First Issue FYI
News of the first taiko class at Founder's Church of Religious Science/A Center of Spiritual Living
June 24, 2017
Next Classes:
Saturdays at 10 A.M. sharp (please arrive 10 minutes early), please try not to miss a class. Sensei is teaching us basic drumming and will be adding kata (dance like) moves as we progress....
July 1stJuly 15th
July 22th
July 29th
Article
The Beat Goes On (Circa 2003) Explores the history of taiko and Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka's role in bringing Taiko to America.
I would like to introduce new students of taiko to a bit of valuable local history and a grand master who is still active in his dojo https://www.facebook.com/SFTaiko/ and touring. To my ear the piece we are learning is based on an original warm-up piece that I learned from him back in the mid 90's~Gordon
"Tanaka was born in Tokyo in 1943. Soon after, his family moved to the town of Tatsuno in Nagano Prefecture to avoid the devastation of war. It was there he first encountered matsuri (festival) taiko and its basic beat. “Back then, we didn’t have anything (for entertainment),” he said in Japanese. “So the local matsuri was the biggest event for us.”
“The crowd loved it and it felt great to drum ‘don doko don doko,’” he said. “I was asked to carry the omikoshi (portable Shinto shrine) too, while playing, so it was a little tough but it was a sensational debut.”
He also remembered the crowd’s reaction. “Back then, there were a lot of Issei and a Japanese festival has three main components of sound no matter where you go, the taiko, the flute and the bell. The Issei were really touched by the nostalgia.”
Founding a Dojo
Tanaka said he thought it was a waste not to continue practicing taiko, and started...." continued at the link above....
Things to do:
Practice holding the bachi (drum stick) at home using difference force for light to loud beats...suggest using a metronome for following basic beats which you can download as a cell phone or PC app. Use a phone book or plastic bucket to practice on.... If you want something challenging, look around Youtube for taiko videos for practice/warm-up work. We have bachi for sale ($3) or use 1" x 19" wood dowels.
Read basic taiko knowledge PDF at http://www.janm.org/exhibits/bigdrum/BigDrum_FamilyGuide.pdf
Visit a local annual Obon Festival this July (Japanese food booths, taiko performances at a few venues (check ahead), free entry... see activity page at http://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/p/obon-popular.phpMy preference for a July festival is downtown L.A. here: http://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=33329
OBON is a traditional event to honor and express gratitude to the spirits of our ancestors, those before us who provided us with the gift of life. The Obon Festival is held as a celebration of the return of the spirits of our ancestors. The festival features food, games, farmers market, flower market, tea ceremony demonstrations, traditional Bon Odori Dancing, and various types of entertainment.
