(Leer este artículo en español)
"It's okay to experiment with the flute yourself, being able to play it is fun and it fills us with satisfaction by playing with its notes and sound effects freely by opening and closing its holes. But when you want another level, technique and formality, the Shakuhachi Master Course shows you the way to find true mastery in the instrument and the practices of meditative discipline through your own pace, breath and sound."
Welcome. I am Ricardo Zapata sensei, founder, and Worldwide master instructor of the online study community. Creator of the study system "The Gateless School" (Mumon Ryu), professional musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Professional designer and education manager with more than 25 years of experience in higher education as teacher. Luthier of high quality shakuhachi flutes and licensed teacher of Japanese martial arts with international certification from 2 Japanese organizations. I would like to present you this great opportunity to be part of my online study community through the successful Shakuhachi Master Course that today supports many students around the world.
The concept Sui-Zen or blowing meditation is inspired by the Buddhist practice of feudal Japan, this took great relevance in the Edo period (1603-1868) thanks to the now extinct Buddhist sect of the Rinzai-zen branch called Fuke-shu, monks pilgrims who traveled towns and cities playing their sacred songs as prayers with its bamboo flutes. These monks, many of them retired samurai dedicated to the spiritual path, were known by the name of Komuso or monks of nothingness.
"This is not a fancy weekend course, it is a very professional short, medium and long term one. The deeper you go, the mastery grows. This course seeks dedicated students committed to their own growth in this discipline and art. We educate true professionals of the instrument and the meditative practice through it."
This comprehensive online study program is based on my successful study method Mumon Ryu or School with no door. A system that teaches you breath by breath in the same way I learned this discipline and how I reached the mastery of the instrument. This well-structured course takes you from beginner to master in 4 levels (12 study cycles in total), giving you solid foundations on advanced meditation and mindfulness through your own breath and sound.
What you will learn with this course:
- Mindfulness through your own sound and breath.
- Musical theory.
- Japanese musical grammar (notation, reading and writing of scores).
- Musical scales (onkai).
- Harmony and ensemble with other instruments.
- Improvisation and musical composition.
- Perform a select repertoire of different sonatas and traditional sacred songs from Zen Buddhism (Honkyoku) and Japanese folklore.
- Perform a repertoire of private and exclusive music of our method, which Zapata sensei has created exclusively as educational material that enhances your learning.
- Mastering the instrument (the shakuhachi flute), from the style and exclusive techniques of the Mumon Ryu system.
- How to hand make your own professional shakuhachi.
- Special breathing patterns.
- Mind and body conditioning.
- Develop your musical, kinesthetic, intrapersonal, emotional, naturalistic, logical, creative and spiritual intelligences.
- Understand the practice of Zen through your blowing and sound.
- Advanced meditation techniques.
- History and tradition of the discipline.
- The foundations of martial art of Komuso monks (ex-samurai).
- Etiquette and protocol. The good manners and respect.
- Peace, balance and personal control through your own breathing and sound.
Prerequisites to start:
- Mind and heart willing to learn this new path through your own breath, sound, at your own pace and without stress.
- You don't need to be a musician or know about music. If so, be willing to unlearn to be empty and receive new concepts and overcome challenges.
- It does not require you to be a meditation practitioner in any kind. If you practice any meditative discipline, you should have a 100% learner posture to best nurture your knowledge.
- No martial arts knowledge is required. If you are a practitioner of some martial arts, here you will find an ideal complement to your practice through breathing and sound to feed your dimension of being spiritual.
Understanding the Master Course timeline
The shakuhachi master course has been designed from the learning experience of master Zapata. It has a complete curriculum structured in cycles and levels. A 3-year beginner-to-master study timeline is estimated, although this time may vary from student to student.
There are 4 study levels that contain 3 cycles each, for a total of 12 study cycles. Introductory level or shoden (cycles 1 to 3), intermediate level or chuden (cycles 4 to 6), advanced level or okuden (cycles 7 to 9) and the last level or Gokuiden (cycles 10 to 12).
There are study plans or study memberships where you can get a practice flute cheaper than buying it separately. You can take from 4 months of study (a single cycle) to the entire course (3 years of study / 12 study cycles).
It is very easy to add new study cycles from your personalized online study classroom once you finish the current one. You can also certify your level of study each time you complete 3 study cycles. Only levels are certified, not individual cycles.
How to enter the study program
The study program has several ways to start, these are linked to the study time you wish to invest and the savings you wish to make on your investment and the short, medium or long term relationship you wish to make with your practice and the system. You will find study packages that offer you a shakuhachi flute or only the course, if you already have a shakuhachi in key D. Our community also offers scholarships that include free courses and special discounts for the purchase of the instrument.
You can purchase any of our models or series of shakuhachi flutes to get started, in this link you can learn more about them: https://www.ricardozapata.org/flautas
Now let's look at the study packages with which you can start: All courses are in English and Spanish, you choose in which language you want to study your material, into a online classroom fully equipped with detailed multimedia study material. In adition during your study membership period you can attend free webinars and direct study feedback opportunity with me.
You can enter to this link and find the description of each study package. Those courses that include flute give you the option to choose which flute series you want to buy and in which language you want your course. All our courses are compatible with flutes in key D (Shakuhachi 1.8 standard). When you buy each course, a personalized classroom with all the study material is immediately activated, and the flute is sent to the address you indicate.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A SHAKUHACHI FLUTE
If you already own a 1.8 shakuhachi flute in key D, you may choose to take only the study course. At this link you can know more about the study membership plans:
https://www.ricardozapata.org/study-membership-plans
We are a study community that grows day by day in the training of students around the world, and they confirm their experiences of growth in the study of our arts, in this link you can read some testimonies shared by members of our community:
https://www.ricardozapata.org/testimonials
You can contact us if you have doubts. With pleasure we can assist you.
Contact us from this webpage https://www.ricardozapata.org/contact
You can always take a peek at our offers, you might find a plan to start more convenient and adjusted to your budget. Stay in touch with us and subscribe to keep communication.
I personally welcome you to our community, this is a place for those with a sincere heart and a strong desire to learn. You will find a tutor willing to support your training throughout the process.
Ricardo Zapata, Sensei
Creator of the Shakuhachi Mumon Ryu study method
Founder and Director of the online study community
https://www.ricardozapata.org/bio