Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hey Lachlan,
check out this link to Perry Yung's blog
scroll down to the bottom of the page. I don't know what size shakuhachi these children are playing but I am fairly certain they are not like we have seen Tairaku playing
I hope this helps answer your question, maybe Perry can make your son a shakuhachi like these.
Damon

I am the adult pictured with the kids on Perry's blog.

We started our group with eight students and two parents two years ago. All the students were 2nd-4th graders at our elementary school and had previous experience with the Native American flute in another class I taught. I had them come to my home/garage and we made our own shakuhachi from PVC pipe...1.3 Gm for the students and 1.8 Dm for the adults. When they were able to hold a tone for 15 seconds and play the scales in Otsu, I worked out a deal with Perry for bamboo 1.3s. By this time, four students, one parent and I remained in the group. We started using Take-no-Michi by Tokuyama Takashi as a study guide. We met weekly.

At the beginning of the second year, two students...a 3rd grader and a 5th grader remained along with the 5th grader's mother. We started using Stan Richardson's Kyorei CD lesson as a guide. I gifted all three with Yuus and longer bamboo shakuhachi...either Chikusing shakuhachi by Perry or Chinese rootends by Ken LaCosse. We continued to meet weekly.

This year, the 3rd/now 4th grader has decided not to continue with the shakuhachi. The 5th grader/now middle schooler and his mother have moved on. We still play Kyorei together occasionally and they play together daily.

I am not a skilled shakuhachi player. We all learned together. Things might have worked out differently.

James, that sounds like it was a great experience for, both you, and the children/parents. I think more children should be introduced to music early on, especially more esoteric instruments and genres. I wish I had been exposed to shakuhachi at that early an age (maybe I could play better today than I do).
Thank you for sharing this experience with us, its quite inspiring.
Damon

Lachlan wrote:

Hello Damon,
thanks for that, I have posted a request on Perry's. Will wait for a reply

Hi Lachlan, Thanks for your interest.  I just read your post. I can not access my blog at the moment because I updated my system and lost some settings. Please contact me at perry@yungflutes.com and we can discuss some options.

james wrote:

I am the adult pictured with the kids on Perry's blog...
I am not a skilled shakuhachi player. We all learned together. Things might have worked out differently.

James, I have special memories of those who have shared their valuable insights with me when I was very young. Even if I didn't hear it at the time, I would like to think that I am a better person for it today. There are a few very special teachers that I would love to find and thank for helping me find my path.
Namste, Perry

Hi Lachan,

I think the most important thing in a young person taking up shakuhachi is his or her level of attention and concentration. The size of the flute can always be created for the person. I recently had a mother bring her 4 year old son to me for shakuhachi lessons, but his attention span was not yet at a level where he could hold it to derive any benefit in learning. Perhaps age 6 or 7 may be a better age. My youngest student so far was 11 (now he's 16 and still playing.) But he was pretty precocious for his age. Most young people are interested in things that respond more quickly to them........

By the way, been playing didgeridoo for many years myself and make agave dideridoos. www.bamboo-in.com/about-us/agavepolestar.htm. Next World Shakuhachi Festival is in Syndey, Australia! Look forward to didging and shakuhachi-ing out in 2008!

Very best,

Alcvin
www.bamboo-in.com