Your home taiko setup

Before you can practice taiko in your home you’ll need to create a safe and comfortable place to play. Check out these makeshift setups from the performing members of San Jose Taiko.

You can use a rolled up and taped phone book as a taiko. Many taiko players have and still use this a practice tool.

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Homemade Taiko can be as simple as a cushion or rolled up phone book on a chair. You can also use an exercise ball or appropriately sized stool. If you would like to get crafty, you can tape up a box with a hole cut out of it, an old tire or a 5 gallon bucket. Here’s a tutorial video on how to make the bucket-taiko.

Make sure it’s the right height and angle (or at least close) to help practice your kata and develop good taiko habits.

Homemade bachi (drumsticks) can be rolled up and taped layers of paper or magazines or similarly sized home utensils. You can also purchase 7/8” hardwood dowels, cut them to approximately 16”, and round the ends with sandpaper. Bachi can also be purchased online at Asano Taiko US.

Tips:

Account for the space you’ll need to move around the drum
Be aware of those standing/sitting near you.
Depending on what you’re using as your drum, you may need to find a way to anchor it down so it doesn’t move when you strike it.
Be careful if you’re using a practice drum with hard edges as playing KAs on it may damage your bachi.

We encourage you to experiment and share your discoveries with us. You can email them to us at info@taiko.org or share with us via social media (@sanjosetaiko on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).