I got a chance to learn the Noh flute called, Nohkan
Fortunately, I got a chance to learn the Noh flute called, “Nohkan” from a professional Nohkan player.
I have started to take his private lessons.
For your information, a Noh orchestra consists of four types of musical instruments: a Nohkan, a small hand drum, a large hand drum, and a floor drum.
I’m interested in all of those.
First of all, I decided to try the Nohkan.
I have seen many Noh plays so far, but seeing is one thing, and doing is another.
My new challenge has begun.
To tell the truth, I’m a little uneasy.
Now, I’ll write about the first lesson.
At first, my teacher told me to make a whistling sound with a Nohkan.

The Nohkan was a plastic flute for beginners (a real Nohkan is made of bamboo).
Though I tried blowing into the Nohkan many times, I couldn’t make a whistling sound at all.
I lost my breath, and my face turned red.
My teacher told me to practice it on my own until I’m able to make a whistling sound.
And then, my teacher said that I have to learn some Noh music called, “Chu-no-mai” by heart.
My teacher took out two Japanese fans, and he started beating a desk with them.
While beating, he was singing “Shouga”.
It was a solmization method in the field of Noh music.
After that, he showed me a little book.
The book was a Noh musical score, but it looked like some kind of mysterious code to me.
To tell the truth, learning Nohkan seemed very difficult to me. In addition, I had no experience with any musical instruments.
However, my curiosity has driven me.
So, I will never give up.
To be continued in my next lesson.