News

Workshop announcements, fresh arrivals from Japan, and other news from Cloud Hands Music.

Seattle Shakuhachi Workshop

Cloud Hands Music has hosted one-day shakuhachi intensives in the Seattle area with visiting master teachers. A featured guest instructor, Michael Chikuzen Gould — a Dai-shihan, or Grand Master — studied for fifteen years in Japan with Yokoyama Katsuya and Taniguchi Yoshinobu, and has performed throughout Japan and the United States on radio, television and in concert, as well as directing shakuhachi research courses at the university level.

Such workshops focus on beginning to intermediate levels and cover how to practise, how to approach a new piece, breath control, and many of the honkyoku techniques — flutter tongue, muraiki, and koro-koro. All levels are welcome, with time for individual attention as well as group teaching, and they typically close with an informal performance by the visiting teacher. Watch this page and the calendar for future workshop dates.

New Flutes Arrived from Japan

From time to time, fine instruments arrive from master makers in Japan. Past shipments have included shakuhachi from the workshop of Kobayashi Ichijo — for example, sets of 1.8 and 2.4 flutes, all of excellent quality. Because these instruments are imported in small numbers, details and pricing for each are posted as they become available.

Flutes for Sale

Occasionally individual flutes from Peter's collection or from visiting makers are offered for sale — including older, well-played instruments with a mellow, settled tone. As rare ginashikan and imported flutes become available they are listed here and on the flutes page.

Players looking to connect more widely with the tradition can also follow the gatherings of the international shakuhachi community. For details about any current instrument, or to be notified of upcoming events, see the order page to get in touch.