What's in My Bachi Bag?

Just a video this week!  Watch to see what my bachi bag looks like and where I'll be taking taiko class tomorrow :D

I'll be back with my impression of class next week and and the next Core Awareness Video.

Be copasetic,
Carrie

4 Days of Taiko with SHIDARA?? Who could want more!

Have you heard about the Shidara Master Class Tour? I wrote about their first residency in Japan earlier here and here.

SHIDARA, the professional group located in Aichi-ken, is bringing this program on tour to North America. Their workshops aren't ordinary either! I've heard you'll even learn how to make your own fue from bamboo.

Don't take my word for it, be sure to contact the person in charge of the Shidara residency coming near you for all the details.

All classes take place during March and April 2010:

SEATTLE
MARCH 26-29, 2010
$450 + lodging for 8 workshops
contact: Marinda Chen
email: marinda.chen (at) gmail (dot) com
The Seattle classes have been CANCELLED.

BOSTON
March 19-21, 2010
contact: Odaiko New England
email: shidara-weekend@onetaiko.org

MONTREAL
contact: Sandra Kadowaki
(Please email me directly for the contact information. I do not have permission to post online. You can access my email by clicking on my photo to the right.)

MOAB, UTAH
contact: Meladye Shively
(Please email me directly for the contact information. I do not have permission to post online. You can access my email by clicking on my photo to the right.)

Taiko Drill Part 51, Paradiddles Revisited

Hi! My friends from Shippu Uchi Daiko in Japan have returned home, but we had a great time together in Seattle teaching a taiko piece called Yui to Seattle Kokon Taiko. I'm still teaching through the weekend, and then I'm back to the east coast.

One thing I've not really talked about much here is improvisation. Last week I gave you a drill to improvise emphasis with, and next week I'll talk specifically about some things to think about if you're uncomfortable improvising. But, partly due to my lack of time this week, today we'll revisit paradiddles in preparation for improvisation next week.

Focus: Grip, Form

Watch For:

1. Take a few moments to check your grip for small drums.

2. The down beat is not always the beat that's emphasized--keep track of it!

Okay, so back in drill 9 we talked about paradiddles, which is a basic straight beat that alternates sticking--RLRR LRLL. I suggested that you can use them to practice improvisation, but we didn't go into how to really do that.

If you're new to improvisation or don't quite feel comfortable with it, don't fret. It takes guts to just try it, knowing you'll mess up, but it's the only way to get better at it. Please review Drill 9 to refresh the version of paradiddles I taught. And we'll move forward step-by-step from next week to add improvisation.

For fun, here's an example of members from Shippu Uchi Daiko who were here from Japan improvising on top of paradiddles played by Seattle Kokon Taiko:

See you next week!