Yesterday, Shippu Uchi Daiko had a combined practice with Iki Daiko from Kyoto who I mentioned here. In November, we went up to Kyoto and this time they came down to Wakayama.
No time is wasted during our usual Sunday practices which run for 7 hours (9-5 minus 1 hour for lunch) and I appreciate the focus because my time here is limited and I have many years of things yet to learn. Yesterday was a break from the routine but, there's nothing else like the sense of community created by uchi komi in a room with 25 taiko players!
The word uchi means "hit". The basic meaning of komi is "inclusive of" but it can be used in a few different ways. So, the way I like to think of the phrase uchi komi is to hit the drum in a way that involves your whole being and focus to the point that the rhythms fill your body and you, in a sense, become the act of playing wa-daiko.
We usually spend some of Sunday's practice doing uchi komi but with only 4-7 people. Sensei was nice enough to allow breaks and rotations yesterday. So, in our small practice space, we set up stations where people cycled through playing "do ko do ko" as loudly as possible for a total of 40 minutes. It's a bit complicated to explain as there is some overlapping, but if you had a group of 4, you would play 3-8 counts and rest for 6-8 counts and repeat. Call me weird, but this is part of the reason why I love taiko:
A room full of people sweating, yelling, encouraging, focusing, grimacing, supporting, feeling, absorbed, aching... All playing the same beat with our bodies, all feeling the same assortment of emotions at perhaps different times, all the same amongst our differences. Community.
A place for useful tips, drills, and information about taiko.
Showing posts with label practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label practice. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
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 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.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Joint Practice with Iki Daiko
I just returned from 2 days in the mountains outside the city of Kyoto. My teacher, Ryo Shimamoto, was invited to teach a class for a group there called Iki Daiko. So, the whole Shippu Uchi Daiko group went up and we had a joint practice. Iki Daiko is a newer group, started just a couple of years ago. It was fun to meet some other players in Japan, and I look forward to when they come down to Wakayama for another joint practice in the spring time.
I didn't have my camera during the practice, but here are a few from the party afterwards, including all of their family members. Enjoy the enkai photos!
Ryo Sensei hiding behind Itsuka.
Haruka, one of Shippu's main players.
Ishibashi-san and me.
Nana and Haruka--they're sisters.
Haruka and Tayeko-san.
Nabe--yummy!
Masako-san, Ishibashi-san, and Hayashi-san
We stayed at the YMCA in the cabin to the right.
Shippu is Happiness!
A quick view of Japanese hot pot.
The inevitable enkai singing... except my camera had no sound. Use your imagination!
Catch you Friday!
I didn't have my camera during the practice, but here are a few from the party afterwards, including all of their family members. Enjoy the enkai photos!
Ryo Sensei hiding behind Itsuka.
Haruka, one of Shippu's main players.
Ishibashi-san and me.
Nana and Haruka--they're sisters.
Haruka and Tayeko-san.
Nabe--yummy!
Masako-san, Ishibashi-san, and Hayashi-san
We stayed at the YMCA in the cabin to the right.
Shippu is Happiness!
A quick view of Japanese hot pot.
The inevitable enkai singing... except my camera had no sound. Use your imagination!
Catch you Friday!
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