Shinobue class Student concert in Brussels

The other day, we had a recital for my shinobue class 🎶

This time also participation of Taiko and we finished with some traditional summer festival music In Brussels. My longest student (with a little break in between) has been learning for about 7 years. This time an online student also join from farther away!

For beginners with no experience on transverse flutes, just getting a sound out is a challenge. It starts with building technique, but it’s so rewarding when I can finally share more musical expression and enjoyment with students who’ve stuck with it for years.

My first shinobue teacher (Kohei Nishikawa) once said,

“Wouldn’t it be great if shinobue was played all over the world like the guitar?”

It made me realize that if I’m the only one performing, people might listen, but without opportunities to try it themselves, it will never truly spread. In the end, growing the amateur players is the key to keeping the instrument alive.

Thanks to being invited by Tsunagidaiko in France about 10 years ago, I started teaching in Paris, and later in Brussels.

They presented, from some traditional music to modern songs and we presented a ensemble a traditional kabuki work which I played the shamisen. Also I arranged some pieces for shinobue and koto, shinobue and piano for this occasion.

←Flaine Music Academy in the French Alps