- Stance/Core. [Goal: to feel a good taiko stance while playing.]
- The Hit/Dynamic Arm Movements. [Goals: to learn how to hit properly, relaxed, and to incorporate big arm movements. Students will choreograph a song.]
- Kiai (using our voices to encourage each other). [Goal: to feel more comfortable using our voice while playing.]
- Triplets. [Goal: to learn triplet drills, play the horsebeat ji, and more.]
- Whole-body movement and integration. [Goal: to learn how we can move our whole body while playing.]
- The Ji (back beat). [Goal: to learn basic jis and play them steadily while others are playing a song.]
- Tosses and Twirls. [Goal: to have fun tossing and twirling bachi while maintaining good form and staying on the beat]
- Uchikomi (come to learn what this is about!). [Goal: to feel the power of playing the same thing over and over.]
- Groove Taiko (yes, it’s a thing!). [Goal: to experience the looseness of groove and play some rhythms from Kaoly Asano.]
- Improv. [Goal: to feel better about improvising by starting with just a few beats of your own.]
Big drum lessons are in St. Paul, Minnesota on University Avenue, just east of 280 a few blocks. Just try it: most people love taiko. Drumming is exhilarating, physical, mental, social, and more.
