Welcome back! Let's keep going with the timing theme...
Focus: Timing, Rhythm
Watch For:
1. Is the bachi (or arm) that's keeping the downbeat moving around, or steadily in one place?
2. Pay attention to volume--both hands should sound equal!
Here's the pattern:
don (X8 with one hand)
doko (X8 alternating hands)
You can choose to switch the base hand each time, or just practice with one. In the video, you'll see me alternate by finishing the pattern with a double stroke.
A place for useful tips, drills, and information about taiko.
Showing posts with label tempo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tempo. Show all posts
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Taiko Drill Part 55, Keeping a Steady Beat II
It's nearly Friday again--I'm busy tomorrow, so today's drill comes to you one day early!
Let's continue with the pattern we started last week.
Focus: Rhythm, Dexterity
Watch For:
1. Check out your base hand in a mirror or with a video recording. Does it change over time or in specific places, or is it consistent?
2. When the number of hits increases, your speed may run away, too. Keep the tempo steady with a metronome!
Okay, so we learned the first 5 lines of the pattern last week. Remember that your base hand keeps the down beat by playing for each number you see. Anything that's bold is where your other hand should strike.
Line 6: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
Line 7-9: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
Line 10: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
Line 11: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
I know, it looks confusing. Here are some tips: Lines 6-9 are exactly the same except the first time the "1" is not played. Line 11 is the same as lines 7-9!
In the video below, I'll play 8 beats to start, followed by lines 6-11. Then I'll play the whole pattern once from Line 1. We'll finish the pattern next week!
Extension:
Switch the roles your hands are playing with this drill. Which side feels more comfortable? What can you do to make them feel equal? I practice twice as much where I'm most uncomfortable, but if you do this, make sure to note your progress and balance out your practice schedule accordingly over time.
(Keep in mind that I'm just talking about balancing technique, not strength.)
Let's continue with the pattern we started last week.
Focus: Rhythm, Dexterity
Watch For:
1. Check out your base hand in a mirror or with a video recording. Does it change over time or in specific places, or is it consistent?
2. When the number of hits increases, your speed may run away, too. Keep the tempo steady with a metronome!
Okay, so we learned the first 5 lines of the pattern last week. Remember that your base hand keeps the down beat by playing for each number you see. Anything that's bold is where your other hand should strike.
Line 6: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
Line 7-9: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
Line 10: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
Line 11: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &
I know, it looks confusing. Here are some tips: Lines 6-9 are exactly the same except the first time the "1" is not played. Line 11 is the same as lines 7-9!
In the video below, I'll play 8 beats to start, followed by lines 6-11. Then I'll play the whole pattern once from Line 1. We'll finish the pattern next week!
Extension:
Switch the roles your hands are playing with this drill. Which side feels more comfortable? What can you do to make them feel equal? I practice twice as much where I'm most uncomfortable, but if you do this, make sure to note your progress and balance out your practice schedule accordingly over time.
(Keep in mind that I'm just talking about balancing technique, not strength.)
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!
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, May 8, 2009
Taiko Drills, Part 33 UP BEAT DOWN BEAT
Welcome back!
I hope you're enjoying the spring season wherever you are. It's a great time to practice taiko! (Okay--anytime is, really.)
Let's get back to rolls and timing--
Focus: Timing, Balance
Watch for:
1. Keep those elbows up and out! Don't let your elbows drop--this will force you to bend your wrists in order to hit the drum and we don't want that. Check out the video from 3 weeks ago for a refresher: Part 30
2. If you've gotten lazy about the metronome, you'll need it for this drill.
Okay, this drill is basic to do, so let's take the opportunity to be picky about a few things. Make sure the sound of the right and left hand are the same. I think I've said this a few times before, but the first step to fix this is to check to make sure your form is the same. If they're not, slow down the drill to focus on this, and do everything twice as long for the "wrong" hand. Keep in mind that sometimes when it sounds like your timing is off, it could be the balance!
I've written out the rhythms below, Red is right and Black is left. Note that Lines 1 and 2 are played twice. Line 3, which is twice as long, is played just once.
If you know my style, you know why there's a double right at the end--repeat again from the beginning, starting with the LEFT hand!
K, loop it! 10-15 minutes daily, gradually increasing speed but never going faster than is comfortable. Gambatte!
Here's a bit of audio help:
(These clips are to aid in understanding the rhythm and are not representative of what your actual playing should sound like.)
Extension:
I really find that drills that use one hand as a base beat are invaluable to increasing good timing and balance. Once you're comfortable with the drill above, try playing the base beat (right hand) for the same length of 6 lines of 8. The left hand will improvise when to hit on the up beat. Be sure to count so that the final two beats are "don don" with the right hand, freeing up the left to begin from the beginning.
This is a fun way to come up with new rhythms--maybe you'll even get a new song out of it!
I hope you're enjoying the spring season wherever you are. It's a great time to practice taiko! (Okay--anytime is, really.)
Let's get back to rolls and timing--
Focus: Timing, Balance
Watch for:
1. Keep those elbows up and out! Don't let your elbows drop--this will force you to bend your wrists in order to hit the drum and we don't want that. Check out the video from 3 weeks ago for a refresher: Part 30
2. If you've gotten lazy about the metronome, you'll need it for this drill.
Okay, this drill is basic to do, so let's take the opportunity to be picky about a few things. Make sure the sound of the right and left hand are the same. I think I've said this a few times before, but the first step to fix this is to check to make sure your form is the same. If they're not, slow down the drill to focus on this, and do everything twice as long for the "wrong" hand. Keep in mind that sometimes when it sounds like your timing is off, it could be the balance!
I've written out the rhythms below, Red is right and Black is left. Note that Lines 1 and 2 are played twice. Line 3, which is twice as long, is played just once.
| 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & | 5 | & | 6 | & | 7 | & | 8 | & | |
| Line 1 | don | do | ko | don | don | don | do | ko | don | don | ||||||
| (twice) Line 2 (twice) | don | do | ko | don | do | ko | don | do | ko | don | don | ko | ||||
| Line 3 | 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 |
If you know my style, you know why there's a double right at the end--repeat again from the beginning, starting with the LEFT hand!
K, loop it! 10-15 minutes daily, gradually increasing speed but never going faster than is comfortable. Gambatte!
Here's a bit of audio help:
(These clips are to aid in understanding the rhythm and are not representative of what your actual playing should sound like.)
Extension:
I really find that drills that use one hand as a base beat are invaluable to increasing good timing and balance. Once you're comfortable with the drill above, try playing the base beat (right hand) for the same length of 6 lines of 8. The left hand will improvise when to hit on the up beat. Be sure to count so that the final two beats are "don don" with the right hand, freeing up the left to begin from the beginning.
This is a fun way to come up with new rhythms--maybe you'll even get a new song out of it!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Taiko Drills, Part 30 ROLLS
Hi, and welcome back!
Good timing certainly doesn't come overnight, so it's still been a focus of my practice recently. Of course, this skill is easily combined with others, so I'd like to move on from the Fraction Drill but keep the overall theme of 'timing' in mind.
A friend of mine recently asked me how to get better at rolls. My immediate response was, "Practice!" Since then my teacher brought out the basic line from KODO's shime daiko piece Monochrome at one of my private lessons and I've had to consider on a more in-depth level how to produce efficient, controlled rolls. Needless to say, Monochrome is far out of my reach, but certainly motivating.
Focus: Timing, Balance
Watch for:
1. Do your arms/hands feel different? They shouldn't, so if they do, take the time to consider how they feel different, determine which hand is correct (Check out the tips and videos below for possible ways to do this), and focus on bringing the other hand up to par.
2. Take it slow until you have the balance we're aiming for. If you need ideas on how to reach this goal, review any of TGIF 11-18!
In this first video you'll see today's drill. Alternate RLRL with an even beat for 8 counts using the basic shime daiko grip taught here. Then keep the same feeling of the grip, but lift from the upper arm as well for 8 counts, double time. Loop it!
It's not easy to combine the grip and form, so by isolating the grip and then adding the form and repeating, your body will gain a gradual sense of what you're teaching it to do.
Notice that my elbows are out, but not locked, and shoulders down. The bachi are at the same angle and rise off the drum at the same height to produce an even roll.
In this second video, you'll see me playing a roll at 3 tempos, slow to moderate pace. I tried to give you an idea here of how even though as you get faster and there is not time to lift the arms up and down, the feeling of the lift is still present. My elbows don't drop and my wrists don't break, keeping the sound consistent.
Gambatte, ne!
PS: One of these days I'll get a camera that captures audio...
Good timing certainly doesn't come overnight, so it's still been a focus of my practice recently. Of course, this skill is easily combined with others, so I'd like to move on from the Fraction Drill but keep the overall theme of 'timing' in mind.
A friend of mine recently asked me how to get better at rolls. My immediate response was, "Practice!" Since then my teacher brought out the basic line from KODO's shime daiko piece Monochrome at one of my private lessons and I've had to consider on a more in-depth level how to produce efficient, controlled rolls. Needless to say, Monochrome is far out of my reach, but certainly motivating.
Focus: Timing, Balance
Watch for:
1. Do your arms/hands feel different? They shouldn't, so if they do, take the time to consider how they feel different, determine which hand is correct (Check out the tips and videos below for possible ways to do this), and focus on bringing the other hand up to par.
2. Take it slow until you have the balance we're aiming for. If you need ideas on how to reach this goal, review any of TGIF 11-18!
In this first video you'll see today's drill. Alternate RLRL with an even beat for 8 counts using the basic shime daiko grip taught here. Then keep the same feeling of the grip, but lift from the upper arm as well for 8 counts, double time. Loop it!
It's not easy to combine the grip and form, so by isolating the grip and then adding the form and repeating, your body will gain a gradual sense of what you're teaching it to do.
Notice that my elbows are out, but not locked, and shoulders down. The bachi are at the same angle and rise off the drum at the same height to produce an even roll.
In this second video, you'll see me playing a roll at 3 tempos, slow to moderate pace. I tried to give you an idea here of how even though as you get faster and there is not time to lift the arms up and down, the feeling of the lift is still present. My elbows don't drop and my wrists don't break, keeping the sound consistent.
Gambatte, ne!
PS: One of these days I'll get a camera that captures audio...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Fraction Drill Plus Audio Addendum
Hey there!
As promised, here is the audio version of last week's drill. Sorry about the extra noises... it's pretty windy here today and the house is creaking.
First, the basic drill from last week with one hand playing the base beat, Line 1:
And, the extension! Here the base line alternates between Line 1 and Line 2:
See you back here on Friday...
As promised, here is the audio version of last week's drill. Sorry about the extra noises... it's pretty windy here today and the house is creaking.
First, the basic drill from last week with one hand playing the base beat, Line 1:
And, the extension! Here the base line alternates between Line 1 and Line 2:
See you back here on Friday...
Friday, April 10, 2009
Taiko Drills, Part 29 FRACTION DRILL PLUS
Welcome back!
I missed my personal practice today because my father is in town. While I appreciate the chance to spend time with him and share my life in Japan with him, it also teaches me something: My practice time is valuable.
By stepping away from my busy life in the US and coming to Japan to focus on taiko, I've realized that practice really does make a difference. I know, it seems obvious... but, when I choose a focus and really hone in on it with one specific drill, improvements are noticeable quite quickly.
So, that said, I'd like to add on a bit to the drill from last week. Let's focus on timing!
Focus: Timing
Watch for:
1. Even though the two hands are playing different patterns, make sure your form in consistent. Is the bachi height equal for each hand? Is the striking speed the same? (no emphasized hits this week!)
2. Stay on beat with your metronome! I mentioned Metronome Online previously, but I occasionally like to use Web Metronome because the down beat is a different tone than the other beats, which I find helpful for drills similar to today's.
The right hand will loop Line 1 from last week, 4 times as the base beat:
A slow "don" R R R R
The left hand will simultaneously play through Lines 1, 2, 3, and 4:
1 hit per beat L L L L
2 hits per beat LL LL LL LL
3 hits per beat LLL LLL LLL LLL
4 hits per beat LLLL LLLL LLLL LLLL
Each bold "L" above is played at the same time as the Right hand's base beat. There is equal space between each beat. Be sure that when your two hands hit on the down beat that there is only one sound. Return to last week's drill to hear an audio example of each line.
Try this drill at a different pace every day--playing it quickly or slowly can both be difficult. Don't change the tempo within one practice because it will take longer to make improvements if your mind and body are deprived of the focus required to do so.
This drill does not require much endurance, so try to loop it for 10 minutes with the right hand as the base and 10 minutes with the left hand as base. If one hand has more trouble with a particular part, adjust your times on the following days to allow more practice for that hand.
Extension:
After doing this drill 2 or 3 days, it might seem your body can play it without thinking. If not, then stick with it a while longer. If so, then try to alternate the base beat between Line 1 and Line 2.
I'll do my best to post an audio version of what this can sound like for those of you who might try it mid-week!
Enjoy and gambatte!
UPDATE: Audio for this lesson can be found here.
I missed my personal practice today because my father is in town. While I appreciate the chance to spend time with him and share my life in Japan with him, it also teaches me something: My practice time is valuable.
By stepping away from my busy life in the US and coming to Japan to focus on taiko, I've realized that practice really does make a difference. I know, it seems obvious... but, when I choose a focus and really hone in on it with one specific drill, improvements are noticeable quite quickly.
So, that said, I'd like to add on a bit to the drill from last week. Let's focus on timing!
Focus: Timing
Watch for:
1. Even though the two hands are playing different patterns, make sure your form in consistent. Is the bachi height equal for each hand? Is the striking speed the same? (no emphasized hits this week!)
2. Stay on beat with your metronome! I mentioned Metronome Online previously, but I occasionally like to use Web Metronome because the down beat is a different tone than the other beats, which I find helpful for drills similar to today's.
The right hand will loop Line 1 from last week, 4 times as the base beat:
A slow "don" R R R R
The left hand will simultaneously play through Lines 1, 2, 3, and 4:
1 hit per beat L L L L
2 hits per beat LL LL LL LL
3 hits per beat LLL LLL LLL LLL
4 hits per beat LLLL LLLL LLLL LLLL
Each bold "L" above is played at the same time as the Right hand's base beat. There is equal space between each beat. Be sure that when your two hands hit on the down beat that there is only one sound. Return to last week's drill to hear an audio example of each line.
Try this drill at a different pace every day--playing it quickly or slowly can both be difficult. Don't change the tempo within one practice because it will take longer to make improvements if your mind and body are deprived of the focus required to do so.
This drill does not require much endurance, so try to loop it for 10 minutes with the right hand as the base and 10 minutes with the left hand as base. If one hand has more trouble with a particular part, adjust your times on the following days to allow more practice for that hand.
Extension:
After doing this drill 2 or 3 days, it might seem your body can play it without thinking. If not, then stick with it a while longer. If so, then try to alternate the base beat between Line 1 and Line 2.
I'll do my best to post an audio version of what this can sound like for those of you who might try it mid-week!
Enjoy and gambatte!
UPDATE: Audio for this lesson can be found here.
Friday, February 13, 2009
TGIF, Part 21 (taiko drills)
Okay, let's put the balance practice to a bit of a test!
Focus: Balance,Timing
Watch for:
1. Don't lose the down beat; try to hear how the two rhythms fit together.
2. Relax. See if your body/mind has blurred that line between right and left--both hands are equal in speed and power as they hit the drum!
Okay, here we go. Red means Right and Black means Left. Bold is emphasized. "SU" means rest.
Please check the tips and videos of TGIF 13 if you need a "don tsu ku" review!
Find a parter and layer the two patterns. A large part of playing kumi-daiko is listening to and connecting with other players. Use this drill to practice that! One person starts with "don tsu ku", while the other person starts with "su ko do ko". Switch patterns every 4 times.
If you're practicing alone and need an MP3 of the pattern to get the layering practice, just email me the speed you're working at and I'll send you a file.
Extension
So, you've been balancing out your strong and weak hands? Give it a test here--reverse the right and left hands to the pattern, as described above.
Gambatte-yo!
Focus: Balance,Timing
Watch for:
1. Don't lose the down beat; try to hear how the two rhythms fit together.
2. Relax. See if your body/mind has blurred that line between right and left--both hands are equal in speed and power as they hit the drum!
Okay, here we go. Red means Right and Black means Left. Bold is emphasized. "SU" means rest.
Please check the tips and videos of TGIF 13 if you need a "don tsu ku" review!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| su | ko | do | ko |
| su | ko | do | ko |
| su | ko | do | ko |
| su | ko | do | ko |
Find a parter and layer the two patterns. A large part of playing kumi-daiko is listening to and connecting with other players. Use this drill to practice that! One person starts with "don tsu ku", while the other person starts with "su ko do ko". Switch patterns every 4 times.
If you're practicing alone and need an MP3 of the pattern to get the layering practice, just email me the speed you're working at and I'll send you a file.
Extension
So, you've been balancing out your strong and weak hands? Give it a test here--reverse the right and left hands to the pattern, as described above.
Gambatte-yo!
Friday, December 19, 2008
TGIF, Part 14 (taiko drills)
Well, I hope you had dreams of don tsu ku last week! If you didn't, well, there's still hope:
Focus: Balance, Tempo
Watch for:
1. Make friends with your metronome for this one, and don't give up! All friendships take persistence at times. Be sure that each of these parts is on beat.
Okay, reviewing the pattern briefly from last week. Red means Right, Black means Left, and bold means emphasize! We'll call this "Pattern 1".
|
Follow Pattern 1 with "Pattern 2" (another old favorite).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| don | don | ||
| do | ko | do | ko |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| don | don |
Make note of whether or not your weak hand is producing the same sound as your strong hand. This might mean volume, but it might also mean tone. If the tones are different it could simply be due to your drum's construction, but check your form to be sure this isn't the culprit.
In addition, another common problem with do ko is a slow weak hand. Don't let your left hand get behind (if you're a righty). When the left hand is the lead hand for do ko, check to make sure you are on beat.
Alright! You know what to do from here.
If you're such a taiko fanatic that you don't want a break next week, then do this one for 2 weeks, it deserves the extra attention.
REMEMBER: No drill next week, but I'll see you in the new year!
Extension:
Last week's extension focused partly on the dynamics of don tsu ku:
don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku
Dynamics can make a piece portray feeling, capture your audience, and simply make it more interesting. Any basic rhythm can be made more complicated. See what you can come up with to challenge yourself with doko doko. Here's an example:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| do | ko | do | ko |
| don | don | ||
Friday, December 12, 2008
TGIF, Part 13 (taiko drills)
Hi there!
The time has come for the taiko staple rhythm. You all know it. We all play it. Let's practice and refine it: Don tsu ku!
Focus: Balance, Tempo
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the tempo when starting with the right hand compared to starting with the left. Is one hand on beat with your metronome and the other not? If there's an imbalance, be sure to practice twice as much with the hand that's having trouble.
2. Watch your wrists! Make sure that they stay relaxed, but don't break the angle. Check out the videos to see what it should look like when the angle between your bachi and the drum is kept consistent.
You're here because you play taiko, so probably you already know how to play Don tsu ku, but bear with my assumption of ignorance here so I can make sure we're all on the same page.
Don tsu ku is a basic rhythm that's very common in taiko songs. The first two beats are played with the Right hand and the third is played by the Left:
RRL, RRL, RRL...
Now, let's talk about rhythm. If you're playing RLRL on an even down beat (1234) and simply skip beat 2, then you've got Don tsu ku:
Now, let's play the drill! Start with your Right hand. The final two beats are emphasized and both are played with the Right hand.
By finishing up with the Right hand, this allows you to start the drill again at the beginning with the Left hand. Now we just loop it--15 minutes with your metronome, once a day. If you need more practice with a particular hand, just play the line twice with that hand before switching.
Check out the videos for form:
This first one is slow only.
This one starts slow, repeats at a faster pace, and repeats one more time (almost:)
Extension:
1. Don tsu ku is a very important rhythm in taiko, something to be practiced daily. The 3 hits should each be played at a different volume: don is the loudest, tsu is the quietest, ku is in the middle and leads into the following don:
don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku
2. Remember that "tsu" is not accomplished by simply dropping the bachi to the head of the drum. "Tsu" is a very intentional, controlled hit. Really engage the 3 fingers under the bachi to snap into the drum.
3. Divide the drum into 3rds again. Play don tsu ku at the 1/3 marks and the final don don is played in the center.
Happy Weekend!
O tsukare sama deshita!
The time has come for the taiko staple rhythm. You all know it. We all play it. Let's practice and refine it: Don tsu ku!
Focus: Balance, Tempo
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the tempo when starting with the right hand compared to starting with the left. Is one hand on beat with your metronome and the other not? If there's an imbalance, be sure to practice twice as much with the hand that's having trouble.
2. Watch your wrists! Make sure that they stay relaxed, but don't break the angle. Check out the videos to see what it should look like when the angle between your bachi and the drum is kept consistent.
You're here because you play taiko, so probably you already know how to play Don tsu ku, but bear with my assumption of ignorance here so I can make sure we're all on the same page.
Don tsu ku is a basic rhythm that's very common in taiko songs. The first two beats are played with the Right hand and the third is played by the Left:
RRL, RRL, RRL...
Now, let's talk about rhythm. If you're playing RLRL on an even down beat (1234) and simply skip beat 2, then you've got Don tsu ku:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| don | (su) | tsu | ku |
Now, let's play the drill! Start with your Right hand. The final two beats are emphasized and both are played with the Right hand.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don | tsu | ku | |
| don(R) | don(R) |
By finishing up with the Right hand, this allows you to start the drill again at the beginning with the Left hand. Now we just loop it--15 minutes with your metronome, once a day. If you need more practice with a particular hand, just play the line twice with that hand before switching.
Check out the videos for form:
This first one is slow only.
This one starts slow, repeats at a faster pace, and repeats one more time (almost:)
Extension:
1. Don tsu ku is a very important rhythm in taiko, something to be practiced daily. The 3 hits should each be played at a different volume: don is the loudest, tsu is the quietest, ku is in the middle and leads into the following don:
don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku don tsu ku
2. Remember that "tsu" is not accomplished by simply dropping the bachi to the head of the drum. "Tsu" is a very intentional, controlled hit. Really engage the 3 fingers under the bachi to snap into the drum.
3. Divide the drum into 3rds again. Play don tsu ku at the 1/3 marks and the final don don is played in the center.
Happy Weekend!
O tsukare sama deshita!
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