It's pouring! Wish the sunshine would come out--that always sparks my creativity.
I've been working with last week's drill and added a section to it. If you're practicing with a metronome, try using different different rhythms to play along with as an added challenge. I noticed that if I was playing on eighth notes every day and switched to quarter notes, my tempo wasn't quite as steady as I had thought.
Focus: Timing, Rhythm
Watch For:
1. Anticipate the double stroke to switch the leading hand. If you're getting off-tempo here, slow down the speed, or practice just one hand for now.
I have found that, for me, the best way to improve my inner metronome is to play a repetitive pattern over and over again with an actual metronome. While last week's drill is great for this, I thought I'd add one more line (and if you know me, you've probably guessed what it is already!).
Here we go:
Line 1: don X8 (with one hand. this is the downbeat)
Line 2: do ko X8 (alternating hands)
Line 3: repeat Line 1
Line 4: don tsu ku X4 (RRL or LLR, depending on your starting hand)
You decide which hand to start with and when to switch. I try to reach 60% left hand lead and 40% right hand lead. If you're not used to starting with your left hand at all, then aim for twice as much practice for that side than the right.
Here's the video:
Next week I will be in Michigan working with an amazing non-profit youth performing group called Heritage Works. So, no drill next Friday, but I'll try to get some more NATC '09 stuff I've yet to post in between now and then.
Extension:
It was easy enough to add another line to this drill. In fact, you can add any 8-ct. line to change things up. Experiment to create your own version. The goal is something that is simple enough for you that you can consistently play on tempo. You should feel comfortable enough playing the line so that your mind and ears are free to really notice the moments when you stray ahead of or behind the metronome.
A place for useful tips, drills, and information about taiko.
Showing posts with label don tsu ku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label don tsu ku. Show all posts
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 48, Sixteen Drill
Welcome back!
The last few weeks we've been talking about how understanding rhythms can help to really make a song tight. I'd like to take a step back (or forward?) and take two simple rhythms we already know, layer them with a partner (or in a group) and use them to listen to each other. Really try to hear how they fit together and form an entirely new sound.
Focus: Timing, Listening
Watch For:
1. Be aware of both your part and the part played by the opposite group/person.
2. Don't get lazy about form as the tempo increases. If it's too fast for you, play it at half-time for half the time!
Let's get started with the first part: "do ko". If you're playing the first part of this drill, play "do ko" 16 times, starting on the right hand. Simple enough, no?
Next, play "don tsu ku" (right, right, left) 8 times, which equals the same length of the 16 "do kos". Then alternate back and forth.
Probably you get the picture already, right? The opposite group will start with "don tsu ku" and then switch to "do ko" and alternate from there.
Start at a reasonable pace for all players, check the clock, and gradually increase the speed for 10 minutes. This part takes practice.
Don't designate a leader for this--the point is to stay together as a group. If you're not listening to the other people in the group, it's tough to keep the rhythms together. Also, if one person speeds up too fast, and everyone follows, well... it'll be a bit tough at the end.
So, try it yourself, experiment, and take it to your group for practice! You can even try facing away from each other for an additional challenge.
Extension:
Both of the above rhythms can be switched to a left-hand start at any time. Try this for "do ko":
do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko
do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko don . .don
From there, start the following line from the left hand!
The last few weeks we've been talking about how understanding rhythms can help to really make a song tight. I'd like to take a step back (or forward?) and take two simple rhythms we already know, layer them with a partner (or in a group) and use them to listen to each other. Really try to hear how they fit together and form an entirely new sound.
Focus: Timing, Listening
Watch For:
1. Be aware of both your part and the part played by the opposite group/person.
2. Don't get lazy about form as the tempo increases. If it's too fast for you, play it at half-time for half the time!
Let's get started with the first part: "do ko". If you're playing the first part of this drill, play "do ko" 16 times, starting on the right hand. Simple enough, no?
Next, play "don tsu ku" (right, right, left) 8 times, which equals the same length of the 16 "do kos". Then alternate back and forth.
Probably you get the picture already, right? The opposite group will start with "don tsu ku" and then switch to "do ko" and alternate from there.
Start at a reasonable pace for all players, check the clock, and gradually increase the speed for 10 minutes. This part takes practice.
Don't designate a leader for this--the point is to stay together as a group. If you're not listening to the other people in the group, it's tough to keep the rhythms together. Also, if one person speeds up too fast, and everyone follows, well... it'll be a bit tough at the end.
So, try it yourself, experiment, and take it to your group for practice! You can even try facing away from each other for an additional challenge.
Extension:
Both of the above rhythms can be switched to a left-hand start at any time. Try this for "do ko":
do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko
do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko do ko don . .don
From there, start the following line from the left hand!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 44, DON TSU KU (taiko set)
Hey there! One of these days I'm going to get all these posts organized, but it's a bit too busy right now. I'm leaving for Summer Taiko Institute in LA with On Ensemble in just 2 days and am looking forward to some new challenges to mind, body, and rhythm!
In the meantime, today's drill is quite simple. Hopefully you've gotten a sense of how to move smoothly back and forth between drums at a moderate pace. Here's another pattern to practice just that.
Focus: Form, Timing
Watch For:
1. Be sure to use a metronome to practice this drill. This helps tremendously with timing. Always work at a comfortable speed where you can keep the pace steady. Need a metronome? Check out my brief intro to my newest Dr. Beat.
2. Keep control from your core!
Today's pattern is 3 don tsuku, followed by do ko do ko. This basic pattern is looped. Aim for 15-20 minutes without stopping.
The initial "don" is played on your high-pitched drum, to your right. The following "tsu ku" and next 2 "don tsu kus" are on the lower-pitched drum, to your left. The initial "do ko" is played on the left drum, and the second is played on the right drum.
Check out the video for an example (I can't view the video at the moment, so I hope the above explanation is correct!):
I'll be playing next week by ear since I'll be in in LA all week for STI and NATC. I'm really looking forward to hitting a drum right now!
Anyone out there going to NATC??
In the meantime, today's drill is quite simple. Hopefully you've gotten a sense of how to move smoothly back and forth between drums at a moderate pace. Here's another pattern to practice just that.
Focus: Form, Timing
Watch For:
1. Be sure to use a metronome to practice this drill. This helps tremendously with timing. Always work at a comfortable speed where you can keep the pace steady. Need a metronome? Check out my brief intro to my newest Dr. Beat.
2. Keep control from your core!
Today's pattern is 3 don tsuku, followed by do ko do ko. This basic pattern is looped. Aim for 15-20 minutes without stopping.
The initial "don" is played on your high-pitched drum, to your right. The following "tsu ku" and next 2 "don tsu kus" are on the lower-pitched drum, to your left. The initial "do ko" is played on the left drum, and the second is played on the right drum.
Check out the video for an example (I can't view the video at the moment, so I hope the above explanation is correct!):
I'll be playing next week by ear since I'll be in in LA all week for STI and NATC. I'm really looking forward to hitting a drum right now!
Anyone out there going to NATC??
Friday, July 24, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 43, TAIKO SET PATTERN 3
Hi there, and thanks for visiting.
We've been working on a set of patterns for taiko set the last few weeks. Be sure to start from the beginning if you're just joining us. Here's the final part today and then we'll put it all together.
Focus: Balance, Form
Watch For:
1. Double check to make sure that the volume of your "do ko do ko" is even from hand to hand. Checking your height and form is a good place to start if you have an imbalance.
Let's get started!
This week's pattern has two parts. First, take the pattern:
don tsu ku do ko do ko don tsu ku do ko do ko
don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku do ko do ko
Red means right and black means Left. Bold is emphasized.
Remember, you can use any two drums to practice this pattern, or even play it on a single drum!
Play all of the "dons" on the right drum, which is higher pitched. On the left drum, the lower pitch, we'll play "tsu ku" and "tsu ku do ko". Any "do ko" that is not preceded by a "tsu ku" is played on the right drum.
Confused? Let's take a look at the video demo. You'll see Pattern 1, Pattern 2, and then Pattern 3 right in a row. At the end, I play the pattern on the right drum one time before repeating.
In the video, I pause to note the increase in tempo each time, but you can loop this drill for practice without stopping.
Extension:
Review the dynamics from last week and add a small crescendo to Part 3:
Pattern 1 has the normal don tsu ku dynamics, "do ko do ko" is even in volume, not particularly emphasized.
Pattern 2 has the normal don tsu ku dynamics,"do ko do ko" is even in volume, and emphasized.
Pattern 3 has the normal don tsu ku dynamics,"do ko do ko" is played with a crescendo.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 41, TAIKO SET PATTERN 1
Well, it's been a crazy week of transition, and I'm writing to you today from my temporary location of Cleveland, Ohio!
K, let's get back to taiko set.
Focus: Form, Dexterity
Okay, let's start with today's basic rhythm:
PLEASE SEE COMMENTS FOR CORRECT PATTERN. I'll fix the issue as soon as I can, thanks.
Try this rhythm on a single drum to start. Make sure your hits are consistently in the same spot, at or near the center. This will reduce the chance of "clicking" the rim when we add another drum. When you're ready, let's play it on taiko set.
Set up 2 drums, like last week, higher pitch on the right. Check your stance, as we did 2 weeks ago.
For the first pattern in this series, play every "don" on your high-pitched, or right drum. All other beats are played on your low-pitched, or left drum.
Remember that "don tsu ku" has a rather cyclical feeling. "don" should be the loudest, "tsu" the quietest, and "ku" right in the middle. Be sure that "tsu" doesn't get lost in the shuffle--we still want to hear it! You can review "don tsu ku" here.
Gambarimasu! Grab your metronome and get started. We'll continue with a variation on this pattern next week.
NOTE: Next week's drill may be a little bit late (Saturday or Sunday) because I won't have access to a computer, but it's all written and ready to go!
Extension:
Make it fun with dynamics!
Keep the don tsu ku dynamics the same, as described above. But, let's change up the "do ko do ko". First time through, play do ko do ko as a crescendo, going from quiet to loud. Second time, do the opposite, with a decrescendo. Alternate, and loop it!
K, let's get back to taiko set.
Focus: Form, Dexterity
Watch For:
1. Keep elbows out and arms lifted, even when you move between drums.
2. Remember to begin movement from your core before it's time to initiate a strike on the other drum. This is important for good timing when playing faster.
Okay, let's start with today's basic rhythm:
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | 5 | & | 6 | & | 7 | & | 8 | & |
| don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko | ||
| don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | don | tsu | ku | do | ko | do | ko |
Try this rhythm on a single drum to start. Make sure your hits are consistently in the same spot, at or near the center. This will reduce the chance of "clicking" the rim when we add another drum. When you're ready, let's play it on taiko set.
Set up 2 drums, like last week, higher pitch on the right. Check your stance, as we did 2 weeks ago.
For the first pattern in this series, play every "don" on your high-pitched, or right drum. All other beats are played on your low-pitched, or left drum.
Remember that "don tsu ku" has a rather cyclical feeling. "don" should be the loudest, "tsu" the quietest, and "ku" right in the middle. Be sure that "tsu" doesn't get lost in the shuffle--we still want to hear it! You can review "don tsu ku" here.
Gambarimasu! Grab your metronome and get started. We'll continue with a variation on this pattern next week.
NOTE: Next week's drill may be a little bit late (Saturday or Sunday) because I won't have access to a computer, but it's all written and ready to go!
Extension:
Make it fun with dynamics!
Keep the don tsu ku dynamics the same, as described above. But, let's change up the "do ko do ko". First time through, play do ko do ko as a crescendo, going from quiet to loud. Second time, do the opposite, with a decrescendo. Alternate, and loop it!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 39, POSTURE TAIKO SET
Happy Friday!
So, katsugi was a bit of a fail, I guess. It seems not many people are interested in reading posts about it, perhaps because you don't have your own drum or maybe because it's less common. Either way, for those of you who were into the katsugi, check out the extension for a new rhythm to practice. If you want more, email me!
But, for now, I'm moving on. Next stop, taiko set!
Note: You don't have to use the same kinds of drums I'm using. Any upright taiko is okay if they're approximately the same height.
I am, for the time being, without a practice space. I do have some old videos stored that will work for later on in the coming weeks until I have a practice space, but for today we'll have to go back to the old-fashioned non-video teaching method.
Focus: Form
Watch For:
1. Take care if you have any knee issues. Knees are extremely important to keep flexible and basic stretches typically do not consider this. Please email me if you need stretching ideas.
2. Activate your core; this helps keep everything in line.
To begin with taiko set, let's take a look at incorrect posture:
This is WRONG.
Activate your core muscles and tuck the tail bone to bring yourself into natural alignment, protect your back and encourage stability, like this:
If your drums are the same size, your body's center will line up with the place where the drums meet (but don't touch). If one drum is significantly larger than the other, find your standing place by reaching your arms out so the bachi point to the center of each drum and your form is balanced. Adjust your feet, as needed. Arms stay lifted, as always.
To get used to hearing two different tones when playing, today's drill is to play the paradiddles taught here, on two drums. Keep your right hand at the right drum and the left hand at the left drum, nothing fancy yet, let's do this right.
Until next week--Ganbatte!
Extension:
You can hear the extension (katsugi) pattern here. Sorry... my tempo gets a bit slower as I go on--don't do that!
don tsu ku (8X) do kon ko (8X) One time
don tsu ku (4X) do kon ko (4X) Two times
don tsu ku (2X) do kon ko (2X) Four times
don tsu ku (1X) do kon ko (1X) Eight times
do ko do ko (X16)
So, katsugi was a bit of a fail, I guess. It seems not many people are interested in reading posts about it, perhaps because you don't have your own drum or maybe because it's less common. Either way, for those of you who were into the katsugi, check out the extension for a new rhythm to practice. If you want more, email me!
But, for now, I'm moving on. Next stop, taiko set!
Note: You don't have to use the same kinds of drums I'm using. Any upright taiko is okay if they're approximately the same height.
I am, for the time being, without a practice space. I do have some old videos stored that will work for later on in the coming weeks until I have a practice space, but for today we'll have to go back to the old-fashioned non-video teaching method.
Focus: Form
Watch For:
1. Take care if you have any knee issues. Knees are extremely important to keep flexible and basic stretches typically do not consider this. Please email me if you need stretching ideas.
2. Activate your core; this helps keep everything in line.
To begin with taiko set, let's take a look at incorrect posture:
This is WRONG.
Activate your core muscles and tuck the tail bone to bring yourself into natural alignment, protect your back and encourage stability, like this:
If your drums are the same size, your body's center will line up with the place where the drums meet (but don't touch). If one drum is significantly larger than the other, find your standing place by reaching your arms out so the bachi point to the center of each drum and your form is balanced. Adjust your feet, as needed. Arms stay lifted, as always.
To get used to hearing two different tones when playing, today's drill is to play the paradiddles taught here, on two drums. Keep your right hand at the right drum and the left hand at the left drum, nothing fancy yet, let's do this right.
Until next week--Ganbatte!
Extension:
You can hear the extension (katsugi) pattern here. Sorry... my tempo gets a bit slower as I go on--don't do that!
don tsu ku (8X) do kon ko (8X) One time
don tsu ku (4X) do kon ko (4X) Two times
don tsu ku (2X) do kon ko (2X) Four times
don tsu ku (1X) do kon ko (1X) Eight times
do ko do ko (X16)
Friday, June 19, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 38, LATERAL KATSUGI DON TSU KU
Hi there! Thanks for coming back.
Just a quick note that I hope to continue posting as my living situation is in a bit of a limbo, but thanks for your understanding in advance if I have to skip a week or post late. I know I need to get these drills organized in a way that you can find the ones you like, but it'll have to wait a couple months--sorry!
Alright, we've got a couple weeks left of basic katsugi information, and then it's on to taiko set basics, as requested by Joy. I really like practicing taiko set, so I'm excited for that. As always, I take requests, so drop me a comment!
Focus: Balance, Form
Watch For:
1. Make sure the higher pitch of your drum is at the front when you play. When you switch to lateral form, this becomes the right side. (NOTE: in the videos, my drum is unfortunately the wrong direction)
2. If you have a mirror, it's really helpful when first starting to play katsugi. Because our weight is centered, but feet uneven, it's common to think shoulders and body are leveled when they're not. Check this.
Okay, we'll start with the pattern today. It's one you've heard before, but I hope you never get sick of: don tsu ku.
When we practiced don tsu ku for shime daiko the pattern was:
RRL or LLR
When you play don tsu ku on lateral kastugi, alternate hands like this:
RLR LRL RLR LRL
In addition, every left hand hit will alterate sides of the drum. I love how this pattern sounds on the drum because there's a tonal pattern, too. One of my favorite things to do on a Friday afternoon is play don tsu ku on lateral katsugi until I hit a sort of mental peace, and playing the pattern becomes part of my being at that moment.
Anyway, here's an example:
Listen to your tone. If you don't hear a repeated pattern, then perhaps you're not hitting the center of the drum. Take a moment, slow it down until your form and tone are consistent.
Extension:
Try playing 8 don tsu ku while walking with your drum (RRL RRL x4), then stop walking, switch your stance to lateral and play 8 don tsu ku (RLR LRL x4).
It takes some practice to get the timing right and to keep the drum from bouncing around. You'll notice that you need to initiate the change in stance while simultaneously finishing up the final don tsu ku.
Questions? Email me or comment!
Just a quick note that I hope to continue posting as my living situation is in a bit of a limbo, but thanks for your understanding in advance if I have to skip a week or post late. I know I need to get these drills organized in a way that you can find the ones you like, but it'll have to wait a couple months--sorry!
Alright, we've got a couple weeks left of basic katsugi information, and then it's on to taiko set basics, as requested by Joy. I really like practicing taiko set, so I'm excited for that. As always, I take requests, so drop me a comment!
Focus: Balance, Form
Watch For:
1. Make sure the higher pitch of your drum is at the front when you play. When you switch to lateral form, this becomes the right side. (NOTE: in the videos, my drum is unfortunately the wrong direction)
2. If you have a mirror, it's really helpful when first starting to play katsugi. Because our weight is centered, but feet uneven, it's common to think shoulders and body are leveled when they're not. Check this.
Okay, we'll start with the pattern today. It's one you've heard before, but I hope you never get sick of: don tsu ku.
When we practiced don tsu ku for shime daiko the pattern was:
RRL or LLR
When you play don tsu ku on lateral kastugi, alternate hands like this:
RLR LRL RLR LRL
In addition, every left hand hit will alterate sides of the drum. I love how this pattern sounds on the drum because there's a tonal pattern, too. One of my favorite things to do on a Friday afternoon is play don tsu ku on lateral katsugi until I hit a sort of mental peace, and playing the pattern becomes part of my being at that moment.
Anyway, here's an example:
Listen to your tone. If you don't hear a repeated pattern, then perhaps you're not hitting the center of the drum. Take a moment, slow it down until your form and tone are consistent.
Extension:
Try playing 8 don tsu ku while walking with your drum (RRL RRL x4), then stop walking, switch your stance to lateral and play 8 don tsu ku (RLR LRL x4).
It takes some practice to get the timing right and to keep the drum from bouncing around. You'll notice that you need to initiate the change in stance while simultaneously finishing up the final don tsu ku.
Questions? Email me or comment!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Taiko Drills, Part 35 WALKING WITH KATSUGI
Welcome back!
Let's move on with a bit more katsugi fun.
And, here's today's drill:
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!
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!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Taiko Drills, Part 26 DON TSU KU BALANCE
Hi there! The frogs and birds are chirping here in rural Wakayama and spring is here. It's a good day for practicing taiko!
This week's drill is early because I'll be in Kyoto on Friday.
Okay, to check in first, we've been focusing on don tsu ku a lot as it is a staple rhythm in wa-daiko. I'd like to continue to look at the dynamics of the pattern this week by contrasting it with some do ko do kos.
Focus: Balance, Dynamics
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the dynamics of don tsu ku. "don" is the loudest, "tsu" is the quietest (but we still want to hear it!), and "ku" is right in the middle.
2. Really listen for, and feel, the driving sound of don tsu ku and the evenness of doko doko.
3. Don't let the line of your wrists break! You can see an example of this in last week's entry, Video B. Correct form is shown in Video C.
Alright, let's start with the rhythm:
As always, Red means Right. Emphasis is not represented here, but pay attention to the dynamics of don tsu ku as we've been practicing. Do ko do ko should be even in timing and volume!
Loop this for 15-20 minutes every day and you'll be ready for next week's drill!
Extension
If you feel like your don tsu ku dynamics and form are consistent, let's take a look at making this drill more musical.
While I've asked you above to keep the do ko do kos even in volume, this actually has a bit of a stiff feel to it. The reason to do it that way initially was for the sake of building distinction between the two rhythms and increasing ability to play two rhythms with different dynamics continuously.
Okay, so the dynamics of do ko do ko were plain and even. Let's play with that a little bit. Instead of keeping the volume equal, make it a crescendo. The final sound should lead nicely into the following don tsu ku.
Take a moment to consider the beats before and after the crescendo. What volume should your crescendo finish at? Try to make it just quieter than the beginning of your don tsu ku, so they fit right together. Here's an example:
Questions? Comments? Post 'em. See you next week!
This week's drill is early because I'll be in Kyoto on Friday.
Okay, to check in first, we've been focusing on don tsu ku a lot as it is a staple rhythm in wa-daiko. I'd like to continue to look at the dynamics of the pattern this week by contrasting it with some do ko do kos.
Focus: Balance, Dynamics
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the dynamics of don tsu ku. "don" is the loudest, "tsu" is the quietest (but we still want to hear it!), and "ku" is right in the middle.
2. Really listen for, and feel, the driving sound of don tsu ku and the evenness of doko doko.
3. Don't let the line of your wrists break! You can see an example of this in last week's entry, Video B. Correct form is shown in Video C.
Alright, let's start with the rhythm:
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | 5 | & | 6 | & | 7 | & | 8 | & |
| don | tsu | ku | do | ko | don | do | ko | do | ko | don | tsu | ku |
As always, Red means Right. Emphasis is not represented here, but pay attention to the dynamics of don tsu ku as we've been practicing. Do ko do ko should be even in timing and volume!
Loop this for 15-20 minutes every day and you'll be ready for next week's drill!
Extension
If you feel like your don tsu ku dynamics and form are consistent, let's take a look at making this drill more musical.
While I've asked you above to keep the do ko do kos even in volume, this actually has a bit of a stiff feel to it. The reason to do it that way initially was for the sake of building distinction between the two rhythms and increasing ability to play two rhythms with different dynamics continuously.
Okay, so the dynamics of do ko do ko were plain and even. Let's play with that a little bit. Instead of keeping the volume equal, make it a crescendo. The final sound should lead nicely into the following don tsu ku.
Take a moment to consider the beats before and after the crescendo. What volume should your crescendo finish at? Try to make it just quieter than the beginning of your don tsu ku, so they fit right together. Here's an example:
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | 5 | & | 6 | & | 7 | & | 8 | & |
| don | tsu | ku | do | ko | don | do | ko | do | ko | don | tsu | ku |
Questions? Comments? Post 'em. See you next week!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Taiko Drills, Part 25 DON TSU KU QUIZ
This entry has a problem. The audio files are missing. I am working to remedy this as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.
Don tsu ku has the power to add great feeling and carry a song if played well. But, if dynamics are not considered, it has just as much power to make a song feel flat and monotonous.
I've been talking about don tsu ku a lot lately and wonder if I've been explaining myself in a way that lets you actually apply these tidbits to your own practice. So, I created a don tsu ku quiz!!
Here's how it works. There are 4 videos below, followed by 4 audio clips. The videos have no sound, but only one of them shows don tsu ku as I have described in previous drills. See if you can match the sound to picture.
The video:
VIDEO A
VIDEO B
VIDEO C
VIDEO D
The Audio:
All done? Then check out the answers here. Let me know how you did!
Here's a recording of the "correct" don tsu ku as I've described it here. I think this one works best with wa-daiko songs (and it's the way my teacher says to do it:))
Practice your don tsu ku dynamics this week. We'll expand next Friday!
Note: I have friends coming into town this weekend, so next week's drill might be a bit early or a bit late. Apologies and Happy Weekend!
Don tsu ku has the power to add great feeling and carry a song if played well. But, if dynamics are not considered, it has just as much power to make a song feel flat and monotonous.
I've been talking about don tsu ku a lot lately and wonder if I've been explaining myself in a way that lets you actually apply these tidbits to your own practice. So, I created a don tsu ku quiz!!
Here's how it works. There are 4 videos below, followed by 4 audio clips. The videos have no sound, but only one of them shows don tsu ku as I have described in previous drills. See if you can match the sound to picture.
The video:
VIDEO A
VIDEO B
VIDEO C
VIDEO D
The Audio:
All done? Then check out the answers here. Let me know how you did!
Here's a recording of the "correct" don tsu ku as I've described it here. I think this one works best with wa-daiko songs (and it's the way my teacher says to do it:))
Practice your don tsu ku dynamics this week. We'll expand next Friday!
Note: I have friends coming into town this weekend, so next week's drill might be a bit early or a bit late. Apologies and Happy Weekend!
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