In this course, Diana Wu will teach her original composition “Release.” Written in 2008, the name of the piece represents what taiko is for so many people. When a person plays taiko, they can completely let go, releasing all their energy outward to share with their teammates and the audience. This piece encourages performers to reach great heights and to awaken the energies of everyone around them. In this course, we will learn Release from start to finish and develop an understanding of the musical, physical, and expressive elements integral to fully present the shape of Release.
This course has a total of 10 lessons. The first three are available now, and a new lesson will be released every two weeks.
Equipment used in this course:
Neiro 1.6 Nagado-daiko
https://kadon-103184.square.site/product/nagado-taiko-neiro-series/61?cs=true&cst=custom
Neiro Shime-daiko on a triangle stand
https://kadon-103184.square.site/product/-new-neiro-shime-daiko-high-pitched-shime-/99?cs=true&cst=custom
Triangle Stand for Shime-Daiko
https://kadon-103184.square.site/product/triangle-stand-miyamoto-exclusive-/29?cs=true&cst=custom
kaDON Maple Chu-daiko Bachi 42 cm/ 8.0
https://kadon-103184.square.site/product/kadon-maple-chudaiko-bachi-42cm-8-0/23?cs=true&cst=custom
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In this course, Martin and Shonagh will introduce you to the infectious and diverse rhythms of Mozamjam, an original Tsuchigumo Daiko composition influenced by drumming styles and traditions from across the world, bringing them all together in a fun and exciting taiko piece played with typical Tsuchigumo style and energy. Mozamjam will present a challenge to players of all levels from beginner to advanced, so pick up your bachi and let’s get ready to JAM!
The basic version of this piece has 5 parts. You are welcome to add as many players as you wish for each part:.
Call: played on nagado or any low tone. Ideally all call drums are higher than the answer drums.
Answer: played on nagado or any low tone.
Odaiko: played on nagado that is louder and lower than your call and answer.
Primary Ji: played on a set with high-tone drum on player’s left, low tone drum on player’s right, and bell or kane in between the drums in the center
Secondary Ji: played on a set with high-tone drum on player’s left and low-tone drum on player’s right.
Get an introduction to shamisen with Sumie Kaneko. In this course Sumie teaches us the basics of how to put together a shamisen, how to tune the instrument, read shamisen music and get a good sound. She then gets into the different nuances that make shamisen a special instrument and applies it to our first shamisen piece: Sakura Sakura.
Eri Uchida shares a synergistic natural approach to katsugi okedo basics (taiko that is slung and carried by the player). Students will learn how to move and carry the okedo as well as how to hold the bachi stick and strike the drum by using their senses of gravity and center. Through a series of drills and exercises, Eri helps us develop these fundamentals while also discovering our own natural groove on the katsugi okedo.
Equipment Needed (student):
Katsugi okedo or any substitute such as a duffel bag
Katsugi bachi. Visit the kaDON Online Store to purchase: https://kadon-103184.square.site/
Gym Ball (Lesson 4 and 6)
Equipment used by Eri:
1.5 Miyamoto katsugi okedo-daiko
This in depth course dives into three different sticking approaches for two taiko. Each approach has a key skill to master with many drills that help us develop this skill bit by bit. By the end of the course students will be able to create almost limitless possibilities from simple patterns by using these three approaches in different combinations.
[三つ打ちの基本] In these drills, Hibikus instructor Kunihiro Kawahara introduces the basics of mitsuuchi: the “sound,” “how to strike” and “how to practice.” Mitsuuchi, or horse beat, is one of the most essential rhythms used in the taiko repertoire of Japan that they often say: “Begin with Mitsuuchi, End with Mitsuuchi.”
Because this drill introduces the very basics of mitsuuchi, he hopes that you will keep coming back to these fundamental exercises over and over again. The lessons will also show technique variations that will help you improve your skills.
Featured Instruments:
This song is inspired by Japan’s festival music (matsuri bayashi), and incorporates rhythms that remind Maya of the joyful and pleasant feelings as well as the excitement she feels whenever she is at a festival.
The lessons focus on nagado (chudaiko) parts that can be played by beginners and those that are new to taiko.
There are 5 parts in total – two main nagado parts and the ji-uchi parts consisting of a taiko set, kane and low-pitch okedo for bass. However, the ji-uchi rhythm and the free solo sections are not fixed, so each team can arrange it freely, and give the piece their own color. This is why Maya named the piece “Irozome,” which literally means to dye with color.
Featured Instruments:
Bachi
In this course Kaoru Watanabe teaches the basics of composing for taiko and fue.
Featured Instruments:
Bachi
Course Resources include:
“Uteya-Hayaseya” is a composition by Tsuyoshi Maeda based on the lively syncopated rhythm. In this course, Tsuyoshi will teach you the piece focusing on two of the parts: Nagado and the Okedo/Shime set parts. Please refer to the Full Score to challenge yourself to learn the other parts.
The parts he teaches do not have too many fast, intricate rhythms, but has many spacious “ma” built in where Tsuyoshi features big body movements and arm swings. “Rhythm” is of course an important aspect of taiko, but “physicality” is also as important. Moving emotions lead to movements. Tsuyoshi believes that taiko is not just a musical form, but also packed with peoples wishes and prayers, as well as love for someone or something that they hold dear. In our daily lives, we may feel or experience joy and affection, and at times, anger or sadness. These real emotions within you move your heart and become physical movement and finally turn into sounds. Through this piece, Tsuyoshi hopes you can experiment with such an approach to taiko.
Think of the movements and bachi swinging presented in this course as one option amongst many possibilities. If your heart takes to you move differently, that’s totally OK! Feel free to make your own arrangements and enjoy!
Featured Instruments:
Bachi:
Kunihiro Kawahara teaches the Mitsuuchi practice piece composed by Toshiaki Nomoto, director of Hiryu Hachiman Taiko in Fukuoka, Japan. Mitsuuchi, or horse beat, is one of the most essential rhythms used in the taiko repertoire of Japan that they often say: “Begin with Mitsuuchi, End with Mitsuuchi.”
This Mitsuuchi practice piece covers different mitsuuchi variations and combinations. It is structured as a series of nine short phrases, from simple basics to more difficult applications.
It may be helpful to review the notes on the downloadable music sheet provided in advance and familiarizing yourself with the beat variations. This practice piece can be very useful in improving the basic skills of beginner players as well as experienced players, with respect to:
– how to make the various sound including sticking
– how to move and to stop the bachi and arms
– how to utilize the hitting surface
– how to give power to the first and last sounds, or the sound just before the break
– how to train the arm opposite to your dominant arm
Practice until you can hit equally well whether you start from the right or left hand, and again repeatedly at different speeds. Improving this skill will broaden your overall taiko experience to the next level. Good luck!
Featured Instruments: