Let's move on with a bit more katsugi fun.
Focus: Form
Watch For:
1. Take the time to walk around with your drum for a while without hitting it. This will make the next step much easier.
2. Even though the rest of the body is relaxed (and having fun!), be sure to keep control of your sticks and their placement.
Let's take a closer look at the grip for the left hand we learned last week.
Start by grasping the bachi between your thumb and pointer finger:
Then, place the bachi between the middle and ring fingers:
Finally, be sure to relax the bottom three fingers. If these fingers are not relaxed, it will restrict movement.
The first step to walking with a katsugi okedo is, well, taking a step. It's important to practice walking! The drum rests on your leg and keeps the same point of contact. Obviously, the drum is going to move because your leg is moving, but it should not slide side to side or up and down on your leg.
When you practice walking, hold your bachi in their ready position. If you have a mirror, make use of it. Keep your left stick so that it's point is near the center of the drum and the right stick is just next to it. Arms stay relaxed and move a bit with the drum.
Have a look:
So, we talked last week about initiating the left hand from the wrist when preparing to make a big hit on the drum, and the right from the elbow. The same is true if you're making smaller hits. Check out the video:
Let's take a closer look at the grip for the left hand we learned last week.
Start by grasping the bachi between your thumb and pointer finger:
Then, place the bachi between the middle and ring fingers:
Finally, be sure to relax the bottom three fingers. If these fingers are not relaxed, it will restrict movement.
The first step to walking with a katsugi okedo is, well, taking a step. It's important to practice walking! The drum rests on your leg and keeps the same point of contact. Obviously, the drum is going to move because your leg is moving, but it should not slide side to side or up and down on your leg.
When you practice walking, hold your bachi in their ready position. If you have a mirror, make use of it. Keep your left stick so that it's point is near the center of the drum and the right stick is just next to it. Arms stay relaxed and move a bit with the drum.
Have a look:
So, we talked last week about initiating the left hand from the wrist when preparing to make a big hit on the drum, and the right from the elbow. The same is true if you're making smaller hits. Check out the video:
And, here's today's drill:
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | 5 | & | 6 | & | 7 | & | 8 | & | ||
| Line 1 | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | |||||
| (x2) | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| Line 2 | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| (x1) | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| Line 3 | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | |||
| (x1) | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko |
Extension:
Are you ready to put it all together? Try the pattern above while walking:
(See if you can tell what's wrong in this video. Check below it for the answer.)
If you think my criticism lies in the left hand, you're on the right track. My hands are not balanced in volume AND my do ko do kos are not even--can you tell? See if you can do better than I did!
Gambarimasu!
Something I was taught by Kodo members during workshops...
ReplyDeleteWith your left hand, if you're not planning to play a lot on the right head, keep the bachi between your pinky and ringfinger. If you're not planning to play a lot on the left head, use the grip you mentioned, between ring finger and middle finger.
So what do you do when you're playing on both heads a lot or doing crossovers? They recommended using the pinky/ring grip, because it's easier to hit strong on the right head that way and weaker to hit strong on the left head the other way. They're using that "doorknob" grip on the left I talk about in your prior post.
It always depends on your drum, your bachi, the song, and even your hands, but once I tried things out on my own, I agree with them - it's generally a much easier system!