NATC 2025 Phoenix

Just as the desert presents unique challenges that demand adaptability, the world of music offers an array of scales and modes that can expand your musical expression and improvisational ability. This workshop focuses on using different scales and modes in shinobue playing to unlock new pathways for improvisation, enhancing your musicality and flexibility.
Through a series of practical exercises, participants will explore how varying scales, from traditional Japanese modes to more contemporary approaches, can add depth and color to their playing. By learning how to navigate between these modes and improvise with confidence, players will gain the tools to thrive creatively in any musical environment, much like how life flourishes in the desert’s sparse landscape. Whether you're looking to improve your solo performance or collaborate more dynamically with ensembles, this workshop will help you harness the versatility of the shinobue and find new dimensions in your music.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Equipment:
Shinobue (Utabue, #6 preferred)
Prerequisite Ability: Playing Ryo-on and Kan-on range on shinobue. Reading fingering notation (kanji numbers for Ryo-on)