NYC, 2005, beginning of fall – I was to have my first shakuhachi lesson with Ron Nyogetsu in the West Village. I was living in Chinatown on Mott St. above Shin Dai Wong restaurant so I hoofed it over to my lesson in under 30 minutes. My imagination pictured some kind of classroom with other shakuhachi students. Would they be nice? Would I get enough personal attention?
As I walked up to the Dojo doors of Ki Sui An I paused, took a deep breath, and knocked… Ron quickly answered, impishly smiling ear to ear in sweatpants and a T-shirt. I was instantly put at ease. I walked into his tiny Japanese styled studio to find that it was to be just me and him in there. He poured me some humble Hojicha tea, or rather he pumped and squirted it out of this Japanese tea machine I had never seen the likes of before.
We talked but I was beyond shy back then so we soon got to playing. I can’t recall what we played, though it would’ve been a folk song. I remember that Ron was surprised that I had already familiarized myself with the common Kinko Ryu katakana notes. I think I left feeling good but also staring down a stack of folk songs and wondering when I might get to learn a Honkyoku (not before first completing said folk songs and a long list of Sankyoku ensemble pieces).
I find it reassuring how so many things in life often begin like this, that is, very matter-of-fact, without drama, pomp, or fanfare; with so many things outside of our illusion of control.
Still a green bamboo shoot, Josen
Leave a Reply