Wow

I watch a lot of taiko videos on the internet and it's rare where I see one and finish the whole clip and watch it again, and again. Tonight I found this video:


I really love this version of Matsuri and then the seamless transition into a version of Yodan(?). They're doing some fancy stuff there, and lots of stuff that only looks fancy, but coupled with the energy and projection of the players, it makes for a really fun performance to watch. They've got the arm movements that I've been lamenting over for the past 5 years and you can tell they've really worked on their solos and kata and moves and gelling together as a group. I wish Maze had a song with that kind of youthful energy (but yo, Maze has its own great energy!). I think audiences really react to that style of taiko where you hit loud and hard and shake the dust out of the rafters. And although I'm a little more understated in the kind of energy I project, when I was watching this video I was like, Yeah! This is awesome!

I've never heard of this group before. They're called "Sukeroku Daiko" which, I think is completely different from the infamous Oedu Sukeroku Taiko group who are the innovators and original creators of the slant stand style of playing taiko. If you've ever played taiko on a slant stand, or naname, or Sukeroku stand, it's because of that group. But I don't think this group is that. If anyone has heard of Sukeroku Daiko or knows any of its history, drop me a note. Sukeroku Daiko's website can be found here.

I'm gearing up for new and exciting things. I have a new Introduction to Taiko series starting up next week, as well as the brand new Intermediate Taiko class which is where I hope we can start to develop more as a group, since we won't have to start over every 10 weeks and can concentrate on learning new and exciting songs. My new outlook on practice is starting to have an effect on me. Read Kris Berstrom's wonderful essay, Thoughts on Practice and I'm sure you'd be inspired to practice too, or at least it might give you a fresh perspective from which to reflect on your own thoughts on practice. And now that we've got all those Ghosts and Girls performances under our belts, Maze can look towards the future and start working towards new goals. Not that Ghosts and Girls is just a memory. We have another performance at Rhythmix Cultural Works on August 2nd, although I don't think we have a link for that yet. And KASA/Mix! I'm going to Japan in September! That's only a couple of months away! I'm getting excited. I gotta work out more.