A Loose Neck

Here are some problems many students encounter:

• Difficulty getting the head down quickly enough for a full meri in a fast passage;
• Stiff, inelegant, "forced" furi's;
• An "uncoordinated" feeling when trying to play with yuri in a gentle circular motion -- the head wants to switch directions.

All of these problems are the result of pushing the head down or around rather than letting it move easily on a loose neck.

To improve these techniques, let gravity be your ally. For a deep meri, let your head fall forward -- don't push it into position. When executing furi and yuri, let your head roll around smoothly. It drops and then swings back up like a pendulum.

If your neck is stiff, it may be helpful to practice head rolls without your shakuhachi, or while holding it to your mouth without blowing.