Demystified: The Ma of Sound and Silence
Online Workshop Series, commencing September 29th
Ma and breathing are crucial to the performative and spiritual dimensions of shakuhachi honkyoku, yet discussions on these elements are limited and often incomplete. After 15 years of research, Lindsay Dugan has developed a new theory revealing how ma influences timing, rhythm, and interpretation. Groundbreaking insights into the ma of sound and silence are presented in this workshop series.
Click here for info and registration.
Sydney Shakuhachi Workshop
Sunday, 20th October, 2024 10.00am - 3.15pm
The Music Room, Green Square, Sydney
ASS presents a full-day Workshop with Riley Lee and Bronwyn Kirkpatrick. The workshop will include traditional honkyoku and Rando pieces.
Bronwyn will include a couple of her own beautiful compositions and a duet. Riley will teach by a piece by Hildegard von Bingen, as well as a class on memorising and practicing practice etc., which will not be piece-specific.
Click here for info and registration.
ASS Monthly Online Workshops
Sunday August 18th 2024, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)
The next monthly practice workshop is on Sunday August 18th, hosted by Lindsay Dugan. These workshops are based on a simple, iterative routine that he developed for his own personal practice, and which he eventually started using for teaching as well.
For the July and August workshops, we'll look at Daha. This honkyoku contains a relatively high proportion of kari notes and the komi-buki (pulsating breath) technique, and demands strong projection of energy. Line 9 in the KSK score contains the chi-chi-ru pattern, and we'll definitely look at how to play this highly distinctive motif too.
These workshops are less about how to play specific honkyoku, and more about how to practice. The focus is on refining physical awareness and movement, sound control, and the mind's ear. We will concentrate on one point at a time, some of which will include:
- Developing better playing posture, finger movement, and breathing
- Holding the shakuhachi more easily
- Playing kan notes more cleanly and with less tension
- Working on dynamics and tone
- Improving tuning and pitch intonation
- Recognising adverse habits, and finding better ways to use your body
The workshops are progressive, but many practice methods require reiteration and repetition, so you can dip in and out on a month to month basis. Workshop materials will be provided upon registration.
ASS Brisbane Workshop and Concert
July 6-7, 2024
With Lindsay Dugan and Carl Rathus (shakuhachi),
and Takako Nishibori (koto)
The ASS presents a two-day Brisbane shakuhachi workshop with Carl Rathus and Lindsay Dugan, accompanied by Brisbane-based koto performer Takako Nishibori.
This workshop will cover several sankyoku (traditional ensemble music, assisted by Takako), and Yokoyama-style honkyoku. Skills sessions will also be held on both days. There will also be a public concert held on Saturday for all workshop participants!
Included in registration are two online prep workshops (June 22nd and 29th) to go over Chidori and Rokudan before we meet in-person.
Click the image above for further info.
ASS Sydney Workshop
June 15th, 2024
Lindsay Dugan will be giving a workshop in Sydney on June 15th, 2024. In this workshop, we'll do two pieces: Rokudan no shirabe (comp. Yatsuhashi Kengyo, 1614-1685), and the honkyoku San'ya ('yamatani' or 'mountain valley' version).
There will also be a free online prep session for Rokudan on June 8th for participants who are joining the Sydney workshop on the 15th, and the Brisbane workshop on July 6th and 7th.
Click the image above for details.
ASS Online Honkyoku Workshop
December 13 2020, 10:00-12:30 (Melbourne, AEDT)
Yugure no kyoku ('Dusk') was transmitted at the temple Ichigatsu-ji, which was the komuso headquarters of Edo. Yugure was inspired by the sound of the evening bell at the temple Chion-in, in Kyoto. Kurosawa Kinko learned the piece from a priest at Ichigatsu-ji, and incorporated it into his collection of honkyoku. Strictly speaking, Yugure is not one of the sacred pieces. It uses Akebono tuning, and is more melodic and evocative than other Kinko honkyoku pieces.
For these workshops, we will be using the Miura Kindo score (provided upon registration). You can hear a recording at this link.
The piece is split up over two workshops, November 29th and December 13th. For December, we'll review Kinko-style ornamentation and techniques, and continue with the remainder of Yugure.
The cost of the workshop is $40/$50 AUD (ASS members/non-members), and will run from 10:00am to 12:30pm (Melbourne AEDT). The workshop will take place online using Zoom.
The Beginner's Workshop will also be on from 1pm. To register, just use the same Paypal dropdown menu, and specify your workshop choice in the registration form.
Due to technical issues, we were forced to reschedule the September 27th workshop. The new date for the final Shugyojo Workshop is October 18th 2020.
The schedule for the day, including the 1pm Beginner's Workshop, remains the same as usual.
Anyone who has already registered but is unable to attend for any reason at all, or would otherwise like to be refunded, please contact us, and we shall have you sorted out ASAP.
For those who have already registered and plan to attend the October 18th workshop, there is no need to do anything else except join in as usual on Oct 18th.
And for those who haven't yet signed up, info and registration is available below.
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The final session in the Katsuya Yokoyama's Shugyojo (Training Notes) Online Workshop Series is happening on October 18th 2020, with Kaoru Kakizakai and Lindsay Dugan.
Once a month, for a total of six months, guest teachers from the KSK to share their knowledge and experience. The series will focus on nine themes on shakuhachi training from Katsuya Yokoyama's book, Take to Ikiru (Life of Bamboo). Lindsay will be co-teaching and translating.
The cost of the workshop is $80/$100 AUD (ASS members/non-members). You can still take advantage of the member's discount even if you don't reside in Australia - just click on 'Membership' up above to join.
Each month, we will run two individual session times. Depending on where you are located, you can choose the session that suits you best.
Session 1: 10:00 - 12:30 AEST
Session 2: 18:00 - 20:30 AEST
For more detailed information, click the image above. Or, sign up below!
Monthly Online Beginner's Workshop: October 18th 2020
The Australian Shakuhachi Society invites you to monthly ASS Beginner's Workshops to experience the art and sound of the Shakuhachi - the Japanese bamboo flute.
These workshops are perfect if you are completely new to the shakuhachi, have only been playing a short time (less than one year), or have never taken lessons before.
Beginners can also participate in Katsuya's Shugyojo Workshop and Prep Workshop at a discounted rate, to get a further taste of lessons with KSK teachers and honkyoku.
Sign up below, or click the image for detailed info.
Australian Shakuhachi Festival 2020 is happening!! And, for the first time ever, the Festival will be held online.
Four days of shakuhachi workshop bliss on October 3-4 and 10-11, 2020. Click the banner above for more details.
In light of the rapidly changing situation with the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic, and the Australian Government's recently announced restrictions around gatherings, the ASF20 committee has decided to cancel ASF20. This is not a decision which has been taken lightly, however in the interest of public safety and for the welfare of all, this is the right decision. Due to continuing uncertainty about timelines, the ASF20 committee is not making plans to organise one in the future. We expect and hope that after things settle down, ASS will be in a position to think about the next ASF.
Stay safe and take care.
ASF20 committee
April 25 2020
The Australian Shakuhachi Society invites you to a one-day workshop in Sydney, led by Shakuhachi Master Bronwyn Kirkpatrick. Sign up below, or click above for info.
The Australian Shakuhachi Society is pleased to announce Australian Shakuhachi Festival 2018 (ASF18). ASF18 is a multi-day intensive for shakuhachi players of any skill level. Held over four days, the Festival includes concerts, group workshops, and individual tuition.
ASF18 PDF flyers here:
As part of ASF18, the Shakuhachi Masters Concerts will take place in Melbourne (Jan 27), Sydney (Jan 31), and the Blue Mountains (Feb 1). Links to online booking at trybooking.com and flyers below.
Melbourne Concert - Flyer | Purchase tickets
Sydney Concert - Flyer | Purchase tickets
Blue Mountains Concert - Flyer | Purchase tickets
Become a member today to support the Society, and get member discounts to workshops and festivals.
Come and learn shakuhachi at monthly ASS Shakuhachi Workshops in Melbourne, led by Lindsay Dugan.
Kakizakai Workshops and Concerts in Melbourne and Brisbane, September 2017
