A Taiko Challenge

Hi there!

After a brief conversation with Kris Bergstrom a couple weeks ago, I realized that I need to challenge myself more. I need to challenge myself to be more creative, more motivated, more focused. And, even when time is scarce, these things are possible.

So, I will make a small goal for myself here:

Every morning at the start of my day, 7 days a week for 3 months, I will practice a drill for 15 minutes. Every week will the be same drill--a roll--with slight variation, so each week is really never exactly the same. I will experiment with tempo, layering, counting... Who knows what I'll come up with to create 12 variations of the same drill?

Do you want in? I'll be here every Friday from September 9 to tell you about the next week's variation. Feel free to pipe up along the way if you have suggestions of your own!

See you on the 9th!

--Carrie

Taiko Drills, Part 34 SHIME ROLLS (form)

Welcome back!

Well, Golden Week is over and done with and I'm back on my regular practice schedule. I realize that I've been focusing significantly on shime daiko skills, and all the videos I've posted have been for shime. And, to be honest, I have no better reason other than I love playing shime and I find it challenging. So, as always, if you have requests, let me know. If not, then I suppose you just have to keep putting up with my shime obsession!

How's this: I'll do a taiko set drill next week OR katsugi okedo, BUT only if you tell me! Leave a comment and tell me which you're interested in. Whichever drum gets the most comments, I'll do a few drills starting next week. Don't worry, I'll start from the basics.

Today's drill is very simple and a cool trick to keep you from clicking sticks together and keeping your sound consistent when trying to play quickly. If you're new, be sure to practice the shime daiko grip here first. If you're not new, it doesn't hurt to review.

Check it out!

Focus: Form, Balance
Watch for:
1. Move your hand in a straight motion up off the drum and down again to make contact.
2. If your sound is inconsistent, either from hand to hand or from hit to hit, be sure the height your stick comes off the drum is consistent and the striking speed and grip are the same. If you've already done all that and they still sound different, this drill might be the key for you.

Okay, so there's no fancy rhythm or anything for this drill. We'll just repeat "do ko do ko" at a speed that's comfortable for you. You'll notice in the video that I play 4 "do ko"s at the edge of my drum, quietly, and 4 louder "do ko"s at the center of the drum, and repeat.

One reason for hitting close together at the center is to force your sticks to go straight up and down. If your sticks click against each other, slow it down a bit and really focus on your hands making a straight path. For me, if I think about the sticks making a straight path, my efforts become forced and I'm no longer relaxed enough to be successful. So, start with the hands and once you've got that, refine any small waverings of the sticks.

The second reason for the 2 different kinds of rolls in this drill is to help you notice if small rolls or louder rolls are more difficult for you. (then you can practice that kind more!) Be sure that all of the quiet rolls are the same volume and pay particular attention to the ones just before or just after the louder rolls.

Grab your metronome and get started!



PS: Sorry the camera's a bit lopsided. I'll spare you the details of my makeshift table...
(Do I wear those pants every Friday??)


Extension:

Change up rolls! The pattern stays the same, but you can try something like:

RRLLRRLL
RRRLLLRR
LLRRLLRR
LLLRRRLL

If someone were to listen to you play the basic drill above and this version here with their eyes closed, they should not be able to hear the difference!

Gambatte!

Remember to vote in the comments for next week's focus:

KATSUGI?? or TAIKO SET??

TGIF, Part 1 (taiko drills)

VIDEO DEMO COMING SOON!

Welcome to TGIF!

Focus: Timing, Right/Left Balance
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the path your sticks take to the drum--are both sticks making identical vertical lines? If either hand strikes with an angled line, focus on correcting this as you practice the following drill.
2. Listen the sound as you strike the drum. Are the two hands equal in volume and tone?

Today's drill is basic, but effective in increasing speed and encouraging balance between the left and right hand. The kuchi shoga is simple:

DON DON DON DON DON DON DON DON

Once you've got that memorized (no problem, right?), let's talk about hands. First, play the line alternating right and left hands:

R L R L R L R L

Next, repeat with double strokes:

R R L L R R L L

If you don't have a metronome there are numerous online sources. I tend to use this one if practicing at home. You can also download a light metronome if hearing it over your taiko is a problem. Using a metronome will help you realize if you have tendencies to change tempo as you play.

Practice first at a speed that's comfortable for you, 15 minutes total. Practice this drill every day, increasing speed regularly, and you'll be ready for the next drill in 7 quick days!

Comment or email if you have questions.

Carrie


Extension: It is essential to practice with your weak hand up to twice as much as you do with your strong hand. I'm right-handed, so for this drill I will practice starting with the right the first 5 minutes and follow it by 10 minutes starting with the left. This helps to feel comfortable with the downbeat on either hand.

Another way to do this is simply by alternating repeatedly throughout the drill:

R L R L R L R L
R R L L R R L L
L R L R L R L R
L L R R L L R R
L R L R L R L R
L L R R L L R R