Friday, September 18, 2009

how to do tamane (tongue fluttering)


Tamane (玉音) often causes trouble in the beginning. But it is really fun once you can do it! smile
I have no video links, but if you can to flutter tonguing while singing, you can do tamane.

Start with a flutter without trying to hit the shakuhachi with your breath or create a sound. Once you can do that and feel you can do it for a longer stretch - then try to control and direct your breath to hit the utaguchi and thereby create a sound. In the beginning only a fluffy airy sound will come out from your efforts, but eventually it will come...

IF you can't flutter tongue even without the shakuhachi, try to practice it just with singing. No flute in any case. Some people can't do it, and apparently it can be genetically conditioned - I have been told by another shakuhachi player who went to see a doctor because he couldn't do it. So, if you are one of these cases, then you can develop a sound very similar to tamane by doing the same technique as when gargling. With practice you can control how the gargling sounds from very small vibrations to what sounds identical to tamane.

How to practice without a shakuhachi?


No, its not some sort of koan!

My first meeting with my Shakuhachi teacher is in a week and a half. And that will be the first time I get a chance to actually try blowing on the bamboo flute. Is there anything I can do in the meantime to prepare?