Learn to play the Shakuhachi
What you'll learn
- learn to play and creating better sound
- Learning to read and write Shakuhachi music
- learn some simple songs
Requirements
- Have a shakuhachi that is tuned preferably 1.8 ( D/F/G/A/C), though to get a sound of a flute you can use any size
- We do have flutes available should you be interested
- some time to practice
Description
In this course, you will learn to play Shakuhachi. We will start with an introduction to the flute and explain how the instrument is put together and played. You will learn first to get a sound out of the flute and then how to place the fingers on the flute.
Once a sound is created, we will learn the name of the notes and how to write them as well as read them.
We will then learn to play each of the five basic notes with the fingering and then create melodies with just a few notes.
Once you can play the 5 notes, we will move to the higher register. Higher register notes are harder to play. Make sure you don't overblow and just tighten the embouchure only not the whole jaw and mouth. Put pressure on the lips as if you are trying not to let any air come out until a tiny opening opens up. It will take some time, so don't rush through the course, go slowly and go back a step back if need be until you get the notes. It won't be perfect of course, but you should be able to slowly have your embouchure stronger and the muscles will get more attuned and able to give you the opening you want.
Feel free to email me if you are having a hard time at one point and need extra help or pointers.
You will learn to do some simple exercises and play melodies.
After playing melodies on both register and the five basic notes, we will learn how to bend a note and lower it by a half step. This will be followed by some exercises. Once this is mastered, we will go deeper and learn different techniques such as vibrato and lowering notes by a full tone.
We will put stress on playing each note clearly and strongly and listen to your own playing more carefully. You will learn some techniques on how to better your sound and get rid of common bad habits. You will learn to play in tune and be able to play melodies of different styles with more confidence.
Introduction to Honkyoku (meditation music) and the basics of it. This will give you a better understanding of a new concept that we will introduce which is " Ma" or space. Ma is used especially in Honkoyku playing.
Ma is basically a space between two notes. It is not rhythmical but it is something that you feel within a musical phrase, it can be slightly longer or shorter depending on the melody
We will focus on writing and reading Japanese Shakuhachi notation in comparison with Western notation.
We will progressively learn to play more complicated songs. This will lead you to the different courses we have for you.
We are in the process of creating more lessons for beginners and intermediate and advanced
We have some flutes available for purchase should you be in need of one go to our page at Taikoza (dot com)to purchase a flute, there will be a photo of them with a price list
Who this course is for:
- Beginners students
- Students who have been self taught , to give them pointers and help them to get better
- Total beginners
- People who are interested to learn about Shakuhachi , composers or scholars
Instructor
- 4.6 Instructor Rating
- 87 Reviews
- 489 Students
- 16 Courses
Marco Lienhard is the director of East Winds, Inc. and the musical director and lead performer for Taikoza and East Winds Ensemble (1995-Present). Marco Lienhard lived and performed in Japan for 18 years (1981-1998) as a member of the legendary Taiko group Ondekoza under director Tagayasu Den (who instigated the renaissance of Taiko). In Ondekoza, he mastered the Taiko, the Shinobue, the Noh flute and he mastered the Shakuhachi under Katsuya Yokoyama. He ran over 9000 miles around the perimeter of the US from 1990-to 1993 while performing over 700 shows along the way.
Since 1981, Marco had toured and taught internationally. He has performed as a soloist with Taikoza and Ondekoza numerous times at Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, Osaka Festival Hall, Madison Square Garden, Tchaikovsky Hall, and International Performing Center in Moscow among others. He has been on the roster of 10 Young Audiences Chapters for the past 20 years. He has worked as well with Lincoln Institute, Symphony Space educational CAP program since 1995. With his knowledge of 7 languages, he has presented educational programs in several languages through South America, Europe, and Japan. He has presented school programs in Birmingham, AL thanks to an NEA grant. He has performed for the Wolftrap Institute as many other educational organizations nationally.
In 1995, Marco Lienhard was the critically acclaimed Shakuhachi soloist for the NYC Opera’s premiere of the Opera ''Kinkakuji'' and “Voyage X” with the Juilliard New Music Ensemble. He recorded music for the award-winning Nintendo Wii games: Red Steel 1 and 2. He has produced over ten award-nominated CDs for East Winds Ensemble and Taikoza (with over 10 million streams on Spotify).
He has published a bestseller book about learning the Shinobue and is working on other books and CDs.