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ezFolk Forums > Local Music > Students Looking for Teachers > Any Tsugaru Shamisen Teachers in the New York City area? |
| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page:   1 2 3 4   |
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| Any Tsugaru Shamisen Teachers in the New York City area? - Students Looking for Teachers - Local Music - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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AllenZ Approved 
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Hey Tsugaru, haven't seen you on here a while. How's the practice going? Did you take anymore lessons from Mariko? Oh yeah, did you notice there another guy planning to start the shamisen? You guys can probably work out something practice together so you can improve faster. Yeah, I watched the Nitaboh story before, pretty interesting how he became a shaman to create the Tsugaru style. The ending score (the one on your clip) he uses to win against the school of monks is great, I have been trying to copy it for a while, too bad my ears aren't that good. Last edited on Thu May 1st, 2008 02:27 am by AllenZ ____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved 
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Yeah, I think its Agatsumo playing that score. No lessons this week. They only meet three times a month, but I have been practicing every day. Yes, I brought the young player to the forum. We need to start our east coast Tsugaru Shamisen coalition.
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AllenZ Approved
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Yeah, we'll eventually need to represent the East Coast in the Annual Japan Tsugaru Jamisen Nationals..... ..... Hopefully by 2015. Too bad there's not instructors around. I was talking to one of the Japanese music shops, they said even though they don't know of any. New York is a big cultural city, even if there's no instructors, there's gotta be more than one handful of Tsugaru players. Now we just need to smoke them out.
____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved
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Hey, rule of thumb; prices reflect the esthetics of the bekko as much as the quality/durability. Remember that the real bekko bachi are made from a natural material so no two are the same. Even the most expensive of bachi will chip and break if not used properly, and that this is particularly true with the "heavier" tsugaru playing style. And I suppose this is more likely to happen as a beginner. no matter who you buy from, you should stick to a plastic/wooden bachi until you develop your playing style to the point where you're less likely to break the bachi. The cheapest ones are not real bekko, but "bekko-fuu The only thing I really know about the quality of bekko is that the more black or dark spots there are, the poorer the quality and the more easily they chip. (more expensive ones at the top of the page use natural materials instead of plastic)
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AllenZ Approved
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Very good. Start a new topic about it on the Other Instrument board Tsugaru. But one thing about the Bekkoufu, I used one since the beginning when I was using a Fake skin and its great. Very rich tone compared to plastic, but just alittle stiff. The quality Bekkoufu or Bekkouchou I got from my Kyoto is made by the professional shop and is a blend of the real with fiber. Flexibility with duralibilty. And your right, you should stick with the other stuff before bekkou if your beginning, but use a neo fiber bekkou. I personally tried and used one for over a year and I can say I'm still keeping it even though you know I have two bekkou. The more clear it is, the more valuable, but the supply of bekko is near gone because of the Washington Treaty of Japan and not to mention, they are not breeding them to retain the supply, so there's no CITES certificate for legal export.
____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved
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ok will do. I also got my books in the mail. Great find man! I think i will start with Ringo Bushi. Man I can tell the fake skin isn't so nice, it make the notes have this weird ring. Oh well practice practice
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AllenZ Approved
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Cool~! You got the book already? Also try Tsugaru Jinku from the Kinoshita book, its not that hard and it has most of the standard techniques in it. Let's see if we can meet Sunday or something. Actually, I use fake skin before too with my previous Shamisen skin, the tone is just alittle hard, I didn't find much of a ring to the tone tho.... but of course, even fake skins differ. I find that even without an Azumi Sawari, the fake skin doesn't create a big buzz sound. I recently had a weird ring for my first string. It was the string, I just got my new strings in the mail on the weekend and now its good. Not to mention I changed to a lower gauge, and it feel great on my fingers. When you new strings come, try changing the strings.... the ones that come with the Shamisen sometimes either absorbed too much moisture or its too stiff, so there's a weird ring to the tones.
____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved
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Gotcha. I’m clueless when it comes to these strings. I don't even know what gauge my strings are. I'm used to big steel Bass strings. I can keep my Bass strings on for years. I have had the same ones on for three years, and they sound great. Only problem with the BIG book is that it's in kanji so I have no idea what song is what. Well I can listen to the cd and try to see if I can remember the name. I never really notice much difference with my Azumi Sawari on or off.
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AllenZ Approved
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Tsugaru, good ear. There is no different with or without the Azuma Sawari with Fake Skin. I noticed that because my first shamisen was a karin fake skin. Shamisen strings are a bitch to take care of..... not to mention the dog skin too.... Moisture makes it sounds like crap (both string and skin). The strings can't take A/C cold air much and it definitely can't take heat from a heater. I broken a load of strings in the summer because of the A/C and that the strings can't take temperature change. If you're used to metal strings, you should be ok. I have boney fingers, can't really play the 30 gauge string strings too much. I'm afraid to even see the 85-1 gauges ones I saw online. If you think the tone is bad, go get some strings. Get either Kotobuki Marusan (寿丸三）, Hatsune （はつね）or Fuji （富士糸）. Kotobuki Marusan & Hatsune are concert level strings, great balance of sound, even higher notes doesn't sound hard on them. Well, not sure about the Hatsune Tsugaru ones.... never tried it for Tsugaru series yet, only Nagauta. But these can't really take constant practice.... life is shorter than the cheap ones. Fuji is great for everyday use, best practice level ones around. Good sound, isn't too stiff. I suggest you use Fuji for now, but keep some Kotobuki in hand for the future. Bring the big book out next time, I'll help you identify the songs. There's a famous Bachi maker's website that has the worst picture for his business on there..... Check it out. Attachment: taimai2.jpg (Downloaded 33 times) Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 08:51 am by AllenZ ____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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AllenZ Approved
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Tsugaru, Did Mariko teach you how to do スリ yet? If so, I can teach you a part of 鼓動 Kodo from the YB's Wii song this weekend. The song itself not that hard, but the rhythm is tricky.... easiler to show you in personal than type it out to make you figure it out.
____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved
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Kool man! Ill let you know if i can make it this weekend.. Yes, I believe I remember them so I should be able to pick it up.
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Tsugaru Approved
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I just had another lesson today. I’m getting the songs down; the hardest part is the form. The Nagauta posture is the most difficult for me. I guess it doesn't help me (America gin) have a Tsugaru style. Their shamisens are much smaller thus making it easier for them to posture. I am a fan of the Tsugaru guys sitting on chairs ha-ha. Although, I do admire the flexibility of the Nagauta players.
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AllenZ Approved
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Ah.... you mean the kneeling 正座 (Seiza) position.... Your're not alone, not even Japanese people like sitting that way, since it tends to give people leg cramp. That's why there's 正座椅子 (Seiza Isu) chairs for Shamisen players, it removes the pressure of your whole upper body from your legs. Attachment: 908.jpg (Downloaded 22 times)
____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved
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lAllenZ wrote: Ah.... you mean the kneeling 正座 (Seiza) position.... Your're not alone, not even Japanese people like sitting that way, since it tends to give people leg cramp. Looks nice. Although I don't think Mariko would like me bringing that in haha. I’m getting used to the seiza position. It's the shamisen form while in seiza that is difficult. Plus Tsugaru shamisen ha the rubber grip in a different part of the body. She only uses a thin strip not the whole sheet, and the shamisen has to be close to the knee. It's just something I have to get used to. Attachment: shamisen.jpg (Downloaded 22 times)
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Tsugaru Approved
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VS Attachment: 180px-ShamisenBuskerPittStreetSydney.JPG (Downloaded 22 times)
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AllenZ Approved
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Does Mariko at least give you a cushion to kneel on? Must doing seiza on wooden floors is hell..... I remember always getting cramps from doing that in Kendo and Iaito. I guess because we Tsugaru people don't wear fancy clothes and sit in a fancy way, Tsugaru is not consider by Japanese public as a true "traditional music".
____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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Tsugaru Approved
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Yeah I get a cushion and a mat. I remember Mariko saying that Tsugaru is played by beggars and blind monks. This is why she keeps trying to get me to convert....NEVER!!!!
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AllenZ Approved
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Yeah, we're unorthrodox heretics according to Mariko's fancy Nagauta genre.... they all have different style schools and stuff. Tsugaru really doesn't have much different schools not til the last hundred year history when the beggars went from street performers to big stage performers thanks to Minyo Folk Song singers. Anyway, its easy to convert, just get yourself a decent Karin Wood Nagauta, its like only $500-$700. They don't have much requirements for concert level Nagauta Shamisen, Redwood or Karin doesn't make a different for their style.... all you need a cat skin for more crisp tones. Last edited on Thu May 15th, 2008 03:49 pm by AllenZ ____________________ To hell with circumstances. I create opportunities. "You're lucky Buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I've got the desire to kick your ass!" - Richard Gere |
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gagaters Approved 
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Hi, I am from Asutralia, and I know this is kind fo random for me to ask, but did you guys by any chance buy your "Tsugaru Shamisen" online? or a store? I would like it if you could reply... I am found of the "Shamisen" and looking around to buy one... and if you guys got yours on the internet, would you by any chance still have the link to the online store? much appreciated ^_^ looking forward to your guys comments back to me.
____________________ Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day |
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Tsugaru Approved
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Yeah it was a long hard road to get one. Lots of translating from Japanese and most places do not ship out of Japan. If you are truly interested in learning the Tsugaru, I have one that's a month old for sale. It is great for beginners with all the necessary accessories to get you started. Let me know and I will post a picture for you.
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| Current time is 05:48 am | Page: 1 2 3 4 |
| ezFolk Forums > Local Music > Students Looking for Teachers > Any Tsugaru Shamisen Teachers in the New York City area? | |
