TAIKO DRUMMING (grades 3-12)

The word Taiko means simply “great drum” in Japanese.  Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art form of ensemble Taiko drumming.  The focus of this residency is to engage the student in this physically-charged style of drumming.  Each student learns how to play the three basic kinds of Taiko drum, each with its own playing style and rhythms.  The curriculum includes a variety of aspects: learning about Japanese culture and religion; giving students a basic vocabulary of related words in Japanese; promoting an appreciation of the value of other cultures; and, fashioning a Hachimakis, the traditional headband worn by Taiko drummers. Since Taiko is a precision ensemble art form, the class learns to work in a group and in teams.

As part of the curriculum, the class explores the relationship between vibration and sound. Concepts and skills learned include:

• Using percussive instruments and student’s bodies, hands, feet and breath to explore the question “What is music?”

• Understanding the meaning of “orchestration”

• Comparing and contrasting different styles of music-making through listening and performing

• Exploring the relationship between vibration and sound

• Arranging sounds into patterns and performing those patters based on visual cues

• Creating a score

• Establishing procedures for working with instruments, applying the concepts of following a conductor to instrumental performance

Students will compose and perform pieces containing 2 instruments and different tempos.

The program usually ends with a shared performance.

Since we use a variety of recycled cans, bottles and plastic drums alongside our bought instruments, the students get an exposure to practical materials recycling.