Shakuhachi by John Kaizan Neptune

This book on playing shakuhachi was designed to give you, the interested English reader, basic information and guidance. The exercises proceed from elementary to fairly advanced so that a player with experience can also benefit from this book. Through the use of both shakuhacki and western music notation it is hoped that anyone familiar with one can compare and more easily learn the other. The written information is comprehensive and at first may appear complicated. It should become clearer as you progress through the exercises. There is a well-known saying related to te difficulty of producing vibrato and other ornaments on the shakuhachi: “kubi furi san nen,” which means “It takes three years to learn t shake your head.” Shakuhachi is a difficult instrument, perhaps as difficult as it is simple, as difficult as its tone is beautiful. If you devote the time, playing shakuhachi is very rewarding. “Gambatte kudasai!” (Hang in there.)