

Great to hear how diligent you are in pursuing the shakuhachi!
Does Ditmar allow you to take lessons with your hocchiku?


Ciao, Perry

Last edited by Yungflutes (2009-04-24 06:52:51)


"A hot dog is not an animal." - Jet Yung

My Blog/Website on the art of shakuhachi...and parenting.
How to make an Urban Shakuhachi (PVC)

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#63 2009-04-24 07:22:44

Christopher B.
Member
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: 2009-03-17
Posts: 235
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Hi Perry,

yeah Dietmar likes your flute (and your book) very much he usually teaches with 2.0, he saied that the flute is very well for his kind of school. Till I started playing Shakuhachi my whole life turned slowli into this world, I try to spend all the time I have for exploring this wonderful world of meditation and music.

Ps.: Thanks again Perry for your instruction into this world and your wonderful flute, without your help in the past this wouldn´t work.


In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How do you know that life is a dream? Cause there is a way to wake up!
http://naturalbreath.wordpress.com/

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#64 2009-04-24 09:32:50

lowonthetotem
Member
From: Cape Coral, FL
Registered: 2008-04-05
Posts: 529
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

singing the notes is great

It is, but I would suggest singing and listening at the same time, at least at first.  Maybe that is what you meant.  Sometimes when I sing the notes to myself I begin to create my own time.  Then, I have to unlearn that time and relearn the correct time.


"Turn like a wheel inside a wheel."

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#65 2009-04-26 06:39:08

Jeff Cairns
teacher, performer,promoter of shakuhachi
From: Kumamoto, Japan
Registered: 2005-10-10
Posts: 517
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

In my particular realm of learning/practice/teaching, singing the notes is something relegated to the teacher and is a valuable tool to aid the student in identifying notes at a beginning stage.  Though I didn't do it, I suspect that attempting to identify notes within a piece by singing the correct pitch would definitely push the learner/player forward with respect to the piece and within the relationship that the player has to the instrument.  I came into this when I started teaching, as it was a technique that was offered to me in this respect and it certainly solidified my relationship to pitch/piece/instrument.


shakuhachi flute
I step out into the wind
with holes in my bones

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#66 2009-04-26 07:39:41

Glenn Swann
Member
From: Central New Jersey
Registered: 2008-03-01
Posts: 151
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

I think that the advantage of singing for a beginner is that the shakuhachi (and the various technical challenges of, oh, getting a sound and moving your fingers) is just out of the way. Thus it is a way to just focus your practice on reading the notation properly. Beating time whilst singing is good too. This is assuming you basically know how a piece should go from listening. Of course, after you run through by singing, play it on the shakuhachi.
And as Jeff said, as a teacher or advanced player it can help internalize a piece.


I followed rivers, I followed orders,I followed prophets, I followed leaders
I followed rivers, I followed highways,I followed conscience,
I followed dreamers... And I'm back here,
and I'm back here... At the edge of the sky       (New Model Army)

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#67 2009-04-26 13:30:02

geni
Performer & Teacher
From: Boston MA
Registered: 2005-12-21
Posts: 830
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

singing helps with the intonation also;-)
Check out this exercise:

have a drone in D (1st & 5th) play in the background. 

And, you sing the D major scale up&down.Then play it ith shakuhachi.

next step(s) do the some thing with the other modes  starting from D.

Last edited by geni (2009-04-26 14:40:31)

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#68 2009-05-04 19:35:20

radi0gnome
Member
From: Kingston NY
Registered: 2006-12-29
Posts: 1030
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

This is what I'm working on. http://www.4shared.com/file/103435314/5 … regen.html
I had to get another TASCAM PS5 because the first one was broken. I put together a 2 chord jam track on it and was jamming to it for the past couple of days and this morning jazz shakuhachist extordinaire Geni makes me an offer for lessons at half price. I guess when the student is ready a teacher appears. I recorded this so I could have a pre-Geni baseline. Let's see how I progress. I'm sure Geni's got a bunch of tricks up his sleeve smile

P.S. Perry, that's the Tensei you sold me. I think it likes me...

Last edited by radi0gnome (2009-05-04 19:50:45)


"Now birds record new harmonie, And trees do whistle melodies;
Now everything that nature breeds, Doth clad itself in pleasant weeds."
~ Thomas Watson - England's Helicon ca 1580

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#69 2009-05-05 10:13:22

axolotl
Member
From: Los Angeles
Registered: 2007-11-16
Posts: 215
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

I'm still working on Chi Dori.  The piece is taking over my brain.  4 more days until I have to play it with koto...no pressure.

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#70 2009-05-07 11:17:49

Christopher B.
Member
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: 2009-03-17
Posts: 235
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Hi all,

still practice "Hi-Fu-Mi" and the second octave, looking forward to my next lesson on 13th of May.

Last edited by Christopher B. (2009-05-07 11:18:35)


In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How do you know that life is a dream? Cause there is a way to wake up!
http://naturalbreath.wordpress.com/

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#71 2009-05-07 12:02:01

geni
Performer & Teacher
From: Boston MA
Registered: 2005-12-21
Posts: 830
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

I am playing along "Kind Of Blue" by Miles Davis. It perfect for shakuhachi. A lot Ma cool  I will transcribe some solos & try to play them with shakuhachi!! Thats my May goal!

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#72 2009-05-07 14:21:16

purehappiness
Member
From: Connecticut USA
Registered: 2009-01-13
Posts: 528

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

If you could post what you have I would love to try it. smile Miles davis smile


I was not conscious whether I was riding on the wind or the wind was riding on me.

Lieh-tzu

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#73 2009-05-07 16:27:28

edosan
Edomologist
From: Salt Lake City
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 2185

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

purehappiness wrote:

If you could post what you have I would love to try it. smile Miles davis smile

Just put the record on, and play along with it. That's what he's doing...


Zen is not easy.
It takes effort to attain nothingness.
And then what do you have?
Bupkes.

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#74 2009-05-07 20:39:24

Josh
PhD
From: Grand Island, NY/Nara, Japan
Registered: 2005-11-14
Posts: 305
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Christopher B,
    Your teacher's teacher "Iso Genyo Oshou-san" (Oshou-san means priest) is probably the current head priest of Itchoken temple in Hakata, Fukuoka. His father Iso Jyozan is quite old now and the temple has passed to his son. It is a very old komuso temple with a lot of history. When we talked last he mentioned that a player, possibly your teacher, had stayed and studeied there for awhile, kind of an uchi-deshi. Itchoken is a style of the Myoan school and many of their pieces are slightly more uptempo.

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#75 2009-05-08 03:00:23

Christopher B.
Member
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: 2009-03-17
Posts: 235
Website

Re: What are the Pro's, Non-Pro's, Semi-Pro's, etc Practicing These Days?

Hi Josh,
thanks for the replie. Yeah my teacher told me that he stayed there for about a year. He lived in the temple too for this time. It was my first lesson with him so we didn´t spoke alot about his time in Japan. Maybe I can ask him to tell me more about that time, he was there from 1988-1989, the name of the temple is Shoufukuji.

Alot of thanks for the info Josh.


In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How do you know that life is a dream? Cause there is a way to wake up!
http://naturalbreath.wordpress.com/

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