Shakuhachi Summer Camp goes West!
Last year, Shakuhachi Summer Camp of the Rockies celebrated its 25th and final season in June, but the good news is that the fun doesn't have to end there! This year, a new iteration of Shakuhachi Summer Camp is moving west to Claremont, California, and will be held at Scripps College from June 6th to 10th, 2024.
If you've attended Shakuhachi Summer Camp in the past, you will recognize some familiar faces amongst the faculty this year. Additionally, we will be welcoming new faculty. We are thrilled to start this new chapter of Shakuhachi fun in the summer and can't wait to have you join us in June!
The Experience
For the past 25 years, the Shakuhachi Summer Camp of the Rockies has been dedicated to the education, promotion, and performance of Shakuhachi in North America and internationally.
The Shakuhachi Summer Camp of the Rockies (SSCR) was born from the energy of the 1998 World Shakuhachi Festival in Boulder, CO, USA, which became the biggest event of its kind in the history of Shakuhachi. Now in its 25th year, SSCR is the longest-running international shakuhachi retreat in the world. Campers benefit from two and a half decades of organizational and teaching experience. The combined performing and teaching experience of the faculty is unparalleled.
Shakuhachi Summer Camp will emphasize total immersion. Students will learn new skills, engage and work with masters who have led the Shakuhachi world over the past quarter century, and experience the breadth of musical repertoire that features the Shakuhachi. Camp participants will meet, practice, and retreat with kindred shakuhachi souls from all parts of the US and worldwide. Musical styles that will be taught include honkyoku (solo Zen music), sankyoku (ensemble pieces), folk music (Minyo), modern repertoire, improvisation, and more. There are also special concerts by the faculty and students and other engaging programs and events every night during camp.
Our Community
Of course, you won’t be spending 24 hours a day playing shakuhachi in workshops, individual lessons, concerts, etc. Meeting and interacting with the other participants is an integral part of the camp experience. The Shakuhachi Summer Camp community continues to provide support, friendship, and opportunities to play together throughout the year to those who want a break from the solitude experienced by most Shakuhachi enthusiasts.
Shakuhachi Summer Camp is truly an international event. At previous camps we have had camp participants from Japan, Europe, Australia, China, and of course the US, as well as many other nationalities. And we’ve taken our show on the road to locales as far-flung as Sydney, Australia, and Kyoto, Japan. Our 2024 venue, Scripps College, is ideal for our community to meet at. Scripps is located on a stunning 32-acre campus in Claremont, California, only 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles. This setting will enable all participants to study, dine, and live together in a scenic and peaceful space for the duration of the camp.
Your Participation
Coming to camp will directly enhance any Shakuhachi player's musical life. Participants at camp will study with some of the world’s finest masters of the shakuhachi. Campers will learn and practice a wide repertoire of pieces, some in preparation for the student concert and duet night, both of which are highlights of camp each year. The camp curriculum will include lectures and workshops regarding all aspects of shakuhachi theory, history, and practice. Participants can also join a variety of extracurricular activities, including sunrise ro-buki, morning yoga, meditation, and evening socializing.
Beginners are most welcome! Beginner students will be provided with their own core curriculum specifically addressing challenges faced by beginner Shakuhachi players. All skill levels, from absolute beginner (even if you’ve never before picked up a shakuhachi!) to the more advanced, will have the opportunity to study a select number of pieces with thoroughness and depth not possible in other festivals or workshops, including extended individualized instruction from both lead and adjunct faculty.