Myoan / Edo-style Honkyoku and Embouchure -

[@dkent49]

Very helpful and anxiety reducing. When I was starting and could not produce sound, a Japanese teacher once told me: "Relax. Enjoy blowing. Sound will come." He was right.

[@inlandonline]

"It's your conversation with God." Such a perfect way of describing the traditional, sacred impetus for playing shakuhachi - not being a "great" musician, a "super-expressive" musician, a "better" musician, the most "knowledgeable"musician, a "worthy lineage holder," a shakuhachi "master" ... "grand master." The roots of shakuhachi (pardon the pun) are in the meditative traditions, specifically buddhist meditative traditions, but applicable to _any_ meditative tradition that is: Free of "grades" or "castes" or "levels of attainment". This maker/teacher/facilitator/player's name is John (Nick) Bellando. He does not promote himself as a personality, unlike 9/10ths of the shakuhachi teacher/player's who I've run into. So, don't be suspicious of his self-identification as a Christian. He won't proselytize you. He is a student of the old contemplative traditions of Christian practice which are very similar to buddhist zen practice. He is a treasure and his knowledge of old Edo-style shakuhachi playing and making is invaluable.He also makes and sells some remarkable Edo/Myoan/Nezasa Ha style shakuhachi and hitoyogiri at very reasonable prices.

[@LapoSapo]

Nice introduction