May 1998

Precise Rhythm and Ma

The inspiration for this month's column came via email from a reader. This reader has trouble keeping time, and asked if I knew a good practice method. Since I think many people have similar problems, I'll repeat what I told him here.

Your practice method will differ slightly depending on what kind of song you are playing, but I suggest the use of a metronome. The first step is to determine which notes on the score should coincide with the "click" of the metronome. Next, play the song over and over again at a speed slow enough so that you can check to make sure the notes are falling where they should. It doesn't matter how slow this is - once you have the feeling of the precise rhythm down, it is easy to gradually increase the speed. Finally practice the most difficult sections repeatedly. You will find that this practice helps not only the song you practice with the metronome, but others as well.

One reason in particular which can cause you to fall off rhythm is the effect of your breath on how fast you play. It often happens that people play at slightly different speeds when they have full breath and when they are running out of breath. It is important to remember the following two points:

• Even if you have breath remaining, cut off the note at the appropriate place.
• Even if you run out of breath, wait the appropriate amount of time before beginning the next note.

The second of these is particularly important.

Most honkyoku have no exact rhythm determined. It is often said that honkyoku are played with "free rhythm". However, this phrase is often misinterpreted. It definitely does not mean "play however you want". People who think that "free rhythm" is license to time phrases at their whim do not play good honkyoku.

What is required is a sense of ma [translator's note: ma is hard to pin down as a concept, but can mean perfect timing, or the space between the notes]. There is an optimal ma which you should strive to find. There will be some places in a honkyoku where missing the ma entirely will ruin the whole piece.

Just as with keeping precise rhythm, ma can be influenced by breathing. If you are running out of breath, it is easy to hurry up a phrase and rush the ma.

You can master the shakuhachi if you are able to listen to your playing objectively. If you can hear the ma and pitch of your playing from the perspective of someone else, your playing will improve dramatically.