Taiko Drum Class (Week 1)

　念願のカオル・ワタナベ先生の和太鼓クラスを取ってきました。私、本当にまだ音大生だった頃から太鼓グループ『鼓童』の大大大ファンでございまして、鼓童の元メンバーであるカオルさんから和太鼓を習いたいとずっと思っておりました。実に２年越しの実現になります。

I took a taiko drum class with sensei Kaoru Watanabe. I have been the biggest fan of Japanese taiko group Kodo ever since when I was a music college student, and I always wanted to learn how to play the taiko drums from Kaoru-san who is an ex-member of Kodo. My dream has been realized at last after two long years.

　このクラスは初心者のための５週間のコースなのですが、それでは１週目の感想をば。

　音がちゃんと鳴らんやないかーい！

　『こ、この太鼓、壊れてるざんす』と、思わずいつものように現実逃避してしまうほど、ちゃんとした音が鳴りません。力任せに叩けば、一発二発は鳴る時もあるのですが、連続で一定になんか絶対に鳴りません。でもカオルさんが叩くとちゃんと鳴ってるんだよなぁ。ムムム、ちょっとヤバいかも。早くちゃんとした打ち方を覚えて、ヒットポイントを安定させないと、先に進まんぞ。

This is the 5-week course for beginners and I have just finished the first one. I have something to say about this.

I CAN'T MAKE A GOOD SOUND!

"M-maybe the taiko is broken?" That was a natural consequence for the simplistic thinking of Ippei the professional escapist. Of course taiko was fine, but when I played it, the sound was missing the bass, in other words, it was just the sound of its skin but the sound did not fully resonate with its wooden body. If I really force it, I get one or two good ones but I have got to get continuously and evenly without forcing it. At the same time, Kaoru-san get good ones all the time. Mmm, am I in trouble? I cannot get too much further with this poor sound. Got to learn the right form and the right hit point quickly.

Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center