Beta Fundamentals

• Memorizing a song can be challenging. Here are some helpful tips

  • Sing the melody-singing means you are hearing the song an additional way. Feel free to sing it whenever- while playing it on the taiko, washing the dishes, running errands, or even right before bed

  • Write it out in your own way- I've given you the kuchishoga but you can always write it in your own "language" to help you memorize it more easily

  • Play the melody on your body- tap it out on your lap, your chest, your shoulders, etc. Physically touching your body with the melody can help get it into your body more.

  • Repeat, repeat, repeat- of course, playing/singing it over and over again will lead to memorizing it. Even if you only review it a couple times a day, that wil help!

BRATs Renshu: Arrangement

• Introduction- the introduction will be simpler than what is written in the kuchishoga document

  • We will start the song with a simpler 16 doko count (like in the video)

• Refer to the video and kuchishoga to the right to practice the arrangement

• The arrangement is as follows:

  • 1st time- Trisha (Side A), Students (Side B)

  • 2nd time- Side A (Black), Side B (Pink) 

  • 3rd time- Everyone plays together; Last two lines are split side A & B with ending together

  • Anything in Red is played together

  • Arrangement begins after 16 dokos

Beta Fundamentals

• Playing with a ji can help you stay on beat and at a consistent speed

• Use this metronome (or use your own) to practice playing with a ji

  • Set time signature to 1/4

  • Set speed to 208 (this is the speed we are aiming to perform at)

  • Every 2 beats is like a doko

• If 208 is too fast, reduce the speed then increase the speed once you feel comfortable

Beta Fundamentals

• Breakdown of basic Don

  • Lift arms straight up to the sky

  • Bend elbows pointing them at the taiko

  • Keep a loose grip. Bachi should naturally bend back towards you

  • Snap wrist forward to hit taiko

• Practice each move separately then in one fluid movement

Beta Fundamentals

• Practice drill

  • Large- Don Hup! Kon Hup! 4x

  • Medium- Doko 8x

  • Small- Tsuku Tsuku 8x

• Practice playing these hits in this order

  • Large, medium, small, medium, large, etc.

• Remember to keep a loose grip and only tighten to catch the bachi as it bounces off the taiko then immediately loosen your grip again

BRATs Renshu: Lines 1-5

• Refer to video for the first 5 lines

  1. Don Kon Don Kon Doko Hup! Doko

  2. Don Kon Don Kon Doko Kara Don Kon

     • Repeat lines 1 and 2

  3. Su Don Su Kon Su Don Kon

  4. Su Doko Su Doko Do Kon Ko Don

  5. Doko Doko (Doko Doko) Doko Doko (Doko Doko)

Beta Fundamentals

• Tips on different types of taiko hits

  • Small hit (tsuku)- wiggle your wrists

  • Medium hit (doko)- bend your elbows

  • Large hit (Don Kon)- Lift arms with shoulders 

BRATs Renshu: Lines 1-4

• Refer to video for the first 4 lines

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Hup! Doko

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Kara Don Kon

  • Repeat lines 1 and 2

  • Su Don Su Kon Su Don Kon

  • Su Kodo Su Doko Do Kon Ko Don

Beta Fundamentals

• Stance

  • Wide, relaxed stance with toes facing forward

  • Hara (your center or hips) face the taiko 

  • Knees are slightly bent, not locked

• Bachi position

  • Arms are straight and relaxed. Do not lock your elbows

  • Tips of bachi are pointing towards the center of the taiko, forming a "V."

  • Use your ring and pinkie fingers to control your bachi. The rest of your fingers should be loosely wrapped around the bachi

• Stroke

  • Keep a loose grip

  • Grip only tightens when bachi bounces back after striking drum and then relax

  • Use the momentum of the bachi! Practice inhaling when lifting your bachi up then exhaling when you drop your arm

• Lead with your elbow

Song Learning: Kuchishoga

• Taiko traditionally learned through kuchishoga ("kuchi" means mouth, "shoga" means song) or singing the lines

• Each word means a different kind of hit

  • Don Kon- loud right then left

  • Doko- medium right then left

  • Tsuku- soft right then left

  • Ka Ra- rim right then left

  • Su- space

  • Hup! Sore!- kiai, vocalization

BRATs Renshu: Lines 1-4

• Refer to video for the first 4 lines

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Hup! Doko

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Kara Don Kon

  • Repeat lines 1 and 2

  • Su Don Su Kon Su Don Kon

  • Su Kodo Su Doko Do Kon Ko Don