The blog is three years old! That's a long time to be trying to learn to play the bamboo flute and a long time of writing about the process. It continues to be my hope that in documenting this journey others coming to the path will find some guideposts that they can relate to in their own shakuhachi travels.
So, where have we journeyed this year then? Well, the BBQ closed and the ESS forum opened. Chikuzen Studios opened a digital dojo for Michael Gould students allowing me to form some closer friendships with fellow students who are also studying in the Chikuzen lineage - special thanks to Clint and Jane for your lively and entertaining correspondence.
The local shakuhachi community continues to flourish and I feel so grateful to friends I meet with on a weekly basis to share long tones and long flutes. Special thanks to Peter for allowing me to own a fine Smith 2.6. And also my thanks go out to Jim for opening his home and heart to us every week.
I continue to practice on a daily basis and have experimented with various lesson schedules finding that sometimes lessons twice a month are perfect and other times that is too frequent and that I need more time to absorb and practice the techniques and pieces taught via skype by my sensei Michael Gould. I am about half way through Michael Gould's second student workbook but don't feel like there are many pieces in either book that I have in any way mastered or polished.
My goal for the coming year is to continue to enjoy the process of learning to play the flute, to share in the rich community of shakuhachi enthusiasts and to reach a point where I may have one piece of music ready to play at a performance level. Thanks for taking the shakuhachi journey with me, it wouldn't be a blog without you!
I have enjoyed your journey blog greatly. It has given me encouragement, and I appreciate your positive enthusiasm. Perry Yung has also been very helpful and taught me to make a PVC shakuhachi that actually plays decent notes quite easily, and I hope someday to get a Skype system set up with reliable internet service to learn from a master such as Michael Gould. I look forward to your entries next year. Blessings. Todd
ReplyDeleteThank you Todd! I really appreciate knowing that folks enjoy and gain some benefit from the blog.
ReplyDeleteIt will be great to hear how it goes for you when you do connect for some lessons. It may take a while to get the necessary set up but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.
Hallo Erin,
ReplyDeletecongratulations. I love to read your block. Keep bloging and blowing.
Harald
Thanks Harald, I'm glad to know you are still enjoying the blog.
ReplyDeleteErin,
ReplyDeleteWhat I enjoy about your blog is the threads of peace, serenity, and creative enthusiasm you radiate. After listening to rants all day on the news and elsewhere, I turn to you and others like you who seek joy and happiness. You are my meditation. I wish there was a way you could add some sound to your playing or that of your friends on your blog. That would be wonderful. Blessings.