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Shawn Tairyu Head

ショーン・大龍・ヘッド

Head, Shawn Tairyu
Born 1993

Shakuhachi & Composer
shawnheadmusic@gmail.com
https://www.ShawnHeadMusic.com

With an active performing and recording schedule, and a growing studio of students, Shawn Tairyu Head has dedicated himself to bringing the shakuhachi to new audiences around the world. While he embraces the traditional melodies of the ancient repertoire known as honkyoku, his classical conservatory training and Western spiritual perspective make him equally at home composing and commissioning new works that explore the unique sonic possibilities of the shakuhachi. As a performer, composer, and teacher, his goal is nothing less than a shakuhachi revival.

“By nurturing a deep appreciation for shakuhachi and other traditional Japanese arts, I hope to contribute to an artistic renaissance in Japan. My goal is to inspire the younger generation to embrace these ancient traditions, fostering a new wave of Shihans (“masters”) who will carry forward the legacy of honkyoku melodies.”

Head’s formal musical education began when he took up the viola at age 10. He soon began composing, and at 16, the Kapell Trio commissioned a piece from him, and he became convinced that he wanted a career in music. He continued his training in orchestral strings, and at the age of 18 he was accepted by the Cleveland School of Music, where he was formally introduced to the shakuhachi. While completing his bachelor’s degree in music composition, he also studied the Japanese language, as well as the shakuhachi. He was fortunate to study the flute under two renowned masters, beginning his studies with Kaoru Kakizakai, and finishing them with Michael Chikuzen Gould.

Although he worked for some years as a professional violist, he focused primarily on the shakuhachi, and achieved the rank of Shihan in 2016. He was given the “bamboo name” Renzoh—the first syllable means “lotus” and symbolizes purity and enlightenment, while the second means “to store or keep,” implying the accumulation and preservation of skills and knowledge.

Teaching
While maintaining a busy performance schedule, Head took his first student in 2018, and began creating a video catalog of performances, interviews, and lessons that has now expanded to over 900 entries on YouTube. These recordings form an invaluable reference for shakuhachi players of all levels, documenting the bulk of the canonical repertoire, as well as techniques, tips, and advice on all things shakuhachi. As his studio grew, he moved permanently to the Kansai region of Japan in 2020, where he resides with his wife and their two daughters.

Head taught and performed under the name Renzoh until 2024, when the legendary grandmaster, Taniguchi Yoshinobu, elevated him to the rank of Meiyo Daishihan (“Honored Grandmaster”). Along with this recognition, Taniguchi also conferred the new bamboo name Tairyu, which can be translated as “Great Dragon”.



“Upon receiving the name Tairyu, I am deeply honored and humbled. It is an acknowledgment of the journey I've embarked upon in my shakuhachi practice. I will strive to embody the qualities represented by this name with sincerity, dedication, and humility, always mindful of the rich tradition and spirit of the instrument. I am grateful for this opportunity to continue growing and learning on my path as a shakuhachi artist.”

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