Shakuhachi Lesson #5 Meri Kari Workshop

Per Request: Tricks and tips for a better Meri and Kari?
Shawn Renzoh Head goes through some of the exercises that he gives to students for Meri and Kari. He also takes a look at this teacher's teacher, and teacher's performance as well as famed shakuhachi soloist, Yamaguchi Goro.
For private lessons please go to ShawnHeadMusic.com
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[@zenflare]

Excellent video!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you very much! I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@bdataiji]

Mr. Renzoh , a deep deep bow of appreciation 🙏, for this and all your uploads. My apology as this is my first comment. I mostly listen while working as a carpenter to your videos, so no time to comment. But as i beginner I have learn't so much from you, although much is advance for me, I am able still to grow by leaps and bounds thanks to you. I will be reaching out to support you as a offering of gratitude for sharing your expert knowledge . Please continue to share as I think this world needs the calmness and enlightenment that this simple piece of bamboo has and can offer to so many. Peace from Bermuda

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

David, Thank you so much for your warm comment. I am overjoyed that it had helped you so much. I will do my best to continue helping you all.

[@bdataiji]

absolutely the best video on the internet on Meri /Kari - very well explained - much respect thank you

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

You are very very welcome.

[@jeanpierrecarpentier]

such great explanations,, thank you again

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

You're very welcome!

[@rollycabrita8129]

I suspect that Goro Yamaguchi is using his tongue to guide his lower lip in order to pull off a deep meri with little head movement. Masayuki Koga's book "Shakuhachi - Japanese Bamboo Flute" details the embouchure that employs this technique.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Interesting! I’m still jealous of this technique. Looks like it makes life a lot easier.

[@rollycabrita8129]

@@TairyuShakuhachi Another technique that I've explored with getting a deeper meri is to rotate the shakuhachi. My embouchure is offset to the left, so in my case, I rotate the shakuhachi clockwise to squeeze out that little bit extra to get real low.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@rollycabrita8129 My only problem with that is a loss of tone. Do you find that it works better with wide bore flutes better than standard bore?

[@rollycabrita8129]

Best I qualify and quantify the rotating technique. It only works with the diagonal meri technique, where the player looks down to one side. If you look closely at the 6:40 mark of your video, the relationship between the utaguchi and your lips has changed as you've moved your head position by looking down and to the right, which also causes a slight head rotation - the left corner of your mouth is slightly higher than the right. So, your lips have rotated by about 5° to 10° but not the utaguchi. Therefore, by keeping the utaguchi firmly planted on the lower lip, an ever so slightly twisting action occurs naturally, that maintains the relation between lips and the utaguchi. In turn, the tone is maintained. Also, when I do a deep Dai Meri, my airstream is focused on one side of the utaguchi, in my case to the left. Personally, I find that the utaguchi has just as much if not more of an impact than bore size. Depth, width, and angle of the utaguchi all impact the playability of rim blown flutes.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@rollycabrita8129 I will definetly look into this more. Thank you for the information.

[@ScottySR]

What am I doing wrong if I "lose" the note I'm doing meri or kari? Like, the position in which I can even get a clear sound is very precise and going outside it almost instantly loses the clarity and becomes mostly just breathy sounding.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Maybe pushing the shakuhachi into your face too hard. Too difficult to say without seeing or hearing you

[@ScottySR]

@@TairyuShakuhachi I can record something if you want to take a look at it. Where should I send it?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Please go to ShawnHeadMusic.com and send me an email at the bottom contact form