Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 17, 2008 17:48:19 GMT -5
I finally bit the bullet and signed up for the classes offered by Alameda's Adult School/Recreation Department. My first class was Tuesday evening. I did not drop a bachi, hit myself or any of my classmates, or acquire any blisters. I did get caught and scolded for "thinking too much." (I am not ready to go all Zen and "no mind" with sticks in my hands until I develop a little muscle memory first. So sue me.) The teachers are a father/son team who are former students of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. The students are all adults and we all at least can keep a beat in 4/4, follow instructions reasonably well, and learn patterns by rote. Our practice drums are all either re-conditioned wine barrels or made out of really wide PVC pipe. Before Solveig-hime reads this, I make no claims for anything I am about to learn being period. From what I know about taiko in the US and particularly the dojos in the Bay Area, it most likely isn't. (I should be sitting demurely in seiza tapping a kotsuzumi with my fingers, not whaling on a taiko, right?) What it is, is getting me off my slack backside and out of the house on Tuesday nights.  |
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Post by Water_Tengu on Apr 17, 2008 19:10:06 GMT -5
Sounds fun. how many drums did they start you on at first? I have been interested in taiko for a long time.
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 17, 2008 20:33:25 GMT -5
All drums set out for the beginner class were either wine barrel nagado-daiko or PVC pipe nagado-daiko of roughly the same height (about 24" high standing on the ground.)
The barrel taiko are somewhat wider, even though the head sizes were about the same. Front row got PVC, back row got barrels and we swapped rows a few times so we got to work with both types.
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Post by solveig on Apr 17, 2008 22:53:40 GMT -5
Noble Cousin! Greetings from Solveig! Before Solveig-hime reads this, I make no claims for anything I am about to learn being period. From what I know about taiko in the US and particularly the dojos in the Bay Area, it most likely isn't. (I should be sitting demurely in seiza tapping a kotsuzumi with my fingers, not whaling on a taiko, right?) Poof!! I've been summoned! Well, I would say that most of the Taiko you see in North America at this point might be best described as "international fusion" or some such thing. Certainly kotsuzumi are appropriate for some things. Also, you can dance with the things. Whether this is a strictly post-1600 I will not wager a statement at the moment. However, I do believe that I have seen iconographic evidence suggesting that the famous Okuni did dance with a kotsuzumi. |
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Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 18, 2008 8:38:16 GMT -5
Certainly kotsuzumi are appropriate for some things. Also, you can dance with the things. Whether this is a strictly post-1600 I will not wager a statement at the moment. However, I do believe that I have seen iconographic evidence suggesting that the famous Okuni did dance with a kotsuzumi. The famous Okuni's dancing became famous in 1603, IIRC. In this detail from the screen in the Kyoto National Museum, she's dancing with a sword. www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/syuzou/meihin/kaiga/kinsei/item05dl.htmlThere does, however, appear to be a drum of some sort at the left of the stage. (No good detail enlargements of this section, unfortunately.) www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/syuzou/meihin/kaiga/kinsei/item05el.htmlIn this detail of the Gaki Zoshi scroll from the Kamakura period, the woman to the right of the koto player appears to be singing and playing a kotsuzumi. www.tnm.go.jp/gallery/search/images/max/C0016933.jpg(I am SUCH a nerd.....) |
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Post by solveig on Apr 18, 2008 9:05:28 GMT -5
Noble Cousin! Greetings from Solveig! In this detail of the Gaki Zoshi scroll from the Kamakura period, the woman to the right of the koto player appears to be singing and playing a kotsuzumi. I believe that she is playing an 大鼓 ôtsuzumi and not a 小鼓 kotsuzumi. They are of similar appearance, but their size, method of play, and position while being played are all different.  |
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AJBryant
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甲冑師 katchuu-shi
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Post by AJBryant on Apr 18, 2008 11:07:23 GMT -5
We used to practise beating on tires at home. I love taiko. Don don don karakaka dondon click dondon karakaka click don click dondon karakaka karakara dondon click!!!! (IIRC, that's Matsuri. ) |
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Post by kurokamakiri on Apr 18, 2008 12:39:32 GMT -5
It does look like she's singing, but so is the gentleman beside her. Were duets performed, or did someone just create a particularly good pun? But you are OUR nerd, and we're keeping you!! |
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Post by dianet on Apr 18, 2008 14:33:23 GMT -5
Greetings to all.
After many travels, I have returned and need to stay put for a while.
I had the pleasure of attending a park opening here in Houston. One of the opening performances were the Kaminari Taiko Drummers. WOW!! Talk about Fun and just totally mind blowing. They even had the really huge drum out there.
Glad you have the opportunity to get 'banging' Makiwara-Hime. I know you will do well.
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 23, 2008 0:44:28 GMT -5
It's official. I am right handed. I am SO right handed I have a knot in my left shoulder from this evening's practice, which involved a drill that started with a Don - tsuku (RIGHT right left) into a syncopated Don DON Don DON Don DON Don DON that starts with the LEFT hand.
It's a good thing my brain works musically - I was hearing Peggy Lee singing "The Best Is Yet To Come" and that helped me get through it. Sorta.
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Post by dianet on Apr 23, 2008 1:01:17 GMT -5
As my Shifu in Meditation class would tell those who have pain while sitting zazen in meditation. "Breathe through the pain. Your body will become accustomed to this position." I offer that to you as well, Makiwara-hime. *chuckling* "Along with a good long soak in hot water and either Tiger Balm or aspercreme.
Is this a once a week class?
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Lash
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perfection isnt an end result but a path to walk upon with your eyes closed.
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Post by Lash on Apr 23, 2008 8:14:24 GMT -5
and Sake ! lots of Sake!!!
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 23, 2008 8:39:13 GMT -5
Yes, the class meets once a week for ten weeks. 2. Who soaks? On Earth Day? Besides, all I have is a stall shower. 3. What pain? Woke up fine without analgesics before bed. 4. There will be sake this weekend. Bovil-dono tells me so. |
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Lash
New Member
perfection isnt an end result but a path to walk upon with your eyes closed.
Posts: 422
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Post by Lash on Apr 23, 2008 9:19:25 GMT -5
this is where i soak when im a hurtin. its way up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere. www.strawberryhotsprings.com/2005/come up and get a watsu massage in a natural hot spring . ;D |
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bovil
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Fnord. Moo.
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Post by bovil on Apr 23, 2008 13:46:45 GMT -5
4. There will be sake this weekend. Bovil-dono tells me so. There will be sake, and absinthe, and wine and a bunch of other stuff. |
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