Tai Hei Shakuhachi Endorsements

Kunisada 19thC Woodblock Print

Endorsements
of
Tai Hei Shakuhachi
from
Teachers
&
Students

"I received my stunningly beautiful 1.5' yesterday and, to what extent I am able, put it through its paces. What a joy for a rank beginner to be able to pretty much play two octaves without hassle, right out of the box. It is sweet with just the right amount of sadness. My wife says my playing is pretty sad any way :) Thank you for the time and energy and care you put in to creating this gorgeous work of art. I love it, and I know that everyone who will see it and hear it, will feel the same. It was worth the wait. Everything, right down to the utaguchi cover, is subtle and elegant. And I have to say, I really like the small size. It feels very comfortable to me — it's the perfect fit for me. BTW, I printed out the information from the web site about this 35+ year old madaké bamboo. It's such a great story to go with the flute. It really has a great feel. I love holding it. Anyway, I'm thrilled. Thanks, Monty!"

Scott Jones
Shakuhachi player, Valley Village, CA

"I have known Monty Levenson for more than 30years. He has created a unique method for making shakuhachi flutes using the traditional material of bamboo. I recommend his instruments without hesitation - especially to beginners - as one of the best shakuhachi available."

Masayuki Koga
Founder and President, The Japanese Music Institute of America. Shakuhachi Teacher, Composer & Recording Artist.

"Monty Levenson deserves the great credit for having virtually single-handedly introduced the shakuhachi flute to America. He has now made an equally momentous step in bringing the price of quality shakuhachi within the reach of the average player by perfecting the technique of casting shakuhachi bores which duplicate those of instruments costing as much as $10,000 each; he bring the musical qualities of such rare masterpieces to shakuhachi players of modest means. The International Shakuhachi Society unreservedly recommends Tai Hei Shakuhachi to all players - up to an including those at concert levels."

Dan E. Mayers
President Emeritus, International Shakuhachi Society.

"I want to thank you for the very fine flutes which you have sent me during the past year. One of the biggest problems we face in introducing the shakuhachi to American students is the high cost of traditional instruments and the difficulty of ordering instruments from Japan. The consistent quality of your flutes and their reasonable price constitute a big breakthrough that now makes it much easier for shakuhachi enthusiasts in the United States to work with bamboo instruments and thereby gain an appreciation of a very special and unique music tradition. I, for one, certainly value the important contribution you are making!"

Ralph Samuelson
Shakuhachi Teacher trained in the classical tradition of the Kinko Ryu under Goro Yamaguchi, Kodo Araki V & Shudo Yamato. Lecturer & Recording Artist.

"No matter who the maker or what the price, it is not appropriate to recommend a shakuhachi without playing on it. I can, however, say this: Monty Levenson has progressed from being a very fine craftsman of 'home-made California shakuhachi' to becoming an instrument maker whose flutes are up to the high standards of the best shakuhachi made anywhere!"

John Kaizan Neptune
Shakuhachi Maker, Composer & Recording Artist.

"I would like to address this to all those in America who have interest in shakuhachi. I am a maker of shakuhachi flutes in Japan using traditional methods and involved in this craft for over 20 years. When I played the instruments made by Monty Levenson for the first time, the surprise and shock I experienced are indescribable. The shakuhachi he makes are truly wonderful. Their tone color, balance of sound and overall quality are excellent. If this level instrument were made using the traditional methods, it would require a tremendous amount of work. The price of such a flute would start at ¥150,000 to ¥200,000. For people in America, it may be hard to believe, but some shakuhachi in Japan are incredibly expensive. I strongly recommend Monty's shakuhachi for all players."

Masuda Shuho
Master craftsman of traditional shakuhachi.

"For the last thirty years, Japanese entrepreneurs have been thoroughly studying the American automotive industry and its market. They took an American-made product, improved it, raised the level of quality, lowered the price, and greatly improved production efficiency."For the last thirty years, Monty Levenson has been studying how to make shakuhachi. He took a traditional Japanese instruments and discovered a way to improve it, make it more affordable and easier to play. On a lesser scale, his success story rivals that of any of the large Japanese automobile companies known to all Americans. Now, In Japan, Monty's instruments are being more popular and his name more familiar. People recognize quality regardless of its origins."

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel
Shakuhachi teacher licensed by Goro Yamaguchi. Author of Shakuhachi: A Manual for Learning. Recording Artist & Lecturer.

"Monty H. Levenson has always been one of my favorite people. He is a rare breed - a good and honorable man. Within the past ten years, I have swung over to the use of Tai Hei Shakuhachi - an excellent and inexpensive instrument. For a flute which is normally so expensive, he has provided a way for many, many westerners to get started on the shakuhachi. His product also improves every year. Keep up the good work!"Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin
Founder and Grand Master, Ki-Sui-An Shakuhachi Dojo. Teacher & Recording Artist.

"Dear Monty, Just got back to Japan yesterday. Thank you so much for your hospitality and time, and really number one in my mind, for what you did with my flutes. My hassun is just so much better! As I prepare to play a concert scheduled for this weekend where I will play three honkyoku, I marvel at how much more I am getting out of this flute. It really has become a mother of an instrument! Monty, you can put your stamp on it any time. You brought it back from the dead. Again, thanks to your work."

Bruce Huebner
Shakuhachi teacher trained in the classical tradition of the Kinko Ryu under Goro Yamaguchi and Junsuke Kawase. First non-Japanese to graduate from the Japanese Music Dept. of Tokyu University of Fine Arts & Music. Author of a three-volume teaching video on Kinko-ryu shakuhachi

"With a great passion to consistently improve the quality of his craftsmanship, I have seen Monty Levenson develop into a superb shakuhachi maker over the past thirty years. Being a user of one of his shakuhachi myself as a concert instrument, I clearly recommend his shakuhachi flutes."

John Singer
Shakuhachi Master of the Kinko & Kinpu Ryu. Teacher & Recording Artist.

"If Tai Hei Shakuhachi Flutes did not exist, I would not be able to teach or perform. Whether your interest is in student or professional grade flutes, there is no other choice. Montys approach to shakuhachi making is nothing short of amazing. He has refined the traditional methods with modern techniques and this, combined with his total dedication and spiritual nature, allows him to produce instruments that are unmatched in this or maybe even any price range. These are also the easiest instruments to care for - which is very important for beginning students - as well as being virtually indestructible. Every teacher or student of this ancient art form should have at least one Tai Hei Shakuhachi in his or her collection."

Barry Nyosui Weiss
Licensed Master of the Kinko School. Head of the Kita Yama Dojo. Teacher & Recording Artist.

"Monty, It occured to me that I could be setting myself up for a letdown, waiting so intently... No way. I'm 100% satisfied- the 1.6' student shakuhachi is a phenominal flute, it plays like $1000.-$1500. Color is rich, as is the tone color. Just about plays itself (OK, 15years of practice helps a bit). It will probably turn up on my next album as well. Will start rehearsals with koto in a few days. Well done. This flute will come to life."

Daniel Soergel
Licensed Master of the Kinko Ryu, Teacher & Recording Artist

"There are shakuhachi instruments and there are end-blown bamboo flutes that are similar to shakuhachi but are not shakuhachi because of deviations in pitch, sound production, and/or sub-standard quality of bamboo. These latter flutes may be fine to doodle on, but I couldn't teach you very much using them. In contrast, the flutes of Monty Levenson that I have seen recently are most definitely shakuhachi."

Riley Lee
Grand Master and Head, Chikuho School of Shakuhachi. Teacher & Recording Artist.

"Thank you! The flute you made for me is incredible. I did not believe, for the last 20 years, that I could ever play such beautiful, evocative tones. Last night taught me otherwise. I played simple pieces and was entranced by the subtle beauty of the sounds from your Tai Hei Shakuhachi. It plays all by itself without my conscious effort. I did not realize that my struggle all these years was based on playing the wrong flute. Notes and nuances that I used to fight to achieve simply leaped from the flute. No kidding. I am looking forward to years of enjoyment and enlightenment. Again, thanks so much."

Joseph A. Laronge
Shakuhachi player. USA

"I am very grateful because it has been five months since I received my shakuhachi from you. Since that time I have enjoyed playing on it and am amazed at the sound it produces. For years now I have been trying to achieve a true tone on the shakuhachi. I have been told that this goal would take a long, long time to reach. I tried so many different ways of playing and could just not understand what I was doing wrong. Since receiving your shakuhachi, my feelings for the flute have changed very much. I do not feel so tired after playing, my mouth is more relaxed, my fingers can feel the shakuhachi vibrate. I can really appreciate this instrument for its sound and Buddhistic influence. Thank you again, Monty, for all you have given me."

Greg Matsuura
Shakuhachi player. USA

"I have been playing the flute you sent to me over the summer (I bought the advanced student model.). The quality of the instrument is outstanding. I am sure you get outlandish praise all the time, judging by the quality of the flute I have now, but I am really stricken by the sounds that come out of the thing. I have never played a more responsive instrument in all my woodwind days. The tone and resonance in their infinite variations are mindblowing. Thank you so much, it is an endless joy to play."James Joyce
Woodwind player. USA

"It took some time but now that I finally have my own computer it became possible for me to thank you for my beautiful instrument by sending this mail. It's been three years now since I got my 2.4 pro.rootend model and I must say it's all that I hoped for: perfect pitch, good soundbalance between notes, ability to easily play a whole variety of great colors, good soundprojection together with great looks (I have to thank mother nature for that though you've chosen this piece of bamboo). As a professional percussionist I've been using the shakuhachi whenever there was space for it, so I took the instrument to different theaters in the Netherlands and Germany; we even played a tune at the North Sea Jazz Festival( the largest indoor jazz festival in the world) this year!. Apart from the professional side it's a perfect tool for meditation and breathing exercise and since spiritual growth is my main drive in this life, the shakuhachi became an beloved companion along the way. Suffice to say that I'm very grateful for my bamboo flute and I hope that people around the world will keep on finding peace and inspiration in playing on and listening to the beautiful bamboo flutes that you make.

Ignas te Wiel
Professional musician. Switzerland

"Well it's really quite amazing. The 1.8' arrived yesterday in the evening and I played it for two hours. What an experience. Such a beautiful instrument. The range is enormous—from the so soft and velvety hushed tones of stillness to a full throated cry, a whirlwind of energy with a mind of its own! Over and over, I lost myself in the sound, in the playing only to suddenly be stopped short by what was happening, particularly the wonderful vocal quality of the sound. I love the softness of just breathing into the flute but also get totally absorbed from playing loudly and juggling with those amazing effects and surges of vibrations at higher volume. Chaos never sounded so good. It really does feel and sound alive. How do you do it? I suspect that you are some sort of magician."I am more familiar with the size of the 1.8' and am taking a while to get used to the bigger 2.4'. But when I picked up the 2.4' after playing the 1.8', the same fluency and confidence started to emerge—and the deeper tones and resonances are lovely. The Kan register on both flutes is so easy to play softly and to shade, but also has its own characteristic energy at higher volumes. And I can play the first three notes of the third octave as well on both flutes—very sweet. I'm just amazed and a bit dazed by the experience."Thank you so much. I feel so pleased that I decided to buy these flutes. They are remarkable and already teaching me so much. For example, I found myself playing wonderful muraiki when all my attempts in the past just didn't happen. What an incredible sound! As Masayuki Koga says in his book, you need to play from the heart. With your instruments this is so easy as it feels as if there is a direct channel from my heart centre to the flute. At times, whatever I was feeling was coming out through the flute—a truly uncanny and beautiful experience where boundaries dissolve."So, thanks for everything. I really appreciate your wonderful art and the magical qualities of your flutes. Thank you!

Ken Tyler
Shakuhachi player. United Kingdom

"Yesterday evening the shakuhachi arrived safe and sound. What an instrument! I am amazed and delighted.The photos didn't do it
justice. It far exceeded my wildest expectations. I like everything, the colour, the beautiful inlaid bindings, and especially the shape. It is incredibly responsive and a pleasure to play. The low "Ro" is superb, pianissimo or fortissimo with equal ease and clarity. Now the onus is on me to do justice to such a wonderful instrument. You can be sure that it will receive the care and respect deserving of a shakuhachi with the spirit of Masuda Shuho, and the heart of it's creator, artist/craftsman extraordinaire, Monty Levenson.
The two-part shakuhachi bag is equally well-made and beautiful, a perfect match for my new shakuhachi."I am grateful beyond words. A million thanks for everything."

Chris Rose.
Bangkok Thailand

"Well it has been two weeks or so since I received the shakuhachi you made for me and I can't put it down! At the ripe old age of fourty seven, and having been around the world a few times, it takes a lot to truly impress me. I must say the the shakuhachi you made me has gotten my attention. From the moment I received my well wrapped Fedx box until now long after I have opened it, I have been impressed.

"I love the hard caring case, the cloth storage bag and of course, the instrument; your attention to the entire process from wrapping, shipping and craftsmanship is over the top and you should be congratulated. Some friends were in my home and saw just the black cloth storage bag you made, one thing lead to another, after seeing and hearing the shakuhachi they couldn't belive that it was hand made here in the United States, in
the old world tradition, I think they have been bitten by the shakuhachi bug!I am looking forward to a very long friendship with you, your workshop and another shakuhachi! Thank you again, so very much for your attention to detail and the piece of art work!

Gasso!Jack Detjen-Creson
Shakuhachi player. Mill Valley, California

"Upon playing my first professional-level Tai Hei shakuhachi, I realized that it is much better than I had imagined it might be. I decided to purchase a professional model Tai Hei shakuhahchi because of the excellent reponse I received from the student model I had. The flute fed me as much information as I was giving it, allowing me to navigate its bore very easily, a reciprocal arrangment. This new flute is even more communicative. It plays and feels great- a quick, full, and even response throughout all registers. I feel humbled by it, to be honest. The pictures on the website really did not do the instrument justice—it is so beautiful. Thank you for making such a wonderful piece. I hope to do it justice over the coming years."

Michael Andrew Doherty
Shakuhachi player, Durango, CO