Draft:Shawn Tairyu Head

Shawn Tairyu Head
Shawn Head (Shawn Tairyu Head) is an American shakuhachi performer, composer, and teacher. He has an active online presence, with over 900 YouTube videos, including performances, tutorials, music theory, and the history of the shakuhachi.

Career
Head was introduced to the shakuhachi at age 18, while attending the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he earned a BA in Music Composition. He studied shakuhachi under the tutelage of first, Kaoru Kakizakai, and then Michael Chikuzen Gould, earning his shihan (master) license in 2016.

Initially he worked primarily as a performer and lecturer, performing at venues throughout the US and internationally. In 2018 he began to accept students, teaching primarily online. In 2024, senshinkutsu daishihan (highest ranking grandmaster) Taniguchi Yoshinobu elevated Head to the rank of meiyo daishihan (honored grandmaster).

Discography
Tairyu Honkyoku: Volume I (2024)

Waves of Harmony (with Kyle Abbott  ) Staggered release

20-20 Bamboo (youtube public release) 2020

Music From Nowhere: Sounds of a tea Journey - 2019 percussion and shakuhachi (Harry B Happy Bartholomew)

Teksasys Latgalisi (featured artist) winner of BONKUS Cultural Award 2018

Fourteen Roei - 2017