I will share how I started my shinobue journey at age 54 and got to this point in 5 short years, but first, I received a question about my new shinobue songbook, "Japanese Night Songs".
Why is this ebook called "Japanese Night Songs"?
The ebook is titled “Japanese Night Songs” because it features five beautiful Japanese songs that revolve around the theme of night🌙. Here are the songs included:
Ichibanboshi Mitsuketa - This title translates to “I’ve Found the First Star of the Night.”
Yuuyake Koyake - This means “Sunset Glow.”
Oborozukiyo - This translates to “Hazy Moon Night.”
Takeda no Komoriuta - This means “Lullaby of the Takeda Region” (now known as Kyoto).
Edo Komoriuta - This translates to “Lullaby of the Edo Region” (now known as Tokyo).
The songs are arranged in order of difficulty, progressing from easy to hard, yet all are beginner-friendly! I have a deep appreciation for beautiful music, and these traditional Japanese songs are truly gems!
Many people have expressed their disbelief at how much they are getting for just $25 with the current sale running until June 10. This package includes 20 sheet music pieces (for 8, 7, 6, and 3 hon choshi versions for each song), 20 tutorial videos, and 20 piano accompaniment tracks. 🤯
Make sure to grab your copy before the offer ends! Available at saitomusic.com/books
How I learned shinobue at age 54
I began playing the shinobue at the age of 54.
A year later, I started my shinobue YouTube channel when I was 55.
I also have students who are in their 70s.
In an interview with Takumi Kato-san, he shared that his son started playing the shinobue at around 4 or 5 years old and was already playing high, low, and long notes beautifully by the age of 7.
This shows that you can learn to play the shinobue and excel at any age.
Isn't that wonderful?
There are many hobbies that you might find challenging to pursue if you are too young, too old, or lack certain skills. However, that is not the case with the shinobue.
I have adult students who have no musical background but are thriving in their shinobue journey.
Unlike instruments such as the piano or violin, which typically require early training to pursue a professional career, the shinobue is more flexible—especially for those living outside Japan, where it stands out as a unique instrument.
I have students who began playing the shinobue as adults and aspire to perform and teach professionally. It is definitely possible to achieve this!
However, as an adult, you often have less time to master the shinobue compared to younger learners who have their whole lives ahead of them. Therefore, it's essential to understand how to practice effectively.
How to practice to be good at shinobue at any age
Practice daily in short increments
To learn shinobue effectively, practice daily in short increments. This approach is crucial, especially when you are developing your technique as a beginner.
Keep your shinobue close by and make it a habit to pick it up regularly. Start by finding a good tone and then set it aside. Try again after about ten minutes to see if you can reproduce that good tone.
This process will help you understand how your shinobue wants you to play, allowing you to build a relationship with the instrument.
Engaging in longer practice sessions of 30 to 60 minutes can significantly enhance your skills, but remember to incorporate breaks to keep your concentration sharp.
Practice with focus
Practicing without focus can easily lead to the development of bad habits, costing you valuable time to undo them later. Make the most of your practice by staying mindful and intentional!
Don't just play your songs over and over. Pay close attention to your body and listen carefully to the tones you create. Notice how your shinobue responds to your playing.
When you’re playing correctly, your breath should feel like it goes through the tube of the flute smoothly. If your breath feels like it's hitting a wall, or your mouth feels tense, something is off.
Don't make excuses for why you can't play correctly.
When thoughts like “I’m too old,” “I’m not musically talented,” “I don’t have the lung capacity,” “My lips (or teeth, mouth) aren’t suitable for shinobue,” “My fingers can’t move that fast,” or simply “This is too hard; I can’t do this,” come up, don’t let them control you.
I’ve been teaching music all my adult life, and when people express these kinds of thoughts, it’s usually not that they are actually incapable of learning. Often, they are afraid of not doing it well, so they come up with reasons why they can’t do something even before they try. It’s entirely a mental barrier.
On the other hand, I have had successful adult shinobue students who had no musical background whatsoever, yet they learned rhythm, pitch, and how to read music without making excuses like wishing they had started earlier in life or claiming it’s too hard now. I have also had voice students who are confined to wheelchairs for life. They never complained that they couldn’t achieve good diaphragmatic breathing because they couldn’t stand.
Consider Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. He was once a skinny, short kid who went unranked in high school. Now, he is regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history. Instead of making excuses, such as saying, "I am not built like NBA players," he asked himself, "How can I become successful with what I have?" Through incredible hard work, he improved his shooting skills and became better than anyone else.
Of course, if you have physical ailments that hinder your ability to learn shinobue, please consult with your doctor.
However, when you think, “I’m too xxx,” it’s important to catch those thoughts and honestly ask yourself why you feel that way.
Hold yourself accountable
I know that the shinobue is not very well-known, making it difficult to find a practice buddy. However, it's important to find ways to hold yourself accountable for your practice.
You could tell your non-shinobue friends or family members, "I'm going to practice shinobue every day!" Alternatively, consider sharing videos of your shinobue playing on social media each week. Honestly, if it weren't for my YouTube channel, I wouldn't have practiced the shinobue as diligently!
Additionally, plan to perform on your shinobue at family gatherings or community events. There's nothing quite like an upcoming performance to motivate you to practice!
Love the process
At the end of the day, this is the most important question.
Do you love playing the shinobue?
Or are you just looking for a quick result?
To be good at shinobue, you must spend time with it. There is just no way around it.
But if you LOVE it, it doesn't seem like work.
Love the process. Love spending time with shinobue.
If your goal is to play one song and you are happy with it, that's fine. But if you really want to be good at shinobue, it's a journey that you take on.
Enjoy every step of the way. Live in the moment and don't focus so much on the goal of one day becoming a "real good player".
Look for and celebrate every little step of success.
Be grateful for each moment you spend with shinobue and build a relationship with it.
And before you know it, you realize how much you have come!
You can attend my 2-hour session for just $60! There's no need to register for the entire conference.
I'll be offering a beginning shinobue class and an intermediate/advanced class where we will learn to play "Tsuki no Sabaku" (Desert Moon), which is a perfect theme for Arizona!
After two days of teaching at the Taiko Conference on Friday and Saturday, I will be at the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix (Rohoen) on Saturday, August 31, sharing more about shinobue. This beautiful and authentic Japanese garden is located near downtown Phoenix. We are planning to have activities inside their authentic Japanese tea room since the temperature outside will be very hot. More details will be available soon!
I've compiled all the shinobue articles from the past newsletters just for you!
This beautiful old Japanese song, Ichibanboshi Mitsuketa, is perfect for shinobue beginners, because it only has ryo on 5, 6, and 7, the easiest notes to produce when you are starting out! This song is included in my new shinobue songbook and you can sound like this video too!
Are you interested in Japan? Imagine diving into their culture and learning to play a beautiful ancient musical instrument! Why not give the shinobue a try? This lovely Japanese bamboo flute is easier to learn than you might think. Many folks (even without any musical experience) are discovering the rich traditions of Japan through this amazing instrument. I invite you to check out my website, saitomusic.com, where you'll find a wealth of free information that used to be available only in Japanese. You can easily purchase a beginner shinobue there at an affordable price. Also, don’t miss my YouTube channel, “Miki Saito Shinobue Adventure,” where I share anime and video game covers and fun tutorials. And be sure to subscribe to my free newsletter to support you on your shinobue journey! I can’t wait to see you there!
