Welcome to my shakuhachi website. Shakuhachi are end blown Japanese bamboo flutes. I teach, perform, and craft shakuhachi here in the mountains of Asheville, Western North Carolina. On this site I offer my shakuhachi for sale as well as my services as a performer and teacher of the shakuhachi. I also offer many free "how to" guides and videos in my "Dojo" such as "how to play shakuhachi", "how to clean shakuhachi" and more. I teach traditional shakuhachi music called "honkyoku" either in person or over the internet using live video chat. To find out more about me use the convenient "tabs" below which display information when clicked. You can also read more about my shakuhachi making methods in the Store.
Me playing my shakuhachi in a madake bamboo forest and waterfall
You can email me at jk@flutedojo.com or call me at 828 348 4488 during reasonable hours (EST).
I look forward to hearing from you!
All internet lesson slots are currently filled, however, I can add you to the queue as some students take breaks, etc. and slots open up.
In-person lesson slots still available as of May 1st 2012.
I teach in-person or over the internet in private or group format.
I can teach on any length shakuhachi and I only play my natural jinashi, therefore, a 1.8 "D4" is not a necessity.
I was first introduced to bamboo flutes as a child by my father who owns a root end bamboo Dong Xiao which is a Taiwanese flute similar to the shakuhachi. I started making my first simple shakuhachi at the age of seventeen. At age eighteen I moved to New York City to study shakuhachi under esteemed masters Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Sledin and Kurahashi Yodo II in the Jin Nyodo style. From 2006 until 2008 I studied three days a week with Ronnie in addition to week long intensives with Kurahashi.
I supported myself entirely from the sale of my shakuhachi which allowed me to practice at the intense level required, however, my constant making and playing lead to me developing multiple repetitive stress injuries. Among the many adjustments I made, switching from righty to lefty on the shakuhachi was the most interesting and enjoyable. When I reached the end of the Jin Nyodo repertoire I decided that I wanted to explore other older styles of shakuhachi playing. I now study with Justin Senryu.
I am pioneering the use of Japanese Madake bamboo (Phyllostachys Bambusoides) growing in The US which I personally harvest from established groves. I found my first grove of madake just a few towns over from where I was born in Norfolk VA. In the winter of 2011 I harvested from multiple madake groves growing in Alabama which were discovered by Jim Mortensen (jmbamboo.com). In the summer of 2011 I moved to Asheville, North Carolina and met with Keiji (haikubamboonursery.net) who has been growing madake and other Japanese bamboos in the mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina for more than three decades.
On my journey thus far I have had the privilege to provide my shakuhachi to people all over the world and I have met many friends.
I supported myself entirely from the sale of my shakuhachi which allowed me to practice at the intense level required, however, my constant making and playing lead to me developing multiple repetitive stress injuries. Among the many adjustments I made, switching from righty to lefty on the shakuhachi was the most interesting and enjoyable. When I reached the end of the Jin Nyodo repertoire I decided that I wanted to explore other older styles of shakuhachi playing. I now study with Justin Senryu.
I am pioneering the use of Japanese Madake bamboo (Phyllostachys Bambusoides) growing in The US which I personally harvest from established groves. I found my first grove of madake just a few towns over from where I was born in Norfolk VA. In the winter of 2011 I harvested from multiple madake groves growing in Alabama which were discovered by Jim Mortensen (jmbamboo.com). In the summer of 2011 I moved to Asheville, North Carolina and met with Keiji (haikubamboonursery.net) who has been growing madake and other Japanese bamboos in the mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina for more than three decades.
On my journey thus far I have had the privilege to provide my shakuhachi to people all over the world and I have met many friends.
