06 (DW)

Welcome

Notation

See Class 01 for detailed 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 typed #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
"g-" = L hits
"d-" = R hits

Rudiment 1

RUDIMENT 1A

1--- / ---- / ---- / ----
---- / 2--- / ---- / ----
---- / ---- / 3--- / ----
---- / ---- / ---- / 4---
All don (R) hits

RUDIMENT 1B

--a- / ---- / ---- / ----
---- / --a- / ---- / ----
---- / ---- / --a- / ----
---- / ---- / ---- / --a-
All don (R) hits

• Group alternating exercise for whole Rudiment 1.
• The ending position of your hitting arm should be the same as the start.
• Loosely grip the bachi and "catch" it after hits in your thenar webspace. Kind of like dribbling a ball.

RUDIMENT 2 & 3

Rudiment 2

1-a- / 2-a- / 3-a- / 4-a-
do go hits; alternating hands (R-L- / R-L- ...)

RUDIMENT 3

1eau / 2eau / 3eau / 4eau
dogodogo hits; alternating hands (RLRL / RLRL ...)

• Group alternating 4-2-1 exercise: play 4 counts (x2), then 2 counts (x2), then 1 count (x4).
• Even out the pulse/hits.
• Upper body shouldn't be changing. Don't contort the upper body while hitting or alternating from hitting the ji pattern to the groove.

Group alternating exercise: Rudiment 1-3

Rudiment 4 (Lefty) Review

--a- / --a- / --a- / --a-
--a- / --a- / --a- / 4---
go (L) hits on #s. The last hits are godo (LR)

• Shortened drill: Class plays Rudiment 4 together. Class takes turn playing it by themselves. Class plays it together again after the last person.
• Last 2 hits (dogon) gets a little unstable. Anticipate that it is coming and don't be late on the R drawback.
• Bachi tip is in line with your forearm. Don't let it drip behind you when it travels down for a hit.
• Throw the bachi's butt for a hit.
• Path of the bachi is straight until the end when the arm is extended toward the taiko. Convert to a rotation of the bachi for a hit.

Group alternating exercise: Rudiment 1-4 (with shortened drill of Rudiment 4)

RUDIMENT 5

1e-- / ---- / 3e-- / ----
---- / 2e-- / ---- / 4e--
--au / --au / --au / --au
All dogo (RL--) hits

• Group alternating exercise.
• Don't compress the hits.
• Even out the volume of the R and L hits; L needs to be just as loud as R.

DRILL

• Play 2 counts of sixteenth notes (1eau / 2eau / 3eau / 4eau) and 1 counts of the first bar of Rudiment 5 (1e-- / ---- / 3e-- / ----).
• Feel the rhythm of the sixteenth notes while playing Rudiment 5.

Group alternating exercise: Rudiment 1-5 (with shortened drill of Rudiment 4)

Rudiment 6

1a: 1--- / ---- / ---- / --a-
1u: 1--- / ---- / ---- / ---u
Do (R) hits on 1s. Go (L) hits on "a" and "u"

KRIS'S CHALLENGE PATTERN

Group A: 1--- / ---- / ---- / --a-
Group B: 1--- / ---- / ---- / ---u
Group A: 1--- / ---- / ---- / ---u
Group B: 1--- / ---- / ---- / --a-

DRILL 1: COUNTING

• Everyone counts out loud "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &".
• For 4 counts (while still counting), everyone hits only on the "&".
• For the next 4 counts, hit only after the "&" where the "u" would be (1eau).
• Practice the same things, but while only counting the down beats ("1 2 3 4").
• Class takes turn playing it by themselves.

DRILL 2: LOOPING

• While the coach is playing the ji, everyone plays the "1a" bar on a loop.
• While the coach is playing the ji, everyone plays the "1u" bar on a loop.

DRILL 3: ALTERNATING GROUPS

• Group A plays the "1a" bar while Group B plays the ji.
• Group A plays the ji while Group B plays the "1a" bar.
• Group A plays the "1u" bar while Group B plays the ji.
• Group A plays the ji while Group B plays the "1u" bar.

David's Challenge Pattern

1eau / 2-a- / --au / 4-a-
1-a- / 2-a- / 3-a- / 4e--
1e-- / --au / 2e-- / --au
--au / 2--- / --a- / 4---

• Take it one bar at a time; practicing each bar separately.
• Once you get the hang of playing the individual bars, start from the beginning and gradually add on the subsequent bars. Don't add on until you're comfortable playing the previous bars consecutively.
• Play bar 1. Next, play bars 1-2. Once you're comfortable, play bars 1-3. When you get the hang of that, play bars 1-4.
• Class video

Closing

sweep around drums, set in rows