Kiku Day

I am a ji-nashi shakuhachi player from Copenhagen, Denmark with American, Japanese, Irish and Russian roots.
I began my piano studies at the age of 3, playing classical music. At the age of 16 I turned to the flute.



One particularly strong component in my personality has always been a longing to explore the world and exploring how the 'world' is constructed by us humans. After finishing school left for Asia via the Trans-Siberian railway. After some time in Russia, Mongolia, China, East Turkestan, and Tibet, I ended up in Tokyo, where I decided to stay in order to study the ji-nashi shakuhachi and the honkyoku repertoire with Okuda Atsuya.
I was lucky I encountered a teacher in ji-nashi shakuhachi. My studies with Okuda lasted for eleven years, between 1989 and 2000, during which time I based myself in Japan but spent part of the year travelling to other Asian countries, Oceania, and Central America. I completed a BA in ethnomusicology at SOAS, University of London, then an MFA in Music Performanace and Literature at Mills College, Oakland, California and a PhD in ethnomusicology and performance from SOAS.



One of my main goals is to further improve my playing skills on the ji-nashi shakuhachi, with regard not only to interpreting the honkyoku repertoire, but also contemporary compositions and improvisations. I hope to succeed in taking ji-nashi shakuhachi playing to a new level.



Since my return to Europe in 2005 I have been working on creating a space for the shakuhachi in Europe. I initiated the organisation of the first Pan-European Shakuhachi Summer School with Koto and Shamisen. It was co-organised with Michael Coxall and SOAS Music Department, and all the teachers have helped greatly with useful input. The Summer School took place 19th-22nd July 2006 and was a great success. Ca. 50 people participated! I believe something really important for shakuhachi in Europe has been initiated. More information here:
www.shakuhachisummer-soas.com/
www.soas.ac.uk/summermusicschool/



I am the cofounder of the European Shakuhachi Society (ESS) and now serving as chaie person since 2009. I am hopping to be able to create a society that embraces all styles of shakuhachi and covering all corners of Europe where there is an interest in this beautiful instrument. See our activities here: www.shakuhachisociety.eu. The annual ESS Shakuhachi Summer School is traveling around Europe. This year it will take place in Prague, Czech Republich August 2010 (see www.komuso.cz).
It certainly is exciting times in Europe for shakuhachi lovers!



Try the BEST MySpace Editor and MySpace Backgrounds at MySpace Toolbox!