--- Hitoyogiri Class Begins Soon -----

Hi everyone,

Nick Bellando here, I'm starting another section of the hitoyogiri shakuhachi online class, beginning in October. We'll meet on Zoom at 8pm Japan time every Monday for three months. This class covers everything you need to get started. We learn the repertoire of the standard Oshiki mode, along with all of the basic techniques. Each session lasts about an hour, including time for questions, advice, etc. Each session is recorded, so you are free to participate at your own timing if the lesson times don't work out for you, and you can still ask questions via email. Each session also includes scores and translations from ancient (Muromachi and early Edo-era) hitoyogiri manuals, which provide the bulk of material for us to learn from.

Hitoyogiri predates the Komuso shakuhachi by 300 years or more, and even the newest pieces in the repertoire were written before the Komuso even existed. This class is the result of close to a decade of research, and hundreds of hours spent playing, translating, visiting other hitoyogiri players in Japan, obtaining rare manuscripts, and so on. The hitoyogiri, originally simply called "shakuhachi," is the ancestor of the shakuhachi that we know today. Players often had a Zen or Pure Land affiliation, and the pieces themselves are free-rhythm, just like shakuhachi honkyoku - but they borrow more heavily from gagaku, and are shorter in length, like sonic haiku. Anyone is welcome to join us. I'm currently revamping my website, so my friend Shawn is handling sign-ups.

You can follow the link below, or just message me on facebook or via https://www.hon-on.com/contact.php if you're interested. We begin on October 7th. It would be great to see you there - I also have been making low-cost hitoyogiri based on historical flutes (i.e., authentic and easy to play) for anyone who needs a flute to get started.

October 2024 Level 1 Beginner Oshiki — Shawn Tairyu Head (shawnheadmusic.com)

Hitoyogiri Oshiki Professional 3D Printed — Shawn Tairyu Head (shawnheadmusic.com)