Date:
Thursday, January 10, 2019 - 18:00 to 19:45
Student should bring:
nagado bachi (usually larger diameter, maple or "ho" wood)
earplugs
Class syllabus:
Welcome
- Name. How was your holiday? What are you looking forward to in 2019?
- Course Overview
- rhythm fundamentals plus strike fundamentals plus musical fun
- six rudiments, four challenge patterns, two grooves, cue, tag, arrangement
Notation
- 4 dashes (-) = #eau = 1 count
- 4 counts = 1 bar.
Each count is seperated by a "/ ". Each bar is separated by starting on the next line or with brackets [ ]. - Hits are emphasized with #s and "e" "a" "u"
- Hit the #s (1, 2, 3, 4) and "a" with the right (R). Hit the "e" and "u" with the left (L).
- Kuchishoga
- ---- = 1eau = 1 count
- [---- / ---- / ---- / ----] [---- / ---- / ---- / ----] = 2 bars
- 1--- / --a- / 3--- / --a- = hit on the 1 and 3, and the "a" of the 2 and 4.
- 1e-- / --au / 3-a- / 4eau = RL-- / --RL / R-R- / RLRL
- "g-" = left
-
Example:
gon/go: left hit
ga: left rim hit
"d-" = right
-
Example:
don/do: right hit
da: right rim hit
Naname Rudiments
Single Hits
- [1--- / ---- / ---- / ----] [---- / 2--- / ---- / ----] ...etc
[--a- / ---- / ---- / ----] [---- / --a- / ---- / ----] ...etc
Alternating Eighths
- 1-a- / 2-a- / 3-a- / 4-a-
Alternating sixteenths
- 1eau / 2eau / 3eau / 4eau
L hits
- [--a- / --a- / --a- / --a-] [--a- / --a- / --a- / 4---]
DoGo
- [1e-- / ---- / 3e-- / ----] [---- / 2e-- / ---- / 4e--] [--au / --au / --au / --au]
GoDon
- [1--- / ---- / ---- / --a-] [1--- / ---- / ---- / ---u]
Warmup
- Vocal counting
- Single-hits clapping
Groove 1
1-a- / 2-a- / 3-a- / 4-a- x4
# = don/de
a = da
Don Da
- Hit the don in the center of the taiko.
- Hit the da at "half" the normal volume. Da is already a bright sound so it doesn't have to be hit with the same vigor as don to make it audible.
- All / 1: Everyone plays, then just player one. everyone plays, then just player 2...
De Da
- Hit the de near the edge.
- Hit the da at "half" the normal volume.
Press Hits Only
4th Bar Cut-Out
- Use the back of your left hand to mute the Count-4 hit of the 4th bar.
Rudiment 1: Single Hits
Goal: effortless power
Exercise 1: Rudiment 1A
1--- / ---- / ---- / ----
---- / 2--- / ---- / ----
---- / ---- / 3--- / ----
---- / ---- / ---- / 4---
All don hits
- Group A plays Groove 1 (de don) twice as Group B plays the first bar of Rudiment 1A twice. Groups switch parts without skipping a beat; make transition seamless. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the second bar twice. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the third bar twice. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the fourth bar twice. Switch parts.
Exercise 2: Rudiment 1B
--a- / ---- / ---- / ----
---- / --a- / ---- / ----
---- / ---- / --a- / ----
---- / ---- / ---- / --a-
All don hits
- Group A plays Groove 1 (de don) twice as Group B plays the first bar of Rudiment 1B twice. Groups switch parts without skipping a beat; make transition seamless. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the second bar twice. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the third bar twice. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the fourth bar twice. Switch parts.
Exercise 3: Rudiment 1 WHOLE
- Do Exercises 1 and 2 right after the other.
Rudiment 5: DoGo
1e-- / ---- / 3e-- / ----
---- / 2e-- / ---- / 4e--
--au / --au / --au / --au
All dogo hits
Exercise 1: Rudiment 5
- Group A plays Groove 1 (de don) twice as Group B plays the first bar of Rudiment 5 twice. Groups switch parts without skipping a beat; make transition seamless.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the second bar twice. Switch parts.
- Group A plays Groove 1 twice as Group B plays the third bar twice. Switch parts.
Exercise 2: Rudiments 1 & 5
- Do the group alternation exercises for Rudiments 1 & 5 right after the other.
Challenge Pattern 1 (Kris)
- 1--- / ---- / ---- / --au
--a- / --a- / 3-a- / --a-
---a- / 2--- / 3eau / 4eau
1-a- / 2-a- / 3-a- / 4-a-
Closing
- class dates
- sweep around drums, set in rows
Homework:
Things to Remember
- Loosen your grip and wrist. Loosening your grip will allow the bachi to "whip" into the taiko, making a clearer, bigger sound. Loosening your wrist will allow the bachi to bounce back away from the taiko, preventing it from accidentally hitting the taiko multiple times.
- Keep your arms extending until the very last moment of a hit. Don't prematurely bring it toward the taiko. You will lose sound and might make your off beat.
- When hitting dogo, keep your shoulders "locked" (the shoulder line somewhat perpendicular to the plane of the taiko's face). Shoulders shouldn't be moving with your arms. The tendency to face the taiko after the R hit will shorten the distance of the subsequent L hit, making the L sound softer than the R.
Teacher(s):
Kris Bergstrom
Attendance:
Alexandre Johnson
Chris Olson
Jeri DeCastro
Leslie Harvey
Naomi Nishi
Nina Ota
Steve Vilicich
Wendy Ito
Kim Masumi
Nathan Wong
Maria Gordon
Barbara Baker
Ariel R
Yeeman Mui
Images:
