Tallahassee Democrat 10/28/2012 Copy Reduced to %d%% from original to fit letter page

Captivated by bamboo flute, Ryan Sullivan learns the shakuhachi, will perform duet

Simple Japanese instrument capable of making complicated music

By Randi Atwood flute was only the first Special to the Democrat step, though. “The shakuhachi is a Tallahassee native particularly difficult Ryan Sullivan, 28, studies instrument to play be- and plays a musical in- cause it doesn’t channel strument most people your breath for you,” he have probably never explained. “On a piano, heard of: the shakuhachi you hit a key and get a flute. note, but on this, if you “It’s really a simple can’t get your airstream instrument,” he said. “It’s right, you can practice usually made of bamboo, for months and never get it’s got five holes — four a tone at all.” Japanese koto player Masayo Ishigure. in front, one on back — By the same token, the but it doesn’t have any design of the shakuhachi mechanical buttons like a means that skilled play- “Dale Olsen deserves the credit of regular flute. From the ers can bring a tremen- outside it appears to be dous amount of refined making me a player who’s worth just a piece of bamboo, technique to their music. anything. Before that I was just into but the Japanese crafts- Performers make fre- men have developed a quent use of microtones, the Zen of the flute. ” fine art of filing away sophisticated breath RYAN SULLIVAN certain sections on the work and head vibrato. inside and building up Some players work for Ryan Sullivan will perform on Nov. 3. other sections.” years just to learn how to said. “He also allowed me here in Tallahassee. About six years ago, properly shake their to play on his flute, which “He allowed me to IF YOU GO Sullivan’s attention was heads. made me realize that my take lessons with him for caught by a friend’s “There are shakuhachi own self-built one just a year, but he travels so What: Japanese Koto Music Concert small bamboo flute, one songs that if you played wasn’t that great.” much, he can’t teach me Where: FSU Center for Global Engagement Auditorium made by a local crafts- them on a piano, they That experience led any more,” he said. “But When: Nov. 3, 2 pm man. would be absolutely the Sullivan to more intense- Dale Olsen deserves the Admission: Contact “He said if I could dullest songs on the plan- ly research the traditions credit of making me a Free. : Genzo Tanaka at 860-978-3964. play it, I could have it. et,” said Sullivan. “A of the instrument, and he player who’s worth any- Well, I never took music teacher once told me that started seriously study- thing. Before that I was “Now that I play on pitch, of a Geisha.’ And then I lessons, but I’ve always our job as players of the ing both acoustics and just into the Zen of the we get along much bet- thought, ‘Uh oh, I should had a propensity for shakuhachi is to use our flutecraft. flute. I didn’t care much ter.” probably start practic- getting sounds out of skills to make boring “After I got home about pitch and rhythm, On Saturday, Sullivan ing.’ ” things,” he remembered. music interesting.” from Dallas, almost ev- but he really set me will be playing a duet For the concert, Sulli- “I played around with it Finding no readily ery night after my wife straight. He made me with world-renowned van will be dressed in a for about 10 minutes, available shakuhachi and newborn son had understand that playing Japanese koto player full formal Japanese figured it out, and got teachers in Tallahassee, gone to sleep, I’d sit on pieces as they were in- Masayo Ishigure, at a kimono. myself a flute.” Sullivan went to the Leon the kitchen floor with the tended is important, that concert at FSU’s Center “You put that outfit on Sullivan began attend- County Public Library, sheet music and one dim it opens up more than it for Global Engagement, and know you’re playing ing the Native American and was surprised to find lamp and just play,” he limits.” sponsored by the Asian traditional Japanese flute festival near his a wealth of CDs to listen said. “Then I read more Sullivan still seeks out Coalition of Tallahassee. music, and your whole grandparents’ home in to. books and got more CDs other teachers when he “They called me up mindset changes,” he Fort Walton Beach and One of his favorites and kept learning. Now travels, but says the and asked if I’d like to do said. “In Japan, they are spent time talking to and was by a performer from every time I travel, I see discipline he learned a duet with her. I really into formality and learning from flute ex- Dallas, and Sullivan coin- if there’s a local shaku- from Olsen means he checked out her website, subtlety, and I’m having perts. He made his first cidentally had a trip to hachi teacher.” gets more out of those and her music is amaz- to learn to walk and sit all shakuhachi out of PVC Dallas already scheduled In 2010, Sullivan was lessons. His wife, Arielle ing, so I said sure,” he over again. It’s good, and bondo putty from his to visit his wife’s parents. introduced to Dale Olsen, Raff, also appreciates his explained. “Then I got because in life, I tend to father’s auto repair shop, “I took a lesson from a retired FSU music newfound musical skills. further in and saw a be less structured. My then soon moved on to him when we were there, professor and ethnomusi- “She’s a classically picture of her with YoYo studies are helping to harvesting bamboo from and he taught me to play cologist, who teaches — trained violinist, and was Ma and Itzhak Perlman, temper me.” a grove he discovered in a classic shakuhachi song among other instruments really not into my free- recording the soundtrack Tallahassee. Building the called ‘Empty Bell,” he — the shakuhachi, right formness,” he laughed. for the movie ‘Memoirs

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