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Opening question: What is your favourite household or kitchen gadget?

Doing a bit of review on kiai and adding it to our various activities, I promised the class I would add a “Kiai Starter Pack.” Here’s some that I typically would teach students, but as we mentioned in class, you can really say just about anything. Kiai expresses energy from your body and to share that energy is kind of like an amazing gift. It also gives us energy to do it. In taiko, it typically follows on Japanese syllables, especially ending with “ah” or “oh” as those are easy to say.

3 Types of Striking - X-Form

I recorded this video of the three types of striking as a variation that you can practice. Some of you might find this easier than lifting your arms straight up. During class we talked about keeping your rectangle open and how that might help. In X-Form, it also helps to shift a little bit more from side to side using the lower body.

Sore Samba Call and Response

Franco led us through the beginning of Sore Samba - the call and response. Here are two practice videos. Also, here again the PRACTICE AUDIO TRACK.

Happy Practicing!

REMINDERS:

We are taking a break from class on December 29th.
Payment for classes should be made here: https://www.paypal.me/sanjosetaiko OR by check made out to San Jose Taiko, 565 N. 5th Street, San Jose CA 95112 (please mark the check PRC). The fee is $10 drop-in or $36/month. Please mark on your payment what dates the payment is for. This will help greatly in reconciling payments.
Bachi can be purchased to be mailed for $10 a pair.
Our friends in southern California are also running a taiko class for Parkinson’s called “Rhythmic Flow Taiko” on Sundays. Please check their website for more info.
At any time, feel free to email yurika@taiko.org for questions!