The First Sound

I advocate learning the shakuhachi at the onset with a teacher in person as it can greatly prevent unnecessary mistakes that if left unchecked becomes a deep rooted habit that impinges growth and development.

Learning the shakuhachi one can encounter a major paradox: it is both easy and difficult to produce a good sound.

It can be described as playing with ease because a relaxed mind-body produces clear, resonant notes. But the challenge is in the player because such relaxation is counter intuitive especially for a beginner.

In the beginner's mind it often becomes a struggle between the self and the instrument. There can be much striving to master the instrument via controlling the body. There is also the lack of patience especially in the current technogical age where the idea of instant gratification is lavished on us.

Bodily awareness requires mindfulness -- being mindful of sensations, movements, positions, and understanding how these are linked to sound production. Both interoception and proprioception are needed. Proprioception would include learning to be aware of lip tension, mouth cavity volume, finger contact position, and even vibrations of the flute. Interoception would include learning to be aware of abdominal breath activation, volume of breath, and internal rhythm. 

Awareness leads to fine adjustments that unlock the rich sounds of the shakuhachi. Such awareness does not come naturally, thus the need for hours of practice to build it up gradually, and for retention in body memory to take place.

This also means there can be no single standard set of steps to ensure one gets a first sound on the shakuhachi because each learner has unique anatomy, degrees of awareness, and ability to relax.

Initial guidance fortunately can still help the self-learner. They are like markers left by preceding travellers on their own learning path. We just need to try and use what works for us.

Here are some resources to get started. But the rest of the journey we have to figure it out on our own.


In English:
Jon Kypros
https://youtu.be/vsLZmSCr7r4

Shawn Renzoh Head
https://youtu.be/mQChlXy7kDM

Alcvin Ryūzen Ramos
https://youtu.be/HC_Yij3Nl0I

Perry Yung
https://youtu.be/in-Ifh-s7R8


In Mandarin:
Flying NaN
https://youtu.be/86j60SmSs8E

周文壕
https://youtu.be/Z9cLU6vST50
https://youtu.be/cW8a9rrqkUU

In Japanese:
Keisuke Zenyoji
https://youtu.be/LGhhQEWzzuI

三塚幸彦
https://youtu.be/Xp7nnaKQiqE

Intermediate/advanced (in Mandarin):
Winson Liao 廖錦棟
https://youtu.be/bzApkJ-HeXw
https://youtu.be/jTmtGUTYz7Y