>Please do explain.
Okay.
>If they were so concerned about their livelihoods then why insist on
>first class travel and expensive accomodation before giving workshops at
>expensive resorts.
I'm not so sure about the First Class Travel. They're probably
traveling Business Class. Still pretty nice, but anyone who has
traveled coach from Asia or Oz to the US knows how draining it is.
If these people are going to teach and perform for four days
straight (and that is what we're talking about here), then they
serve the festival participants better if they're not knackered when
they arrive.
As for the "expensive accomodation" and "expensive resorts", while
I haven't been to the festival, I imagine that the teachers get
the same accomodations as the students - albeit private rooms (which
are justified under the same explanations as above concerning energy
levels and performance).
And while Sunrise Ranch looks like a perfectly lovely place, I
would not classify it as an "expensive resort." I live near and
have gone to the local "expensive resort" as a rubbernecker - the
La Costa Country Club and Aviara Hotel. The entire cost of attending
the festival at the most expensive rate wouldn't get you a room for
a night and a round of golf at La Costa.
My experience with Riley and Kurahashi is that they're a couple of
regular guys who want their expenses covered and a few bucks to pay
their bills. Neither acts like a Hollywood star, altho both have
far more talent that most of those Hollywood "stars."
>Surely they should be more concerned about just getting out in
>the world and teaching to as many people as possible without adding
>extra, and unneccesary, burdens of expense onto potential students.
Let's drop the "should" - as it's really a cover for saying "I want
them to". They are teaching as many people as possible, possible
being defined by different criteria than you'd like used, but as
many as possible nevertheless.
And the people they teach, teach others, spreading the teaching.
>The vast majority of people on this planet do not have a lot of money,
>and i think that it's a great shame that these teachers have to make
>access to their knowledge so expensive that most people simply cannot
>afford it.
The vast majority of people in the world have never even heard the
shakuhachi and probably could not care less about doing so, much
less learning how to play it. The vast majority of people in the
world are more concerned about just eating.
>Especially considering the roots of shakuhachi and honkyoku.
Riley's dissertation, available at your local college library, does
an excellent job of teaching about the roots of shakuhachi and
honkyoku.
I think this subject of whether or not the Boulder Festival charges
(too much) money needs to be put to rest. Any but the most obtuse
(or argumentative) among us recognize that we all need resources to
live and money is just a medium for exchanging your energy for the
energy of someone else.
The same recognition also exists behind the notion that people
should just donate their time. I do computer consulting for a
living and I've long been subject to the same requests for "advice"
that doctors and lawyers get all the time. I now tell people I'm a
plumber.
While I'd love to live in a geuninely communalist society (from
each according to their ability, to each according to their need),
I don't. I need money to buy food and pay the rent, just like you.
And, just like you, and Riley, and Kurahashi, and Michael, and
David, and Corey, and Kakizakai, and Christopher, and Yoko, et.al.,
I put my life into learning my craft so that it would support my
life. I paid the freight as a student specifically so that I could
support myself as a professional.
If you don't like that model of society, you're welcome to propose
something different and then put your energy into making that
something happen.
Meanwhile, some well-intentioned folks have put this model of
shakuhachi community into practice and put their energy into making
it happen. I know many of these folks and I haven't seen any of them
getting rich at this.
Those that have the resources to attend this camp report nothing
but good things from it. Those that don't have the resources have
no reason to be throwing stones.
bj
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