Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

SHAKUHACHI WORKSHOP


How to Make and Play Shakuhachi
with Ken LaCosse and Michael Chikuzen Gould

   



What:  This will be a double workshop: Learning how to Make Shakuhachi with Ken LaCosse
and Honkyoku Playing Workshop  with  Michael Chikuzen Gould.

At the end of the double workshop, each participant will take home their own handmade shakuhachi, complimentary Chanting and Jinashi Shakuhachi CD's and hopefully a deeper appreciation of the relationship between making and playing shakuhachi.
   
Where:  Tatsumaki Taiko, 725 Gilman St. Berkeley, CA

When:  Saturday,   August 25,  2007 2:00pm~9:00pm
2:00~5:00 Flute making
5:00~6:00 Dinner break
6:00~9:00 Shakuhachi playing

Fee:  $150

Contact:  Ken LaCosse at emptyflute@mujitsu.com or 415-242-0919
or Michael Gould at chikuzen@earthlink.net or 313-600-2610.




Learning how to Make Shakuhachi:  Ken LaCosse

Regardless of your playing level with shakuhachi, it's always a meaningful experience to make your own instrument. It's also an important part of the shakuhachi experience to develop an understanding of why the shakuhachi sounds the way it does.

For the shakuhachi making workshop, we'll be using Tonkin non-root bamboo. We'll be making jinashi or no bore filler shakuhachi There will be no additives, paints or glues used. All participants will be guided through the steps necessary to walk away with their own handmade shakuhachi. Special emphasis will be placed on the individuality of each piece of bamboo; an important aspect of jinashi flute making. You are welcome to use your new shakuhachi for the Honkyoku Playing Workshop which follows. Participants are also encouraged to bring a 1.8 shakuhachi if they have one. Flute making tools and materials will be provided. We'll get our hands dirty, so please bring appropriate clothing!

The workshop is ideal for all levels of players who wish to complete the equation and make what they play.                                                                         



Honkyoku Playing Workshop:  Michael Chikuzen Gould

The roots of shakuhachi are meditation, chanting and nature. Meditation is breathing and focus of concentration which is what doing shakuhachi is. We will look at similarities in Shorei chanting and compare them to shakuhachi playing. We will learn a revised version of  the song "Horai"  to understand a song that was derived from chanting and also learn “Koku” and “Tamuke,” songs easily chanted and ones you’ll hopefully be able to play on your new shakuhachi.

I believe that there are many ideas about shakuhachi which are born from inexperience of any "hands on" work with making shakuhachi and also from not having a chance to spend much time with craftsmen who make them. Inexperience in chanting and meditation and lack of a chance to  study the direct connection with honkyoku with a clear presentation leads to rootlessness.  In my mind, this creates  what I would call an an unhealthy and "improper appreciation" of the instrument, the craftsmen who make them and the tradition they originated in. I hope we can help create a real and healthy perspective by offering this opportunity to spend time with us, learn more about the craft and the roots of shakuhachi. I think it will lead to a more complete and fullfilling shakuhachi experience.



Ken LaCosse at  emptyflute@mujitsu.com  415-242-0919  Website
Michael Chikuzen Gould at  chikuzen@earthlink.net  313-600-2610  Website