Learn how to make and play your own bamboo instrument!
Professional instrument makers and players of the Japanese shakuhachi, hichiriki, and the Chinese/Japanese flutes (ryuteki/fue/dizi) instruments will work with students to make their own instruments.
The workshops are held on Saturdays and are scheduled for four hours to cover a short performance and demonstration by the instrument maker, instruction on how to make the instruments, the actual making of the instruments using tools and bamboo provided by the school, and instruction in how to play the instruments once made.
The instrument makers/players include the Executive Director Thomas Piercy, who has studied instrument making in Japan, and other artists that have studied instrument making in China, Korea, and Japan. The instruments will include the Japanese shakuhachi (flute), Japanese hichiriki (double reed instrument), and Chinese flute (dizi).
These workshops will be held at the Sunset Park School of Music. Each workshop will last approximately four hours. The students will not only make their own instruments, but learn how to play them in the workshop. These instruments are used throughout Asian countries in formal, informal and folk music settings. This is a great opportunity to learn about these indigenous music instruments. Private instruction is also available to those interested in taking lessons.
$50 (includes bamboo for the instrument, tools, and instruction) Please call or e-mail to confirm the date and register for the workshop. 718-748-7860 [email protected]
Scheduled dates for 2019-2020 school year: Aug. 17, 2019; Sept. 21, 2019; Oct. 26, 2019; Jan. 11, 2020; Feb. 15, 2020.
Due to the covid-19 pandemic and restrictions to in-school instruction, the instrument making/playing workshops for the 2020-2021 school year will be held outdoors in the parking lot behind the school. Strict facial-masking and distancing protocols will be in place and enforced. Thank you for your cooperation. Please call or email the school for workshop dates.