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For me, there\u2019s nothing more beautiful than making music. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve made it my mission to bring more music into the world \u2014 and especially to inspire more people to play an instrument themselves. For several years now I\u2019ve been completely hooked on this gorgeous Japanese instrument, which looks so graceful and elegant with its long neck, only to surprise you with its wild, striking character. Since so many people are already doing a wonderful job supporting other instruments, I thought it would be an excellent idea to infect more people with my passion for shamisen. <\/span> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n I\u2019m designing video courses for flexible, location-independent learning. The past months have shown there\u2019s a real need for this format, so I\u2019m now working hard to create quality content. I\u2019m also building a system for rental instruments, because not everyone wants to buy their own right away. After all, you first want to see if it\u2019s really for you, don\u2019t you? <\/span><\/p>\n The foundation of my \u201cmaster plan\u201d is in place, and the work continues at full speed. As a one-woman show, I do absolutely everything myself \u2014 and I\u2019m constantly amazed at how much time all the small and big tasks take to keep this project moving forward. But one thing is clear: there simply cannot be no proper shamisen information in Germany. And if you\u2019re going to revolutionize the cultural landscape, you might as well do it right. In March 2021, I reached a big milestone: the launch of Europe\u2019s very first shamisen shop \u2014 Shami-Shop<\/a>. There, you can buy shamisen directly from Germany, along with carefully curated new and refurbished accessories. All straight out of Berlin. That means shorter shipping routes and lower costs. <\/p>\n But back to the bigger vision\u2026<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”29px||1px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Eleven years ago, I co-founded Shamisen Berlin, which to this day is the only shamisen association in Germany. As chairwoman from the very beginning, I\u2019ve been delighted to see how much interest there is in shamisen music across the country, even though it\u2019s still rare in concerts and mainstream music. People are consistently fascinated by this multifaceted instrument \u2014 and rightly so. <\/span> At the same time, it quickly became clear that many people couldn\u2019t take part in the association\u2019s activities simply because of distance. Even though I\u2019ve always been a strong advocate of in-person lessons, I had to acknowledge that access to instruments is a kind of luxury. Growing up in Berlin with a music-loving mother, it always felt normal to me, but for most of Germany, that\u2019s not the case. Much of the country isn\u2019t metropolitan or structurally well-connected. So for many people, self-study with books or video platforms has become the go-to \u2014 and not just for \u201cexotic\u201d instruments, but for mainstream ones like guitar too. And with modern digital formats, this kind of learning now offers new freedoms and opportunities. <\/span><\/p>\n So in the winter of 2019, I started planning: a mix of gradually rolling out video courses and the big undertaking of bringing shamisen into different corners of Germany. I personally acquired used instruments, restored them, and began traveling across the country to give people the chance to hold one in their hands and try it out \u2014 hoping they\u2019d then find others to continue learning with. Then the pandemic hit. Travel plans canceled. Train tickets not refunded. \u201cHow long can this really last?\u201d \u2026 well. <\/span><\/p>\n So online lessons came to the forefront, along with creating tutorial videos on YouTube<\/a>, arranging sheet music, and recording play-alongs for practice. Only recently have live performances and workshops become reliably possible again, and a sense of normality is returning. A lot has changed\u2014and now I\u2019m also spending much more time teaching in English, even leading workshops in the U.S. Life has a way of surprising you! <\/span><\/p>\n Even though I\u2019ve already been able to put a lot into practice, I\u2019m still bursting with exciting ideas\u2014more than ever, to be honest! And I\u2019m eager to bring them to life: making shamisen playing more accessible and spreading a culture of curiosity and open-minded music-making. So here I am today, sharing this with you in black and white, thrilled to be working on something truly special. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Allow me to introduce myself: Su Bunjamin, from Berlin. By training, I\u2019m a sociologist and musicologist, but in reality I\u2019m completely devoted to the<\/span> shamisen<\/em>. Born with an immovable sense of idealism and a drive to share the beautiful sides of life with others.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-8px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|50px||50px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”The Author” position=”loves Earl Grey with milk, no sugar” image_url=”https:\/\/shamisen-zentrale.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Die-Autorin-400×250-1.png” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” position_text_color=”#5781a8″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Writing and explaining things has always come naturally to me. My goal is to make complex ideas clear and easy to understand. As a teenager, I learned ten-finger typing blind, and during my student job transcribing, I outpaced all my colleagues with ease. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Graphics \/ Video \/ Web” position=”prefers hoodies ” image_url=”https:\/\/shamisen-zentrale.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Grafik-Video-Web-400×250-1.png” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” position_text_color=”#5781a8″ min_height=”471px” child_filter_contrast=”106%” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n I love visiting photo exhibitions and looking at great posters and graphic design \u2014 even more since I started working on such things myself. My graphic designer friend is often critical of my aesthetics, and I\u2019m grateful for his patient explanations of why we see the world so differently. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Artistic Direction” position=”loves hot chocolate with cardamom” image_url=”https:\/\/shamisen-zentrale.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DIREKTION-400×250-1.png” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” position_text_color=”#5781a8″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n My musical roots are in violin, with a classical training. But what really shaped me was the gamelan music of Bali, with its driving rhythms. Probably that\u2019s why I fell so hard for the dynamic energy of shamisen music. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2px|50px||50px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For many adults, getting into music isn\u2019t easy, because they feel it\u2019s \u201ctoo late.\u201d To anyone reading this who feels that way, here\u2019s my heartfelt message: go for it! Music is a world that has endless gifts to give, and it\u2019s beautiful and diverse. Don\u2019t miss out on that. Be bold, stay curious, and enjoy the process! Never give up \u2014 and learn to embrace the hurdles too. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n This project takes a huge amount of time, energy, and nerves \u2014 much more than I first imagined. That\u2019s why it means so much to me to have your support. If my articles and videos bring you joy and help you better understand the shamisen and its context, I\u2019d be thrilled if you supported me on Patreon<\/a> or with a contribution to the tip jar<\/a>. That way, I can keep pushing this project forward and take you even deeper into the fascinating world of shamisen music. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m so glad you\u2019ve found your way here and I look forward to enjoying this journey of music together for a long time to come.<\/span><\/p>\n With warm regards,<\/span><\/p>\n Su Bunjamin<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” min_height=”84px” custom_padding=”0px||1px|||” global_module=”434″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” min_height=”69px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”4″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#13b2c7″ logo=”https:\/\/shamisen-zentrale.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/SZ-Logo-bw-100.png” logo_max_height=”60px” logo_max_height_tablet=”100px” logo_max_height_phone=”” logo_max_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”PT Sans|600|||||||” menu_text_color=”rgba(76,93,124,0.43)” menu_font_size=”12px” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”52px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” child_filter_opacity=”70%” border_radii_image=”on|250px|250px|250px|250px” global_colors_info=”{}” height__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE PROJECTTHE PROJECTThe Vision This platform is here to give everyone interested in shamisen access to German-language resources about the instrument, its music, and the culture it\u2019s embedded in. Learning shamisen sounds like an exciting idea \u2014 something different, right? But we all know how it goes: no time, too far away, no idea where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2782","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n
With a lot of heart, effort, and nerves, I finally managed to create this place to make German-language resources available. Here you\u2019ll find learning videos to get you started on shamisen, tips and tricks for care and maintenance, and background knowledge about the instrument and its history. Piece by piece, I\u2019m creating articles and tutorials that all have their home here. <\/span><\/p>\n How It Works<\/h2>\n
The Journey So Far<\/span><\/h2>\n
Who\u2019s Behind This<\/h2>\n