Beta Basics

Lesson 1 – Basic Terminology and Concepts

Shoji Kameda goes over the basic terminology of the taiko and introduces the idea of playing from the relaxed “exhaled” state.

Lesson 2 – Kamae

Shoji teaches how to prepare your body and get into position to play the taiko.

Lesson 3 – Open Hand Technique

Shoji teaches how to hold the batchi and introduces the Open Hand Technique.

Lesson 4 – The Five Point Stroke

Shoji breaks down the movement of hitting the taiko into five points.

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Lesson 5 – Basic Kata / Oroshi

Shoji teaches two fundamental exercises Basic Kata and Oroshi.

Lesson 6 – Catch Down / Tap Up

Shoji introduces the Catch Down / Tap Up technique used to transition between playing loud to soft or soft to loud.

Lesson 7 – DOROtsuku

Shoji expands on the Catch Down / Tap Up technique and begins teaching the two beat combinations made possible from DON tsuku and DOROtsuku.

Lesson 8 – DON kara DORO kara

Shoji applies the Catch Down / Tap Up technique to play the “ka” sound in a controlled way and further expands on the possible two beat combinations.

Lesson 9 – Expanding the Phrases

Shoji expands on the two beat combinations learned in Lessons 6-8 to create longer phrases.

Lesson 10 – Next Steps

Shoji Kameda further expands on the phrases teaches some of the basic patterns for Ready, Set, kaDON! a piece based on the basic combinations used in this series.