Heyya,
Wondering why I can’t seem to find any Minyou Shamisen video’s, every video on youtube seems to be tsugaru or at a bit of a rare stretch there is nagauta.
I’m thinking minyou shamisen is tagged differently or maybe left untagged on youtube.
Can some people help me rummage through some youtube videos to find a nice collection?
Only video i’ve seen of someone minyou shamisen so far was given to me in a past thread I made like this, from Liam Morgan.
I need to hear some minyou shamisen so I know how i am supposed to be playing and timing etc.
Hi Cana - I did a search on YouTube for 民謡三味線 (min’you shamisen) and then ignored any that said 津軽/Tsugaru, or any that were playing on futozao instruments. So here are some that came up on the first page. You get a variety of solo, ensemble, with and without flutes/drums/vocals, etc. (And now you can search for some vids on your own using the info/kanji above):
Greeting from San Francisco, California. I practice Shamisen under Fujimoto-ryu which is focused on Minyo. I posted our group’s video here. Precisely not all the songs are Minyo in this video. The first one is assembly of Japanese old-time songs, Gion-kouta is classic popluar in 1930. But Hanagasa, Otemoyan, Soran-bushi are popular Minyo.
I will ask my Sensei if there would be a Fujimoto group in UK. We are not the only Fujimoto in SF Bay Area on top of other Shamisen groups, e.g. Tsugaru, Nagauta. So, I suspect there must be some Shamisen/Minyo groups in U.K. I will also keep my eyes open for Skype lesson. My Sensei is just about to learn Internet, so it may take a while to be ready.
Also, I see you are not too far from London? (1 - 1.5 hour drive?)
When you go there next time, I suggest going to a Japanese restaurant or super market, there may be a bulltein board.
I found my Sensei on the bulltein board at a Jp super market in SF.
Also those places usually have Japanese free paper with a lots of info including ad for lessons. I found this on-line, but I there would also be actual paper. In this ad, I see an ad for violin lesson, so some day there will be Shamisen ad??
Do you read/speak Japanese? If not, bring or make a Japanese friend and drag him/her to help you!
Also, I’m sure a big city like London have Japanese festivals? E.g. Cherry blossom season, New Year. Check out the program and see if there will be Shamisen performance, go see it, and talk to the people. Some of my Shamisen mates joined the group in this way…
OK, too much writing, but wanted to note that I really admire you for practicing Shamisen all by yourself!
Hey again. I just found this Tsugaru shamisen school in U.K. They are doing Minyo. I don’t know if you have to have a Tsugaru Shamisen, but contact them, I think they could help you find a right teacher. Good luck.
you’ve been a huge help!