01

Aisatsu

About the course
Course will be difficult, for Masa and for students, as it will depend on individuals to be vulnerable in the trial & error process
- In North American taiko scene, many people will think of Chieko Kojima and Yuta Kato when they think of Hachijo Daiko
- As it is on the island, everyone has unique flavor and style. It's not something they learn from someone, but is an expression of who they are

Increase musical and physical awareness, as Hachijo players:
- in our own rhythms as Uwauchi players; and
- with the connection to your partner as Shitauchi players

Often times, students tend to focus on movement and rhythms when learning taiko songs
- we are fed on what to play and how to play them, but we aren't thinking of why (where to hit, sound quality, etc) which composers put lots of thought into
- when we are children, we are full of curiosity and ask many questions
- when we are adults, we're too busy to question the environment we live in, or forget why we make/made certain choices

There will be homework, with the focus of getting to know each other better (beyond "classmates") and to pull out the elements that make us who we are as human beings
- Homework 1: find habits and routines in your life / ask yourself "why" and "does anyone else do this, too" (share with class next class 4/27)
- Homework 2: think of something you're super passionate about (anything: music? pets? activity? family? work? volunteer?) that defines who you are / ask yourself "why do I like this thing so much?: and share with class on 5/11 (class #4)

Last mentions:
- class will not practice HPP ("Hachijo Practice Patterns")
- each student will create own rhythms & speed-up templates, and share will class
- class will work on shitauchi playing
- class will have more opportunities to practice in duets (not everyone all-together) to check awareness progress

"What about Hachijo are you interested in?"
Maggie: Yuta mentioned “Hachijo is a great improv style” plus the very personal element (being able to play serious, playful, etc)
Michael: similar to Maggie, becoming a better soloist
Mitsue: I’ve taken many Hachijo classes but want to develop own style (learn more rhythms and movement)
Sako: visiting Hachijo and changed my view towards Hachijo and want to find own way (similar to Hachijo islanders)
Aya: 3 years of taiko playing, and liked Hachijo’s intimate setting; how it’s about learning about yourself (as an introvert, very relatable); don’t want to burn out and feel pressure in “doing better”

Ogi Matsuri Daiko
Concept of repetition, rather than run-on sentences full of ideas
- Poetry, Haiku, Senryu, etc. are full of structural repetition that is comforting to the human ear
- Learn Ogi Matsuri Daiko as the foundation for repetition
- Use Ogi Matsuri Daiko to try different styles, stances, dynamics

Practice as a group
Practice as solo/duet (rotate)

Homework 1
Find habits and routines in your life / ask yourself "why" and "does anyone else do this, too" (share with class next class 4/27)

Ex of Homework 1:
- Masa squeegees himself after showing (why? to avoid towel from getting too wet)
- When it's time to cut nails, Masa puts on nose pore strips (why? because the time it takes for the nose pore strip to dry is about the same time it takes to clip nails)

Clean

Aisatsu