EU shamisen convention

Events
#1

Hello, I just had a cool idea…

EU Shamisen Convention…

There are a few of us here in Europe who are interested in playing shamisen and since we are a bit away from the “happening” , without any teachers and just on our own, it would be awesome to organize a gathering where we would meet and get somebody to come here and lecture us.

I have a great venue (the CIT Cork School of Music) I can use for such an event, and there would be many other opportunities to play music, since Ireland is the country of folk…

I can organize it…

concerts, lectures, …

hmm just need to know THE INTEREST!!!

yeah and get somebody from japan or US to come and teach us…

what do u think???

Sid

#2

I think it sounds like a really great idea. I just need to get myself a shamisen and get started first :slight_smile:

#3

Depending on how far in the future this might be, I’d be more than willing to come out.
Let’s see where this goes :slight_smile:

#4

Duuuuude!! If it’s all organized and transportation is covered, I’m totally down. I’m sure Grant and I can come up with an entertaining lecture series thing. :slight_smile:

#5

I would be interested, Im originally from Northern Ireland anyway so it would be refreshing to go to the South!

#6

If my bank account is okay with it in due time, I would be so glad to come! :slight_smile:

#7

cool …
i have started to look at things and hopefully will get some support to finance it… especially the flights…the money is always issue…well on the other hand , the money is always there , just need to ask right person for it. will see. lets believe its gonna happen!!!
time-wise, not so soon, hopefully Jun or July next year???
and yes i was thinking of a seminar kinda thing for a whole week, “lecture series” as you say, Kyle.
I will let you know how I am progressing…

#8

That would give me enough time to practice a bit! Sounds really nice! As a lover of irish folk music I think we should prepare some irish songs on the shamisen as well :slight_smile:

#9

Whoa! Knowing how time flies, June or July 2011 would actually be really soon! It’s something I will definitely have to “compose”, as it were. What kind of seminar are you thinking? Academic and lots of talking? Or rather a “workshop series”? (which is really focused on hands-on playing, not much theory and talking.)

#10

2012! hehe times flies, i know it sounds like far away, but its not.

i was more thinking about a workshop series, improving the technique, learning new songs, playing together, ways of practice, anything to help to improve the playing … i might do a talk seminar for public as well actually, but you dont have to worry about it… i am after your skills and experience of playing!! although, it would be nice if could talk about your trips to Aomori, people there, experience with other shamisen players and stuff like that…would be interested to hear the stories… well we could just go to pub, jam with local musicians and talk about those things over a pint of local brew, couldnt we???

#11

Oh man, 2012!! That’s what I meant. :wink:

Oh, that would be much much better. :slight_smile: We can definitely do that. And we have enough history knowledge and stories that a Q&A is possible. :wink:

Oh yeah, I shoulda mentioned that earlier. One of my requests is that I get regularly filled up with local dark brew. :slight_smile: My only favorite staple beer (besides Sapporo/Asahi) is Newcastle, and I’d love to try some more dark beers from there!

#12

my personal favorite is BEAMISH…you will love it!
i will do my best to organize this event so we meet here in few months time, play together, have few pints turning into leprechauns…

#13

Let’s drink first, and get the money by becoming leprechauns then :wink:

#14

I think it sounds like a really great idea. I just need to get myself a shamisen and get started first :slight_smile:

Ditto :slight_smile:

#15

I’m thinking of preparing two lectures, beginning and advanced. The beginning will be in the style of the Crash Course, with more songs like Kase no Yakko Odori, Jinku Bushi and such. The advanced lecture would start with Rokudan, and would have much more focus on proper technique and fundamentals. Maybe one of each lecture per day? How many do you think would be interested in each?

#16

sounds good, me personally i would be interested in everything… beginner,advanced,everything…
i have just spread the webs, so will see…
so far i found out that there is no shamisen player in Ireland, there is shakuhachi society though, and there is a biwa player am getting in contact with… i am looking into the London scene at the moment… there must be some enthusiasts there…
well how many students per class do you think is manageable???
how long the lesson?
actually, there is more to ask… would you contact me on my email pls??
matejkolenic@yahoo.ie

#17

ohh, and i was gonna ask you about the merchandize… how is that progressing?? i am still using my old nagauta wooden bachi, which is getting chipped more and more, day by day, i guess its time to get another one…
have you got any??? dunno how does it work… would you be able to send me one?? acrylic bachi???

#18

I’ll connect with you about the lecture things with you mail. :slight_smile:

About the merchandising. Yeah, I’m working every day on entering things into the website. Progression is picking up. We do have Wooden bachi available, as well as fake bekkou (which I mistakenly called “acrylic” on the video). Masahiro is currently in Belgium, but he’ll be back in six days, so we can get something for you soon. :slight_smile:

#19

EU Shamisen convention sounds like a great idea. I have actually given workshops and lectures on Tsugaru Shamisen History in Scotland in the past and it went quite well. Masahiro nitta, Mike Penny and I always included workshops in our Monsters of Shamisen tours (Japan and/or USA tours) and they were always a lot of fun. unfortunatley I am really not going to be available to do anything like that in the near future so I am glad there for Kyle and Grant who seem to be willing !

#20

as for me Ireland would be a great location well not very close and I don’t even have a true shamisen :slight_smile: but I always wanted to make a vacation in Scotland and Ireland so in case I can do the hitting two cats with one stone thing I shall be there too . . .

© 2020 Kyle Abbott