Beta Fundamentals

• Remember--you can always use kuchishoga while you're playing taiko!

  • Not only is it a great way to learn a song, but it also can help you with timing if there are times in the song you are not playing

  • Sing the whole song, even the parts you're not playing to help you stay on beat

BRATs Renshu Lines 1-8

• Mistakes are welcomed and encouraged!

  • If you get lost while playing or make a mistake, aim for playing the last don of a line with everyone to get back on track

BRATs Renshu Lines 1-5

• Blue = Side A; Pink = Side B

• Play the side you are and sing the other side

  • E.g. If you are Side A, play Side A and sing Side B

BRATs Renshu Lines 3-5

• Kara Ka Ka Kara Ka Ka Do Kon Ko Don

• Kara Ka Ka Kara Ka Ka Doko Kara Don

• Doko 8x

  • Start soft (aka tsuku) then gradually get louder

• Blue = Side A; Pink = Side B

• Practice each line separately the in order

• Play along with the practice video if you want to practice with a group

Beta Fundamentals

• Large hits (Don Kon)- 

  • Lift from shoulders

  • Inhale when you lift your arm up, exhale when you drop your arm down

  • Remember to take advantage of gravity!

• Medium hits (Doko)- 

  • Bend your elbows

  • Flick your wrists towards the taiko

• Small hits (Tsuku)- 

  • Keep a loose grip with bachi just above the surface of the taiko

  •  Lightly wiggle your bachi

  • Remember, less is more with this hit

BRATs Renshu Lines 1-2

• Don Kon Doko Doko Don Tsu Kon Tsu Don

• Don Kon Doko Doko Don Kon Don Hai!

• Practice each line separately the in order

• Play along with the practice video if you want to practice with a group

  • Please note: there is an intro of Doko 8x

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- loud right 

  • Kon- loud left

  • Doko- medium right then left

  • Tsuku- soft right then left

  • Ka Ra- rim right then left

  • Su- space

  • Hup! Sore!- kiai, vocalization

Taiko Drill

• Don Kon- with bachi pointing forward, lift arm straight up in the air until bachi points to the sky

• Doko- bend elbows and flick wrist towards taiko

• Tsuku- wiggle your wrists so the bachi gently hit the taiko

• Practice playing different types of hits using the following drill

  • Don Kon 8x

  • Doko 8x

  • Tsuku 16x

• Start with loud, then medium, then soft hits; work you way back up to loud, etc.