What does it take to be a shakuhachi teacher or shihan?
What does it take to be a shakuhachi teacher or shihan?
What does it take to be a shakuhachi teacher or shihan?
Does only learning the repertoire of a particular school make you a teacher or master?
Does only learning the repertoire of a particular school make you a teacher or master?
Chris, I’m not sure if you’re asking what standards a player must meet to qualify as a teacher or what makes a good teacher. I think one must assume a high level of technical proficiency in a given repertoire, though there are good teachers who are not great players and perhaps less good teachers who are. For me, a good teacher is approachable, communicative, inventive, knowledgeable, not only in the sense of knowing the instrument but the cultural tradition(s) of which it is a part. Lessons are structured and well organized, individually and serially. A good teacher also motivates, which implies understanding and working with each student’s level of commitment as well as his strengths and weaknesses.
As you only get shihan for knowing and playing within one school - then yes shihan is given even the person doesn't know anything else.
I think Master is a bad word to translate shihan with.. it kind of more means instructor, teacher or model.
師範 = shihan
師 = teacher, mentor, master as in teacher
範 = example, model
The quality or level of shihan given today in the shakuhachi world varies so much that it hardly tells us anything - I think.... but hey I am sure people will then say behind my back "it is because she doesn't have a shihan".
It really depends on the school. Some schools have very strict control of what people are supposed to be able to do when they get a shihan or jun-shihan - that is for example Tozan where you need to answer questions on history, repertoire etc as well. In other schools you basically have to play well and ask your teacher to give "me" a shihan.... (that is what I have been told from insiders. You know I come from a school with no shihan given. So I can't verify if this is correct). Yet in other schools again you just have to go through the repertoire - how well you play it is not so important. All, I am reallys aying is that the quality of shihan varies a lot.
Regarding teacher, I agree with Rick. Sometimes a person is both a very good player and a teacher - at other times these do not always follow each other.
I think Master is a bad word to translate shihan with.. it kind of more means instructor, teacher or model.
師範 = shihan
師 = teacher, mentor, master as in teacher
範 = example, model
The quality or level of shihan given today in the shakuhachi world varies so much that it hardly tells us anything - I think.... but hey I am sure people will then say behind my back "it is because she doesn't have a shihan".
It really depends on the school. Some schools have very strict control of what people are supposed to be able to do when they get a shihan or jun-shihan - that is for example Tozan where you need to answer questions on history, repertoire etc as well. In other schools you basically have to play well and ask your teacher to give "me" a shihan.... (that is what I have been told from insiders. You know I come from a school with no shihan given. So I can't verify if this is correct). Yet in other schools again you just have to go through the repertoire - how well you play it is not so important. All, I am reallys aying is that the quality of shihan varies a lot.Regarding teacher, I agree with Rick. Sometimes a person is both a very good player and a teacher - at other times these do not always follow each other.
Daijirin states the definition of shihan as being someone who serves as a model example, someone who teaches, or someone who has gone through a process and passed. As has been said, there is a broad spectrum of skill levels in any of these definitions, and the simple fact of possessing a shihan license doesn't serve well as a yardstick for actual skill, for those who would wish to judge other players in such a way.
"Kiku Day""Kiku Day"
for example Tozan where you need to answer questions on history, repertoire etc as well. In other schools you basically have to play well and ask your teacher to give "me" a shihan.... (that is what I have been told from insiders. You know I come from a school with no shihan given. So I can't verify if this is correct).
Shihan certificates, themselves, can be pretty pricey. It doesn't stop with completing the lessons. That piece of washi paper with some nice calligraphy and stamps on it can set you back a sum.
Legend has it (via Masakazu Yoshizawa) that when the rascal Watazumi was approached by a prospective student to teach him how to be a shakuhachi "master," he told the student to just give him $10,000 and he'd write him up a shihan certificate. The student could come back if he wanted lessons or not.
Bill Shozan Schultz's accounts to me of jun-shihan and shihan exams in Tozan Ryu are hair-raising.
"x moran""x moran"Bill Shozan Schultz's accounts to me of jun-shihan and shihan exams in Tozan Ryu are hair-raising.
It is absolutely clear to me that in the world of shakuhachi in general, the value of the diploma depends only on the professional integrity of the person who delivers it. One can get an idea pretty quickly of this professional integrity by listening playing and teaching the graduate students of a particular teacher/school.
"JF Lagrost""JF Lagrost"It is absolutely clear to me that in the world of shakuhachi in general, the value of the diploma depends only on the professional integrity of the person who delivers it. One can get an idea pretty quickly by listening playing and teaching the graduate students of a particular teacher/school.
It is true of all certifications in general, e.g., even previously reputable colleges/universities can turn into degree mills if they hand out degrees without proper teaching and testing.
"JF Lagrost""JF Lagrost""x moran""x moran"Bill Shozan Schultz's accounts to me of jun-shihan and shihan exams in Tozan Ryu are hair-raising.
It is absolutely clear to me that in the world of shakuhachi in general, the value of the diploma depends only on the professional integrity of the person who delivers it. One can get an idea pretty quickly of this professional integrity by listening playing and teaching the graduate students of a particular teacher/school.
The level of thoroughness and rigor that Bill told me about the jun-shihan tests sounded very intense and competitive.
Speaking of Tozan Ryu, why is it so difficult to find single CDs (albums) of classical Tozan music (including the Tozan honkyoku)?
One pre-requisite of being a good teacher is not to be constantly on tour with rock bands and orchestras, thus unable to teach your students on a regular basis.
"x moran""x moran"Legend has it (via Masakazu Yoshizawa) that when the rascal Watazumi was approached by a prospective student to teach him how to be a shakuhachi "master," he told the student to just give him $10,000 and he'd write him up a shihan certificate. The student could come back if he wanted lessons or not.
Maybe he was really asking Watazumi to teach him how to be a shakuhachi “shyster”.
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