Friday, November 7, 2008

TGIF, Part 8 (taiko drills)

Lots of historical changes in the US these days. Here's something else worth noting: San Francisco Taiko Dojo is celebrating their 40th Anniversary! Check out ticket information here . If you go, let us know how the show was!

Okay, back to work.

Focus: Dexterity, Timing
Watch for:
1. Make sure that the timing between each hit is even. It's like a math problem--divide the time (each beat) by four and hit once each time.
2. Speed is important for the emphasized hits here. Anchor your pinkie, ring, and middle fingers on the underside of your stick for leverage to accomplish this. (Photos coming soon!)

Okay! We are so close to completing the paradiddle drill! Check out the final line below. For me, this is the most difficult of all of the lines to play at high speed. So, take your time at first to get the timing and feel for it. Then, gradually increase your speed!

R L R R L R L L

I don't even really need to say it--15 minutes a day, again and again. Enjoy!

That's it--simple as pie. I almost hesitate to put an extension to this line because it deserves a lot of attention to get it just right. But, everyone works at their own pace... so, if you feel comfortable with the line above, let's say at least 120 bmp (4 beats for 1 line), then check it out:

Extension:
Let's put it all together. Before you try this extension, make sure you have memorized all 5 lines from the paradiddle section. Start at a speed that's slower than your ability at first until you feel like you can play the pattern below without thinking about it. Then, pick up the speed at bit!

Leave me a comment if this is unclear and I'll try again:

R L R R L R L L
x4

R L R R L R L L
x4

R
L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L
R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L
x2

R L R R L R L L
x4

2 comments:

  1. For fun, there's a paradiddle cycle I was teaching in my workshop @ Conference:

    R R L R L L R L (x3)
    R R L R R L R R
    L L R L R R L R (x3)
    L L R L L R L L

    The trick is getting this pattern even and sounding like R L R L through the whole thing. :)

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  2. Thanks for the variation! It's always good to change things up a bit to keep your brain working.

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