I am so happy to have been able to work on this edited book with Matt Gillan and Patrick Huang in honour of my supervisor and friend David W Hughes. He was very important for many of us ethnomusicology students at SOAS with his inclusive attitude and high standards of scholarship.

Mindful playing: a practice research investigation into shakuhachi playing and meditation

is the title of the practice research article I have in the current special issue of Ethnomusicology Forum 31.1: 143-59. I have used micro-phenomenological interview technique to do auto-ethnography on how I may play shakuhachi as meditation – something that has been important historically to the shakuhachi community. It is a nerdy research project and has as the main aim to explore how we speak about what we musicians do the most: practice, explore and experiment alone.
I am grateful to the special issues editors: Muriel Swijghuisen Reigersberg, Aaron Corn & Brett Pyper and the editorial team: Phil Alexander, Alexander Cannon, Henry Stobart & Frances Wilkins.

In 3 weeks the first of a series of online event organised by the European Shakuhachi Society will take place. The Road to Dublin when we finally will meet in person! You can register for the May event now.

I have been so luck to receive a scholarship from the Danish Composers Union. I will work in natural materials of various kinds to make music for the duo Sonas Mutua with composer/performer Marisol Jimenez. Thank you to the Danish Conposers Union for giving me this opportunity

Let’s hope for a wonderful 2022 with lots of music, good health and happy times!

I have now begun a new role as a member of the SEM (Society for Ethnomusicology) Council. I am very excited about this. The role of the Council is to advice the board.

I was also a member of the Bruno Nettl Prize Committee 2021. In this role I got to read quite a few very good books, I would probably not have read otherwise.