NATC 2025 Phoenix

Description
- A workshop that will focus on various important elements to Kumidaiko, such as listening, grooving, and developing a stronger sense of musical interdependence.
- Exercises will encourage students to channel their internal pulse while executing drill patterns as well as playing interlocking rhythms in an ensemble setting.
- WS focus/concepts: external pulse exercises (clapping and stepping); breaking down swing beat and triplet subdivisions while counting; playing excerpts of interlocking rhythms from Masa's original composition "Tap L'eau"

Prerequisite Knowledge
- Knows how to play swing beat
- Knows the 1eau (1-ee-and-uh) drill, or any familiarity with musical subdivisions / timing drills; (highly recommended, but not required)

The purpose of this workshop is to help participants experience a short taiko-based exercise routine, and have them create exercises they can bring back home. An initial offering of this workshop was shared as the first kaDON live Zoom workshop during the stay-at-home order. This class offers a way to train and learn movement patterns that are commonly used by kumidaiko players in America by breaking it down in a biomechanical format that you can do when you don't have access to a taiko! It’s important to understand that every group plays differently and every body is different, each group’s exercise may look slightly different to reinforce participants’ respective established form.

This is not taiko, but it is a way to give your body the physical movement during times when you’re unable to touch a taiko drum with your group. Exercises are thought out based on my background in athletic training, an allied health profession that works with musculoskeletal injuries. However, this course is not meant to provide healthcare, but with the goal of keeping you healthy.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Towel, shoes to move around in, water, request to inform me about anything that may make this routine difficult. Must be okay with being on the floor or will need to perform modified (not as difficult) exercise.