Welcome back!
If you're doing these drills in order (and you certainly don't have to), I'd like to suggest that you continue practicing the last two week's drills as you move on with this one. If you only have 10 or 15 minutes a day to devote, just divide the time up, 50/50.
Here's some background on where this drill is coming from:
Anytime the sound (tone, volume) of my right and left hands don't match (when playing a quality drum), the first thing my teacher, Ryo Shimamoto, does is check my form. Often times, once I make the correction, the sounds will match.
Two weeks ago I explained to my teacher that my arms had been hurting at certain times. Because I didn't remember any particular injury, and because they didn't hurt all the time, his response was that I needed to check my form.
Form is important, not only for the purpose of looking uniform, it can affect your body and the sound of your drumming. If you've not been taught proper form before, seek out someone who can teach you--it's important to get this right.
Okay, drill time!!
Focus: Form (upright), Strength
Watch for:
1. Look for "ichi"!
2. Take this drill much more slowly than you think. This will help get it into your body, and it'll tone your muscles a bit.
"Number one" is a popular phrase in Japan, but I will remember this for different reasons than most. After my first lesson in Japan, Ryo Sensei said, "Practice Number One." The "1" is perfectly straight from top to bottom. So, today let's focus on that.
1. Hold your bachi in ready position for upright drumming.
2. Slowly raise your right hand all the way to striking position. By slow, I mean take 10-15 seconds to get to the top.
3. Then, at the same speed, bring the hand down, as you would hit the drum.
4. Try with the other hand.
After checking out both hands in the mirror, consider these things:
1. Does your posture change as your arm is raising? (i.e., your shoulders become slanted, hips shift) Do you feel grounded?
2. Do your bachi and arm make a perfectly straight "1" both up and down?
3. Do both arms look the same?
This is a drill I come back to often, 10-30 minutes a day, any time my form seems to alter slightly. Spending a bit of time in front of the mirror with "ichi" is a great way to keep things in line.
Remember to keep breathing :) Gambatte!
A place for useful tips, drills, and information about taiko.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
TGIF, Part 18 (taiko drills)
Just wanted to drop a quick note before we dig in here. Do you check out this site often and find it useful? Then, please, help spread the word: tell your friends, leave a comment (even if it's short)!! I can make this a place that is more useful to you if I hear from you about your needs and concerns. I appreciate the emails I've received, (hopefully there will be atarigane practice in the coming months!)--I respond to those, too!
Okay, moving on... How'd last week's drill go? I mentioned that I found practicing ryou te to be very helpful when you're seeking a more even balance between the two hands. It's not a skill that comes easily, so today let's focus on another way to practice it, while combining it with a past drill for review.
Focus: Balance, Speed
Watch for:
1. Make sure that when you hit both hands together, there is only one sound. Not sure if it's one sound or two? Get someone to close their eyes and listen for you. If there are two, slow down!
2. Is one hand louder than the other? Make sure the volume, height, and speed of your sticks are even.
Remember way back in TGIF 2 when we practiced DOKO? Let's use the exact same drill to practice ryou-te. First, play with both hands:
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
Then continue another 8 beats, alternating RLRL (or LRLR if you're left-handed):
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
Loop it back around to the beginning! Note that the weak hand will have to play 2 beats in a row at the end of the line. If you're having trouble with it, don't ignore it--slow down your metronome till you've got it.
After last week, this one should be no problem for 15 minutes. Good luck!
Extension:
You can practice skills consistently and eventually master them, but simply having good skills isn't enough to give a good performance. Most of what I've shared with you so far is very difficult to teach over the internet, but teaching dynamics is nearly impossible. You can begin to explore this yourself with a bit of awareness.
Take the drill above and add a gradual crescendo the first time through. The second time, make it a decrescendo, and repeat. Take the whole 16 counts to reach your final extreme. Close your eyes and listen (or even record yourself). Is the sound so gradual that every single hit is a little bit louder (or quieter) than the one before? Does the change in volume sound even? To get this right takes patience and persistence, but once you get it, it can enhance any song and take your audience along with you.
Okay, moving on... How'd last week's drill go? I mentioned that I found practicing ryou te to be very helpful when you're seeking a more even balance between the two hands. It's not a skill that comes easily, so today let's focus on another way to practice it, while combining it with a past drill for review.
Focus: Balance, Speed
Watch for:
1. Make sure that when you hit both hands together, there is only one sound. Not sure if it's one sound or two? Get someone to close their eyes and listen for you. If there are two, slow down!
2. Is one hand louder than the other? Make sure the volume, height, and speed of your sticks are even.
Remember way back in TGIF 2 when we practiced DOKO? Let's use the exact same drill to practice ryou-te. First, play with both hands:
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
DON
Then continue another 8 beats, alternating RLRL (or LRLR if you're left-handed):
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
DO KO
Loop it back around to the beginning! Note that the weak hand will have to play 2 beats in a row at the end of the line. If you're having trouble with it, don't ignore it--slow down your metronome till you've got it.
After last week, this one should be no problem for 15 minutes. Good luck!
Extension:
You can practice skills consistently and eventually master them, but simply having good skills isn't enough to give a good performance. Most of what I've shared with you so far is very difficult to teach over the internet, but teaching dynamics is nearly impossible. You can begin to explore this yourself with a bit of awareness.
Take the drill above and add a gradual crescendo the first time through. The second time, make it a decrescendo, and repeat. Take the whole 16 counts to reach your final extreme. Close your eyes and listen (or even record yourself). Is the sound so gradual that every single hit is a little bit louder (or quieter) than the one before? Does the change in volume sound even? To get this right takes patience and persistence, but once you get it, it can enhance any song and take your audience along with you.
Friday, January 16, 2009
TGIF, Part 17 (taiko drills)
Welcome back!
I've been thinking recently about what drills have really helped to balance out my strong and weak hands. While I'm sure it takes a combination of drills, practice, and training, this drill was one of the key components for me.
If your hands are not balanced, please be persistent with this one! Practicing ryou-te (striking with both hands together) will help you begin to make the relationship between your two paws a little more equal:) If you'd like other tips on bringing your weak hand up to snuff, check out any of the drills with a "Balance" focus.
Focus: Balance
Watch for:
1. Use your ears with this drill. Make sure that when you hit both hands together, there is only one sound.
2. Try to figure out what's happening if you hear two hits. Playing it over and over won't make it better if you don't know what's wrong. Most likely a quick look in the mirror can explain any discrepancies. Check the speed and form of each hand, and try to make them identical.
Alright, we're working with the same rhythm from last week:
Don is emphasized and both hands strike for every beat.
Okay, where is the sound not clear? Big hits or small hits? If the small hits are clear, are they equal in volume? Do the big hits have a consistent volume? Use your ears and eyes (if you have a mirror) to self-evaluate yourself.
If you're not playing taiko every day, probably this drill is too much to do for 15 minutes without stopping. A fast metronome speed is not the goal here--focus on accuracy. Here are some options:
1. 5-7 minutes today's drill. 8-10 minutes don tsu ku.
2. 3-5 minutes today's drill. 10-12 minutes with same pattern, alternating Right hand, Left hand, then Both hands.
Extension
Here's something fun!
Close your eyes and say "don tsu ku" a few times so I know you remember the rhythm. If you forgot, then jump back to TGIF 13 real quick and review.
Alright. Use the same beat sequence as above, but change the rhythm to "don tsu ku". Both hands strike together, for every hit.
Catch you next time!
I've been thinking recently about what drills have really helped to balance out my strong and weak hands. While I'm sure it takes a combination of drills, practice, and training, this drill was one of the key components for me.
If your hands are not balanced, please be persistent with this one! Practicing ryou-te (striking with both hands together) will help you begin to make the relationship between your two paws a little more equal:) If you'd like other tips on bringing your weak hand up to snuff, check out any of the drills with a "Balance" focus.
Focus: Balance
Watch for:
1. Use your ears with this drill. Make sure that when you hit both hands together, there is only one sound.
2. Try to figure out what's happening if you hear two hits. Playing it over and over won't make it better if you don't know what's wrong. Most likely a quick look in the mirror can explain any discrepancies. Check the speed and form of each hand, and try to make them identical.
Alright, we're working with the same rhythm from last week:
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| don | tsu | ku |
| don | tsu | ku |
| don | tsu | ku |
| don | tsu | ku |
| tsu | don | tsu |
| tsu | don | tsu |
| tsu | don | tsu |
| tsu | don | tsu |
| tsu | ku | don |
| tsu | ku | don |
| tsu | ku | don |
| tsu | ku | don |
Don is emphasized and both hands strike for every beat.
Okay, where is the sound not clear? Big hits or small hits? If the small hits are clear, are they equal in volume? Do the big hits have a consistent volume? Use your ears and eyes (if you have a mirror) to self-evaluate yourself.
If you're not playing taiko every day, probably this drill is too much to do for 15 minutes without stopping. A fast metronome speed is not the goal here--focus on accuracy. Here are some options:
1. 5-7 minutes today's drill. 8-10 minutes don tsu ku.
2. 3-5 minutes today's drill. 10-12 minutes with same pattern, alternating Right hand, Left hand, then Both hands.
Extension
Here's something fun!
Close your eyes and say "don tsu ku" a few times so I know you remember the rhythm. If you forgot, then jump back to TGIF 13 real quick and review.
Alright. Use the same beat sequence as above, but change the rhythm to "don tsu ku". Both hands strike together, for every hit.
Catch you next time!
Friday, January 9, 2009
TGIF, Part 16 (taiko drills)
So, the holidays are over, it's back to work, and it's cold (even in Japan--at least it feels that way without central heating). It's that time of year when it's tough to dig up the motivation to be creative, and also tough to do the same ole' same ole'. Well, glad you're here! I've got a new drill for you!
Focus: Balance, Timing
Watch for:
1. Really feel the waltz pulsing through this drill, but make sure that your beats are even.
2. Often, if there's time before an emphasized hit, we tend to move that arm up slowly just because there's time to do so. To use this drill as a strengthening exercise, and to work on speed, hold your stick in ready position until the last minute, bringing your bachi up and down quickly.
Okay, so you've never waltzed before? All you know about this dance step is 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3? Great! That's all we need to get started.
All of the drills we've done so far have been in lines that total 4 or 8. Today's drill works in beats of 3. We'll alternate RLR, LRL, RLR, LRL... Pay attention! The emphasis changes!
Remember, Right is Red, Left is Black. "Don" means emphasized. Be sure to engage your 3 fingers on the under side of your sticks to keep control of your non-emphasized hits and be sure to relax your wrists as you lift your arm for those quick, emphasized hits.
15 minutes--loop it!
Extension
Try the same pattern, but have each hand play a full line. That means each hand will hit 3 times in a row before switching to the other hand. Pay attention to the volume of your non-emphasized hits. Are they the same? If not, slow down your metronome a bit until you've got it.
Enjoy--
Please rate this drill!
Focus: Balance, Timing
Watch for:
1. Really feel the waltz pulsing through this drill, but make sure that your beats are even.
2. Often, if there's time before an emphasized hit, we tend to move that arm up slowly just because there's time to do so. To use this drill as a strengthening exercise, and to work on speed, hold your stick in ready position until the last minute, bringing your bachi up and down quickly.
Okay, so you've never waltzed before? All you know about this dance step is 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3? Great! That's all we need to get started.
All of the drills we've done so far have been in lines that total 4 or 8. Today's drill works in beats of 3. We'll alternate RLR, LRL, RLR, LRL... Pay attention! The emphasis changes!
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 minutes--loop it!
Extension
Try the same pattern, but have each hand play a full line. That means each hand will hit 3 times in a row before switching to the other hand. Pay attention to the volume of your non-emphasized hits. Are they the same? If not, slow down your metronome a bit until you've got it.
Enjoy--
Please rate this drill!
Friday, January 2, 2009
TGIF, Part 15 (taiko drills)
Happy New Year!
明けましておめでっとございます！
It's been the season for cleaning here in Japan. Homes, offices, practice spaces have been swept and wiped clean, and parties have been had to celebrate the previous year and start the new year afresh.
But, now the celebrations are over and done with and it's time to get back to business!
Focus: Balance
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the height your hands come up from the drum. If your two hands are making a hit equal in volume, they should come off the drum at the same height.
2. When it comes to volume, if you're having trouble getting your weak hand up to speed, focus on just that--speed! Take your hand up and down in a swift motion. Increasing the speed will make your hit stronger. (Keep in mind that both hands should strike with equal speed.)
Hopefully you've been playing "don tsu ku" on tables, your legs, the floor, whatever's close, whenever you can. We're going to move forward with the previous drill by adding a new, basic taiko pattern: do don tsu ku.
With do don tsu ku the first two hits are emphasized and the last two are not. Simple enough. Continue to focus on making those small hits intentional, engaging the 3 fingers on the underside of your bachi.
Okay, here's the pattern:
Colors indicate which hand and bold means emphasize.
Just like the previous pattern, the last line leads you into repeating the same drill, starting with the opposite hand. It doesn't really matter which hand you start with... just keep it going! 15 mins a day.
Extension:
If you're comfortable with this drill, feel free to improvise the rhythms. For example, you might play "do don tsu ku" twice and "don tsu ku" once... or you could play 3 do don tsu kus...
Keep in mind which rhythm and which hand needs more practice. (This could mean you're behind the mentronome, balance is off, or you just don't feel comfortable yet.) Be sure to practice that the most.
Are you practicing with another person? This is a great way to have meditative taiko! Get a group together and play for 15-30 minutes. By improvising which rhythm you play when, your mind and body are able to fully connect with the rhythms through expression, your body and mind react to other sounds heard, and you connect with other rhythms and the people around you simultaneously. Don't talk, stop (even if you're tired), or react; just hit drums!
Enjoy yourself and I'll see in you in a quick 7 days! Questions? I'm here! Drop a comment.
明けましておめでっとございます！
It's been the season for cleaning here in Japan. Homes, offices, practice spaces have been swept and wiped clean, and parties have been had to celebrate the previous year and start the new year afresh.
But, now the celebrations are over and done with and it's time to get back to business!
Focus: Balance
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the height your hands come up from the drum. If your two hands are making a hit equal in volume, they should come off the drum at the same height.
2. When it comes to volume, if you're having trouble getting your weak hand up to speed, focus on just that--speed! Take your hand up and down in a swift motion. Increasing the speed will make your hit stronger. (Keep in mind that both hands should strike with equal speed.)
Hopefully you've been playing "don tsu ku" on tables, your legs, the floor, whatever's close, whenever you can. We're going to move forward with the previous drill by adding a new, basic taiko pattern: do don tsu ku.
With do don tsu ku the first two hits are emphasized and the last two are not. Simple enough. Continue to focus on making those small hits intentional, engaging the 3 fingers on the underside of your bachi.
Okay, here's the pattern:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| do | don | tsu | ku |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | don |
Colors indicate which hand and bold means emphasize.
Just like the previous pattern, the last line leads you into repeating the same drill, starting with the opposite hand. It doesn't really matter which hand you start with... just keep it going! 15 mins a day.
Extension:
If you're comfortable with this drill, feel free to improvise the rhythms. For example, you might play "do don tsu ku" twice and "don tsu ku" once... or you could play 3 do don tsu kus...
Keep in mind which rhythm and which hand needs more practice. (This could mean you're behind the mentronome, balance is off, or you just don't feel comfortable yet.) Be sure to practice that the most.
Are you practicing with another person? This is a great way to have meditative taiko! Get a group together and play for 15-30 minutes. By improvising which rhythm you play when, your mind and body are able to fully connect with the rhythms through expression, your body and mind react to other sounds heard, and you connect with other rhythms and the people around you simultaneously. Don't talk, stop (even if you're tired), or react; just hit drums!
Enjoy yourself and I'll see in you in a quick 7 days! Questions? I'm here! Drop a comment.
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