Traditional Shakuhachi Lesson 2

In this second edition of the series the student learns how to read Shakuhachi notation showing half notes and whole notes. Also how to repeat notes, traditional right left counting, singing along with the teacher, and breathing for musical flow.
Close-ups of fingering while playing and fingering charts are shown. Octave change conventions are presented.
Do it yourself plans for making a comfortable Seza (seating) bench and a plastic Shakuhachi.
Daniel Nyohaku Soergel is a licensed Grandmaster of Shakuhachi performance and teaching. He studied 30 years under Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin and lives in Brooklyn New York.
All videos and free lessons are posted without commercial interruption so students can play along, and listeners can enjoy calm moments in a supportive and creative environment.

[@iincisif8599]

Thanks a lot, I started playing recently and I'm loving the possibility of learning further through your videos.

[@nyohaku]

Welcome to the shakuhachi world. The channel has seven introductory lessons so far. Check the Tutorial playlist. Enjoy

[@michaelandcarmenmaguire1108]

A very sincere "thank you" for taking the time to put these together. I came across your channel when deciding whether or not I should go with a shakuhachi yuu as my initial instrument (I pulled the trigger). You clearly have a deep respect for the tradition these beautiful instruments are steeped in. I love the way you weave that respect into these videos. As someone who has used western notation with the trebel and bass clefs for nearly my whole life, learning an entirely different form of notation is intimidating, but I look forward to this as a part of the experience and process. Arigatou gozaimasu.

[@nyohaku]

Thank you for the encouraging comments. The kinko notation is actually not that hard to learn and it is well suited to the instrument. Players are often passionate about their instrument and its rich tradition. We find it endlessly fascinating and if one becomes drawn into this world and puts in the effort to master it the payoff is astounding. Only this week I have finally achieved a quality of tone I have been reaching for for many years. Now I want to repeat the entire repertoire to savor it in a new way. If you reach the point where glimpses of beauty regularly appear in your sound (for me it was one year), you will have the ears to find a quality bamboo shakuhachi. The yuu plays dependably and is a good reference point. Please keep me in mind if you are flute shopping; I have some 1.8s listed on eBay (nyohaku). Best wishes, or rather… Welcome.

[@SilverC3ll]

👍

[@NorthForkFisherman]

I love the tech drawings you post on this as well. Question - for a beginner with a Yuu, there is an adapter (Shakuhachi Yuu Adapter - $29.50) available that should give a new player tones almost instantly. Would you recommend this or would you say to avoid it and concentrate on getting a proper embouchure as soon as possible?

[@nyohaku]

Being able to play all the lower octave notes is almost a right of passage for beginning Shakuhachi players. Focus on deep steady breathing more than actual sound. If only air comes out just keep playing the song through as if the missing notes were there. It seems to me you don’t need the adapter.

[@NorthForkFisherman]

@@nyohaku The only problem I seem to have is in either starting on a Ri or transitioning to it from anywhere. I'm still only able to play lower register, but I am getting there.

[@ericj6636]

As a fellow beginner, I can say that blowing into glass bottles like coke bottles and such made a big difference for me.

[@nyohaku]

Yes. Plus some flutes are easier to play than others.

[@mootash]

There is almost no volume.

[@nyohaku]

It is low. This was corrected in later lessons.