Taiko Skin

When to Throw Out Bachi Sticks

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:04:41 PDT

--Photo by Omer van Kloeten

Most of us have the bad habit of using taiko sticks for too long.

If they haven't snapped in half, or got chipped, then why not keep using them, right?

Unfortunately, no!

Check for Cracks

Make sure to regularly check the hitting ends of your sticks for flaking. Look at the end of your drum stick straight on (i.e. point the stick at yourself). You might see some cracks between the grains. If so, it's time for that stick to go.

These cracks are little splits in the wood, and the ends of the splits are surprisingly sharp. This means when you hit a drum with them, you're damaging the skins.

Must They Be Thrown Out?

I know it feels bad throwing out a stick on account of a few tiny cracks. It's tough. But damaged skins are far harder to fix/replace than damaged drum sticks.

If you absolutely don't want to throw away a pair of sticks, then one option you could try, is to cover the cracked ends of the stick with a layer of wax (like candle wax). I've seen this done, but it's only a temporary solution, and it can also lead to wax sticking onto your taiko skin.

Some sticks are just hard to make or replace (like big odaiko sticks, or yatai-bayashi sticks). Again, the best option is to replace them when they start cracking, but if you can't get yourself to do it, the wax option might be a choice here.

Check Regularly!

I rarely used to check my sticks back in the day, and even when I did, I pretended not to see the cracks. Bad idea! I regret it. It can lead to your skins getting scratched, and it can also add to the flaking that occurs in some (not-so-well prepared) skins.

Sticks, unlike the drums, are expendable supplies. Replace them when the time comes- your drums and your drum-playing will be grateful for it.

Here are some other taiko related resources you might find helpful:

Taiko Information:
Taiko Playing Styles
Why are Taiko Drums So Expensive?
How to Play Taiko Drums
5 Ways to Get Better at Taiko
Finding and Learning Taiko Music
Getting in Taiko Playing Shape
Taiko Drums vs Other Percussion

Taiko Building:
Where to Get Taiko Drums
How to Make a Happi Coat
How to Make a Taiko Drum
How to Make Handles on a Taiko Drum
How to Make Shime and Oke Taiko Heads
How to Make Taiko Skin (Drum Heads from Cow Hide
How to Make Practice Taiko Drums
How to Paint a Taiko Drum
How to Make Practice Shime Drums
How to Make Taiko Sticks (Bachi)
How to Make Tire Taiko
How to Raise Money

TaikoSkin Podcast
The TaikoSkin podcast covers a whole range of topics related to taiko- building drums, starting groups, getting performances offers, going to grad school. Just about anything really. Download them in the iTunes store, or find all of the episodes here.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.16- "Starting a Taiko Group 2"

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:00:02 PDT

So you're starting a new taiko group- where do you get your drums? Where do you practice? Where do you find a teacher? And if there aren't any teachers, where can you learn? We offer some tips and resources for anyone considering starting a taiko group, or trying to establish some fresh direction for their new team.

Tip of the Month
Learn some basic music theory. As Isaku explains, it can change the way you hear, perceive and play music, even for taiko players.

Video of the Month
I unfortunately lost track of the video that I mentioned in the episode, so I posted this instead. Why? Because Reggie Watts is a talent and a half. Trust me, this is the best thing you'll see today.

Feedback
Send in your questions and comments to: taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Here are some other taiko related resources you might find helpful:

Taiko Information:
Taiko Playing Styles
Why are Taiko Drums So Expensive?
How to Play Taiko Drums
5 Ways to Get Better at Taiko
Finding and Learning Taiko Music
Getting in Taiko Playing Shape
Taiko Drums vs Other Percussion

Taiko Building:
Where to Get Taiko Drums
How to Make a Happi Coat
How to Make a Taiko Drum
How to Make Handles on a Taiko Drum
How to Make Shime and Oke Taiko Heads
How to Make Taiko Skin (Drum Heads from Cow Hide
How to Make Practice Taiko Drums
How to Paint a Taiko Drum
How to Make Practice Shime Drums
How to Make Taiko Sticks (Bachi)
How to Make Tire Taiko
How to Raise Money

TaikoSkin Podcast
The TaikoSkin podcast covers a whole range of topics related to taiko- building drums, starting groups, getting performances offers, going to grad school. Just about anything really. Download them in the iTunes store, or find all of the episodes here.

As always, take care and keep on drummin'.

How to Make a Happi Coat

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:41:04 PDT

-Photo by d'n'c

Happi are loose-fitting traditional Japanese coats with sleeves that hang past the middle of the forearm. Happi have no buttons or zippers, so it’s secured around the waist with a belt known as an obi.

Happi were traditionally worn by samurai, and later by craftsman, workers and fire fighters. They often have symbols or kanji on the back representing the name of the organization or family of the wearer.

In modern times, happi are most commonly worn during festivities, special events, and by taiko performers. Taiko players will almost always have their own happi coats, often with the name of their group labeled on the back and along the front rims. This happi-wearing trend of taiko players around the world is believed to have been originally set by the Japanese taiko group, Ondekoza.

If you’re playing taiko or performing traditional Japanese arts, a happi is the perfect thing to wear. In addition to providing a traditional Japanese appearance, its loose fit allows for easy movement, which is a necessity for particularly active performances.

Happi can be bought for a reasonable price, but they’re also very easy to make. All you really need is a very basic understanding of how to use a sewing machine.

A happi consists of three parts, the arms, the body and the collar. Here's how to make one.

1. Cut the following pieces (click for a better view):

2. Fold the ends of the sleeves over two times. Each fold should be 4cm in length. Next, fold the sleeve in half and make a cut across the pink line show below.

3. Next, take the sleeve and place it on top of the torso piece so that the two purple points match. The outer-side of the sleeve should be in contact with the outer-side of the torso (the inner side of each piece should be facing outward).

4. Sew the pieces together leaving about 2-3cm of space at the ends. The sowing line should be about 1cm from the edge.

5. Next fold the sleeve in half and sow the ends together (1cm away from the edge).

6. Fold the open end of the sleeve over 2 times as you did before, and sow that in place too. The folds strengthen and give weight to the ends of the sleeves. Repeat 3-6 with the other sleeve.

7. Once both sleeves are attached, flip the happi inside out, with the sleeves hiding inside of the torso piece. At this point, there should be a small hole in the arm-pit area. Sow that area together. This part is a little tricky and will require a little finagling.

8. The sides of the torso piece are still open at this point. So, sow the open sides together from the armpit all the way down to the bottom of the happi (all the while the happi should be inside out).

9. At this point it should really start looking like a happi. Now that the torso piece is in place, fold the bottom edge of the happi over three times (like you did with the ends of the sleeves), then sow it in place. This strengthens the bottom edge of the happi.

10. We’re almost there! Take the collar piece and fold the two long ends towards the center, and then fold the whole thing over again in half. Iron the whole thing so that the creases stay in place. If you open it up, you should have creases dividing the rim into fourths (see first diagram).

11. Cut a 0.5-1cm slit on the torso piece (see orange mark in diagram). Next, take the rim piece and sandwich 1-2cm of the edge of the torso piece in between. Sow them together.

12. You should have a little rim material left at the bottom of the happi. Fold it over so that it’s flush with the bottom edge of the happi. Sow the fold together.

13. And you’re done! I know it’s a little complicated in words… if you’re not too confident with sowing, or if (in the more likely case) these instructions make little sense, try practicing with paper. Cut out the pieces out of paper, and practice the folds and creases with them. Seeing the pieces for yourself will make it much easier to understand the whole process.

NB:

If you have a general interest in making clothes, I highly recommend Samantha's dress-making site. I made happi a very long time ago, and had to work mostly from memory when writing this post. Fortunately, Samantha's site offered happi instructions and provided a great reference. Many thanks to her. The site is in Japanese but a little google translating should do the job. Check it out.

Please give this post a +1, or share it on Facebook/Twitter if you found it helpful! Feel free to post any questions or comments. If you have some photos of your brand-new happi, let me know- I would love to share it on TaikoSkin.

Here are some other taiko related resources you might find helpful:

Taiko Information:

Taiko Playing Styles

Why are Taiko Drums So Expensive?

How to Play Taiko Drums

5 Ways to Get Better at Taiko

Finding and Learning Taiko Music

Getting in Taiko Playing Shape

Taiko Drums vs Other Percussion

Taiko Building:

Where to Get Taiko Drums

How to Make a Taiko Drum

How to Make Handles on a Taiko Drum

How to Make Shime and Oke Taiko Heads

How to Make Taiko Skin (Drum Heads from Cow Hide

How to Make Practice Taiko Drums

How to Paint a Taiko Drum

How to Make Taiko Bachi (Sticks)

How to Make Taiko Sticks 2

How to Make Tire Taiko Drums

How to Raise Money

TaikoSkin Podcast

The TaikoSkin podcast covers a whole range of topics related to taiko- building drums, starting groups, getting performances offers, going to grad school. Just about anything really. Download them in the iTunes store, or find all of the episodes here.

Podcast Problems Fixed!

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:20:00 PDT

Finally, I believe some of the reported podcast problems should be fixed!

I was informed a while back about an issue with the TaikoSkin Podcast player on the blog. It appears that on some browsers or operating systems, the embedded player plays automatically, which is clearly quite a nuisance, especially when multiple episodes begin playing simultaneously.

My apologies for the irritation this may have been causing anyone.

Things should be OK now- you should be able to find a media player towards the bottom of the shownotes.

Do let me know if you notice any problems.

Earthquake in Japan- One Year Later

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:28:38 PDT

OnlineSchools.org presents Japan One Year Later

Here's a very well-made video from onlineschools.org that depicts the earthquake-ridden areas of Japan, one year later.

In other news, TaikoSkin is back online after a full, around the world trip in March. Thank you all who made it out to any of the shows/workshops in the US/France/China.

For those who didn't hear about it, Ondekoza and a group of some of the best musicians from Japan were joined by folk artists from the Tohoku region for a one month, around-the-world tour in March. The tour was carried out with the support of the Japan Foundation, as a message of gratitude to the people who have helped support Japan throughout the disaster and recovery.

Do check out some of the earlier posts at TaikoSkin for more information about the tour.

(Courtesy of Peter Kim for sending in the video above)

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.15- 'Getting a Musical Education'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:50:52 PDT

If you play a lot of taiko, or any other musical instrument for that matter, you may have considered the possibility of getting a formal education in music. It's a career enhancing move that many musicians take. In this TaikoSkin Podcast, we ask Isaku about his experiences at the Berklee School of Music and his reasons for going there.

We'd love to hear your experiences too. Share them with us at taikoskinpodacast@gmail.com, or leave us a comment below. Likewise, if you have any questions for Isaku about getting a musical education.

Tip of the Month

Make yourself some business cards. It gives you credibility, and makes it far easier for people to contact you- which also means you'll be easier to ask for gigs.

Video of the Month

And here's the link if you need it: Ondekoza (Taiko Drummers of Mt Fuji)

Click play below to hear the podcast, and if you're looking for our back episodes, and all of Joe Small's bits about Kodo, you can find them all at the iTunes link below:

TaikoSkin on iTunes

Ondekoza in Paris

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:16:19 PST

Ondekoza and Musicians are currently in Paris for a free show tomorrow (March 10th) at Le Palais des Congres. See the Ondekoza homepage or Facebook page for more details, and to reserve your free ticket.

Ondekoza at the UN

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:16:39 PST

Ondekoza and Musicians getting ready at the UN General Assembly Hall. The concert will be streaming live today (March 5th) at 7pm US Eastern Time. Here's where you can watch it: http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/

Ondekoza and Musicians in Paris, March 10-11th 2012

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:00:02 PST

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Ondekoza and Musicians on a Worldwide Tour Through March 2012

Paris Shows:

-March 10th at the Palais des congrès de Paris

-March 6th at the Lycée international de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

"The Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on 11 March 2011, brought great damage to a wide area centered on the Tohoku region. News of it flew around the globe in an instant, and feelings of great concern and hands of warm support extended to the affected area from the people of the world from the moments immediately following the earthquake.

In the one year that has passed from the earthquake to the present time, the search for missing persons still continues in the affected areas, and many people are still forced to live in temporary housing, but gradually, even in these difficulties, the signs of certain forward progress are beginning to be seen.

The Japan Foundation introduces the future abundance of the Tohoku region to the international community as well as the charm that is the strength of regional community human bonds, expresses the appreciation of the Japanese people for the warm support received from the world, and at the same time communicates the resolve of Japan toward reconstruction, engaging in cultural affairs activities such as performances, exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, etc., mainly in U.S., France, and China.

Nothing would make us happier than if we are able, through the participation of the artists associated with the Tohoku region and cultural affairs dealing with the theme of Tohoku and disaster recovery, to express the rich abundance of Tohoku and our heartfelt appreciation to the people of the world."

Ondekoza and Musicians in New York, March 5-6th 2012

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:00:00 PST

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Ondekoza and Musicians on a Worldwide Tour Through March 2012

New York shows:

-March 5th at the UN Assembly Hall in the UN Headquarters

-March 6th at the Lincoln Center (Rose Hall)

On the first anniversary of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami, a worldwide series of free concerts has been dispatched to convey the Japanese people's sincere gratitude to the global community for its tremendous outpouring of support. On Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 PM, The Japan Foundation will present "Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World," at Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center on Broadway at 60th Street New York City. The event features noted musicians from Japan of various genres, including artists from Tōhoku, the region most greatly impacted by the disaster.

The Japan Foundation is the organizer of this New York concert and the entire worldwide tour. The aim of the concerts is to show that Japan is steadily heading towards recovery with a new "Kizuna" - bonds of friendship - with the international community. The Japan Foundation writes, "We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the global community for their tremendous support....Through this project, we wish to convey a message from the citizens in the affected areas to the international community about how important and encouraging it is for those in difficulty to receive signs of solidarity from the unknown global community. At the same time we wish to show that we also stand by many other disaster victims and refugees around the world, thus sharing a heartfelt prayer for peace among all peoples."

Tickets can be requested here:
http://gratitude-concert-march6.org/

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.14- 'Starting a Taiko Group'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:50:24 PDT

Starting a taiko group? Needless to say, it isn't easy, but it's probably not as hard as you think either. We'll be giving a few tips and stories about starting a group over the course of a few episodes. In this first episode, we talk about the importance of finding someone to work with in getting your group going.

We'd love to hear your experiences with your taiko group. Please do share them with us at taikoskinpodacast@gmail.com, or leave us a comment below.

Tip of the Month

Reply to emails! And don't leave it aside for too long. Especially if you're in charge of your taiko groups' account. Your emails can make or break the chance of getting a gig.

Video of the Month

And here's the link if you need it: Amanojaku "Soul Beat" DVD Trailer

For anyone starting/running a taiko group, here's a few links that may help out:

-Getting Taiko Gigs Podcast

-Taiko Networking Podcast

-5 Ways to Get More Performance Offers

Click play below to hear the podcast, and if you're looking for our back episodes, and all of Joe Small's bits about Kodo, you can find them all at the iTunes link below:

TaikoSkin on iTunes

Ondekoza in LA, March 2nd, 2012

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:58:09 PST

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Ondekoza and Musicians on a Worldwide Tour Through March 2012

As an expression of gratitude for the support Japan received, and as a prayer to the victims of the earthquake, Ondekoza will be in Los Angeles on March 2nd for a free concert, along with a renowned cast of musicians from Japan:

-Wakumizu Kagura, a folk performing arts group from the area stricken by the earthquake and tsunami. Kagura is a Shinto musical dance,from ancient Japan thought to be pleasing to the gods.

-Saxophonist Kazutoki Umezu with brass quartet Umezu Chibi Brass
-Ochi Brothers (percussion duo)
-Sizzle Ohtaka (vocals)
-Suguru Ikeda (vocals & Iriomote sanshin, a stringed instrument)
-Yoichi Nozaki (electric piano)
-Yumiko Tanaka (traditional shamisen and vocals)
-Bamboo Orchestra featuring Kimihiro Kitamura

Tickets can be requested here:
http://www.jflalc.org/ac-events-arigato12.html

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:51:35 PDT

Next month (March 2012), Ondekoza will be touring through Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, as an appreciation tour for all of the international aid that has been provided to Japan since the earthquake one year ago.

Concerts are free admission, and feature artists from the Tohoku region, as well as an entire ensemble of various Japanese musicians.

Here are all the finer details:

Great East Japan Earthquake Commemoration Free Concert
OVERCOMING THE DISASTER
GRATITUDE FROM JAPAN TO THE WORLD
Featuring: Tohoku Folk Performance Group, Ondekoza and Musicians

On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami inspired shock and horror among all who saw the unbelievable footage of the disaster. But people all over the world sprung into action immediately, establishing emergency funds, sending relief supplies, and even going to Japan themselves to lend a hand wherever it was needed. The gratitude of the Japanese people for these acts of kindness is immense. With this concert tour, featuring some of Japan’s top performers in several musical genres, the people of Japan hope to be able to express some of their appreciation for the care and assistance of so many people around the globe, to show that the nation is recovering, and that the affected region is rediscovering joy after so much destruction. The tour will take the performers to Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongchin, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong and features some of the best musical artists from the region most greatly impacted by the disaster.

Concerts are Free Admission. Schedule information and links for ticket requests can be found below:

http://www.overcoming-disaster.jp/en/
http://ondekoza.com/aboutus.html

Ondekoza is on a World Tour

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:53:22 PST

OVERCOMING THE DISASTER
GRATITUDE FROM JAPAN TO THE WORLD

Ondekoza is on tour throughout March, along with an entire ensemble of musicians from Japan:

"On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami inspired shock and horror among all who saw the unbelievable footage of the disaster. But people all over the world sprung into action immediately, establishing emergency funds, sending relief supplies, and even going to Japan themselves to lend a hand wherever it was needed. The gratitude of the Japanese people for these acts of kindness is immense. With this concert tour, featuring some of Japan’s top performers in several musical genres, the people of Japan hope to be able to express some of their appreciation for the care and assistance of so many people around the globe, to show that the nation is recovering, and that the affected region is rediscovering joy after so much destruction. The tour will take the performers to Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongchin, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong and features some of the best musical artists from the region most greatly impacted by the disaster."

Admission is free, and tickets are going fast. Dates and details can be found at the Ondekoza homepage.

Here are some extra details for anyone in New York, Los Angeles or Paris:

March 2nd: Los Angeles, Music Center's Ahmanson Theatre, 6:30pm

March 6th: New York, Rose Theater, 7:30pm

March 10th: Paris, Le Palais des Congrès de Paris, 6:30pm

For further information, post a comment below, or send an email to taikoskin@gmail.com

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.13- 'New Year Episode'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:52:11 PDT

Hope everyone has had a great 2012 so far, and that those resolutions are still keeping up. To kick start the new year, we'll be taking a break from our usual format, and instead Isaku and I will be talking about 3 things we learned in 2011, and 3 things we want to work on in 2012. We'd love to hear your new year resolutions too- we know you've got some. Do share them with us- who knows, it might help you keep them for longer!

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Click play below for the podcast, and if you're looking for our back episodes you can find them all at the iTunes link below:

TaikoSkin on iTunes

Once again, best wishes for the new year, and we do hope to hear from you.

Keep on drummin'.

Posters in Cologne

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:48 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Show posters in a tunnel in Cologne, Germany.

How would the SOPA bill affect us?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:52:37 PDT

There's a lot of talk about SOPA and PIPA right now, and frankly, I didn't fully understand it's technicalities and repercussions. This video helps clarify a lot of it. What is the SOPA bill? What's it trying to do, and how does it affect us? A must watch.

Haiti Earthquake Recovery (Compared to Japan)

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:52:59 PDT

--Photo by yamrock83

Saw some interesting photos/article about Haiti's recovery from the earthquake that hit two years ago (can't believe it's already been two years), and it turns out, recovery has hardly progressed at all. And most of us seem to be completely uninformed about it.

The sad truth is, people, including myself, tend to forget about these disasters as time passes. It's a sad truth, and when people are disinterested, and when there's no money in broadcasting it, the media just stops talking about it. Those two factors- disinterest and lack of money- obviously play off of each other, resulting in an utter lack of coverage.

These pictures show just how oblivious I've been to the progress in Haiti, or lack thereof. It's especially a surprise being in Japan and seeing the recovery efforts that are being made here from the earthquake that struck last March. Japan's still got a long way to go, and a lot of issues to work out over many years to come, but the difference, even in just the clean up efforts, is painfully obvious.

For everyone who donated/volunteered, I'm sure the lack of progress in Haiti is of particular concern. Where's all that money gone?

Apparently nowhere useful. Or at least a much better job could be done about spending that money, and sending it where it needs to go. I try not to trust everything I read, but this article certainly warns against blind trust of NGOs and aid agencies.

Runner's Knee Stretches and Exercises

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:53:23 PDT

I've been dealing with some knee pain recently, and have been trying to find ways to do something about it. I found this video, and it's helped a lot, especially those last two stretches.

Knee pain is frustrating. I've always had it, but it went away for a while so I thought it was gone for good. Guess I was wrong. Really regret not knowing about this video earlier, I'm sure it would've helped in preventing the pain. Anyway, decided to share it in the hope it might help anyone with knee pain.

Happy New Year from Taiko Skin

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:34:33 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Tied up Omikuji in Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan.

Omikuji are little fortunes you can get in shrines. People usually get them at the start of the new year, and it tells them how lucky or fortunate they'll be for the year. To help boost luck (or reduce bad luck), people tie the fortunes onto trees or strings in the shrines after they're read.

Did I buy one? Nope. I'd much rather spend the 200 yen on all the delicious looking food in the food stalls that line up around shrines during events like these.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.12- 'Professional Taiko 2"

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:54:01 PDT

What is life like as a professional taiko drummer? What are the necessary skills, and what do you need to be ready for? We talk about some of our personal experiences of drumming as a full-time job.

Our guest, Joe Small also talks about his experiences in the professional taiko group, Kodo. It's an eye-opening talk about what it's really like in the world of an apprentice.

And here's a link to our first TaikoSkin Podcast episode, where we first started talking about professional taiko. Quality's low, but check it out.

Tip of the Month

Learn a different musical instrument, besides taiko. And the earlier you start, the better.

Video of the Month

Stefon Harris talks about how actions are perceived as mistakes only because we don't react to them appropriately.

Feedback

We recently received an email about some problems with the player, specifically when used with Chrome. We're working on a solution, but for now, you can listen to all the episodes from the iTunes store (for free of course):

TaikoSkin on iTunes

We are always looking for your feedback. Do let us know if you've noticed any technical issues, or have general questions/comments about our podcast. You can send them in to taikoskinpocast@gmail.com

Here's the actual podcast:

As always, take care and keep on drummin'.

A Beached Whale

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:06:32 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

A beached whale in Shizuoka, Japan. No, nobody ate it.

Work and Travel

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:54:23 PDT

--Photo by ecstaticist

A lot of us would love a job that lets us travel. The fast pace, the unroutine work, seeing new sights and exploring new places. Getting paid to travel can seem like a great deal. Flight attendants, consultants, journalists- there are countless travelling jobs out there. But anyone with a job like that will tell you, that like with anything, there are pros and cons. Here's a few.

Pros

1. Free travel: You do get to travel, and it is paid for

2. A lot of the perks of travelling: Seeing sights, meeting people, eating different foods and practicing a language

3. Change of pace: It's nice to get out of the usual office routine

4. Gain experience: When you go to a new place, a lot of the usual rules/methods you use don't work. You need to think on the fly and improvise. It helps you learn to think fast, adapt and adjust.

Cons

1. Sleepless and heavy: Poor diet and an erratic sleep schedule. These two alone can mess with your health.

2. Less friend/family time: Traveling can be time consuming, and it eats away at your free time and weekends

3. No time for sightseeing: You could go all the way to Paris, but end up stuck in an office all day, never seeing the sun, much less the Eiffel Tower. You're going for work, so you can't assume you'll have any free time.

4. Ruins your routines: Exercise, hobbies, classes- there's ton of little things we do routinely that we take for granted, even the most erratic of us. All of these are tough to keep up on the road.

5. Stress: There's not much time to relax. Sometimes it feels like you're constantly on your toes, constantly moving or waiting for something. Even the hotels rooms can be cold and unsettling. Sometimes you just want to get home and kick back on your own couch.

With a particularly busy travel job, or one with a short stay, the chance for looking around can be pretty slim. Sometimes you can go to a foreign country, but feel like you never really experienced it at all- that it was no different from a regularly day at the office. The one thing I always try to do on trips like this is to get out and walk around. Even if I only have 30 minutes of free time, I tell myself to get out. Breathing the foreign air, seeing the unfamiliar streets, and interacting with different people- just that can make an enormous difference. It helps me go home feeling like I really did do a little traveling, instead of the usual routine work.

Getting a Ph.D.?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:54:56 PDT

--Illustration by Matt Might

For anyone working on a Ph.D. (or a Masters or a Bachelors for that matter), this simple illustration depicts your world of knowledge, apparently.

Dear grad students, for a little perspective, and also some inspiration (scroll to the very bottom), check out this great post:

The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D.

Taiko Drums Aren't Bongo Drums

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:28:54 PDT

--Photo by Rafael Kage

Having experience in other forms of percussion, be it drum sets, jembe, congos or marching drums, is definitely a plus when playing taiko as you already have a developed sense of rhythm. If you can knock out a beat on a snare, chances are you'll be quick to learn music for taiko.

But beware! No matter how much of a master bongo-ist you might be, and as similar as one type of drum might be to another, they are still different instruments. If learning the proper way to play an instrument is your goal, then you can't directly translate the skills from another instrument. Here's why:

1. Timing's not the same

Traditional taiko rhythms aren't always the 4/4, 3/4 rhythms you're used to hearing in popular music. The same song can go through various changes in time phrases and tempo. Accents on beats you're used to hearing in, for example, rock music, don't apply to most taiko songs. Because there's a snare on the 3rd beat in 4/4 rock rhythm doesn't mean there's an accent in the same place of a taiko piece. Accents are often erratically placed in taiko and their location may have no correlation with those of Western beats.

2. Striking techniques

Wrists snaps are used when playing on a drum set but this will grow to be a bad habit if you try to use them on taiko. Taiko strikes start from the shoulders, not the wrists. And although your experience on a snare may help you play a speedy rhythm on a shime-daiko, it won't look or sound as good without using your whole arm.

There are of course styles that do use wrists snaps in taiko. In fact, there are styles that use similar striking techniques to a variety of other percussion instruments. But be sure to know where the commonalities start, and where they end. They're never exactly the same.

3. More body than arm

Taiko makes use of the whole body more so than any other types of drumming I've experienced. In taiko you may not use your feet to strike a beat as you would on a drum set, but the feet and legs are crucial in supporting the movements of your arms.

An experienced percussionists who tries taiko for the first time will often looked cramped and tense. Their body movements are confined to a small amount of space, and are usually focused on the hands and arms.

Taiko needs the whole body, particularly the legs and core, to maximize energy and regulate sound quality. Good posture, therefore, is essential. You can't get away with any slouching without sacrificing the quality of your sound and movements. Play with your body and you'll play big and look big.

At the end of the day, any drum experience will always be a plus if used appropriately. The key is to know where it is and isn't translatable. Careful attention will help you avoid the very common danger of transfering bad playing habits from other instruments.

Approaching taiko with a clean slate and an open mind is probably the best idea. As with anything, getting the fundamentals right early will set the foundation for excellent playing in the future.

How to Fix Holes and Tears

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:55:32 PDT

--Photo by Gendo Taiko

If your taiko head looks like this, it's over. Stop using it.

This is a picture of a 100% handmade, makeshift shime drum (as you can tell from the flimsiness of the base).

Turned out the skins weren't too strong either, resulting in tears. As you can also see, the skin underwent several surgical procedures to try to bring it back to normal, but with limited success. When a drum head tears, or you get a hole in it, you'll never recover the sound, and you won't be able to tighten it as hard. Hence the need to replace it.

However, there are times when buying/making a brand new head isn't an easy option, and if possible, you want to continue using the torn head. Full recovery is impossible, but you can give it some first-aid care if you want to salvage it.

Here's what you need:

1. Twine (synthetic or natural, stronger the better)

2. Stitching needle (strong one used for leathers)

3. Leather punch

4. Wet towel

With those items, you can stitch your head back together again. Here's how to do it:

1. Using a towel, wet the area that contains the tear. You want to avoid wetting the entire head, focus just on the area around the tear. Wet it until the area becomes soft and flexible. You may need to let the towel sit on the area for a while for it to be sufficiently moist.

2. Using a leather punch with holes that match the width of your needle/twine, punch holes along both sides of the tear. Punch holes so that they are spaced evenly, and no more than 1cm away from each other.

3. Thread the twine into your needle, and begin stitching. Make a nice strong knot on your first stitch to keep the thread in place.

4. While threading, pull the twine tight so that gap of the tear closes. Be careful though- pull too strong and you might cause another tear. If the skin is sufficiently wet, it shouldn't require much strength.

5. After the final hole, tie the twine in such a way that the thread doesn't come loose. I usually tie it tight to one of the previous stitches.

6. Now you're done with the stitching. Let the skin air dry for a few days and you'll be good to go.

And that's it.

Note: You can't use the stitched head for playing any more (it'll mess with the stitches, and it simply won't sound good). Keep the stitched head on the back side (non-playing side). It can't be used for playing anymore, but without it, you can't tighten the shime drum, so it'll still serve a purpose.

Buddhas in Pink and White

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:01:19 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Little Buddha statues in Shodoshima, Japan.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.11- 'Training in Japan'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:55:57 PDT

If money, time and language weren't an issue, I think most taiko players out there would seriously consider an opportunity to train in Japan. But is it really worth it? Or is it just a preconceived notion that going to Japan makes you better? We'll be talking about this and more in this Taiko Skin podcast episode.

We also have Joe Small as a guest once again, to talk about life at Kodo, and the senpai-kohai relationship in Japan.

Tip of the Month

Make a website and get your name out there.

Step 1: Build a website (build one here)
Step 2: Search engine optimization (add your site to a directory)
Step 3: Drive traffic to your site (share your articles)

Video of the Month

Incredible talk and demonstration by deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie.

Feedback

Click play below, or go to iTunes for previous episodes:

TaikoSkin on iTunes

We are always looking for your feedback. Do let us know if you've noticed any technical issues, or have general questions/comments about our podcast. You can send them in to taikoskinpocast@gmail.com

As always, take care and keep on drummin'.

Earthquake in Japan- 9 Months Later

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:56:52 PDT

--Photo by filmmaker in japan

It's been almost 9 months since the 9.0M earthquake hit northern Japan.

Six months ago, when I first visited Ishinomaki in Miyagi, the place was a terrible mess, and there was no seeing when things would be functional again.

Visiting now, here were the changes I noticed:

1. They finally got rid of the majority of the debris. Before, flattened houses, mud, sewage, ships, and unidentifiable rubble were strewn across the entire town. Now the same area looks like an open, dirt field. Some of the foundation of the homes are still visible, but if you visited the place for the first time, without a good look you might not guess that there used to be a town there (Here's a photo of the town before and 3 months after the quake)

2. All people have finally been able to move out of shelters into temporary homes. The town hall in Ayukawa was previously used as an evacuation shelter, but all the people who had lost their homes have moved to temporary housing units that are scattered around the peninsula. Because of the lack of flat land in the Ojika Peninsula, however, they weren't able to gather the units in a consolidated area. You see small housing units spotting various patches of flat land (at higher elevation) around the peninsula.

3. The volunteers were still very much active. The volunteer center in Ayukawa had no electricity or water a few months back, but it looks like they've been finally hooked up. Some of the volunteers we met then were still there- some haven't gone home since days after the earthquake hit.

4. People were out in the town. Small, temporary units have been built in the town that contain stores with food, amenities, mini-restaurants and even a barbershop. Apparently they'd just made it a few days ago. Around the shops, there were local people about and kids playing in the area. I'd say this was the biggest change I noticed- there was nobody to be seen outdoors a few months back.

All in all, there are definitely visible improvements, but many buildings remain half-flattened and abandoned. It seems they're at the stage where they've finally been able to clear most of the rubble. Radiation is still as big of a concern than ever, and without a functional town left, the majority of people have nowhere to go, nowhere to work. The recovery has really only started- it's clear that there's still a very long way to go.

Taxis in Prague

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:26:00 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Red rides for hire in Prague, Czech Republic.

TaikoSkin Update

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:36:00 PST

Recently came back from a trip to Russia and Hokkaido, with a stop at Ayukawa (a small town in Miyagi where Ondekoza went to volunteer back in May).

Keep your heads up for the latest edition of the TaikoSkin podcast (will be out on the 1st). This time we'll be talking about training in Japan, and whether its a good idea or not. We'll also have Joe Small once again, talking about some of his experiences at Kodo.

Airplane Trash

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:57:45 PDT

--Photo by mag3737

There's so much waste that happens, even on a single plane ride. From Tokyo to Moscow, I've used:

-2 forks
-5 spoons
-2 knives
-2 pairs of chopsticks
-2 aluminum plates
-over 10 plastic food containers
-2 cans
-1 plastic bottle
-lots of plastic wraps/bags
-8 napkins
-1 newspaper
-7 paper cups
-4 airline wet wipes
-2 paper tray covers

Multiply that by 300 passengers. Plus all the other waste that I don't even know about. That's a lot of trash for just a 10 hour flight. And there are thousands of flights happening all day everyday. You'd think some of this stuff could be replaced with reusable equivalents.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.10- 'Competition'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:58:26 PDT

We all want to be the best. The best player, the best group. And we compare ourselves to others in order to gauge where we stand. And this leads to competition, sometimes heated, sometimes passive. But is this healthy for the group? Does it lead to players getting better?

And for anyone interested in what life is like at Kodo, we have a guest speaker, Joe Small, talk about his apprenticeship there. Check it out, its worth the listen.

Tip of the Month

Don't be a chameleon, don't be superficial, don't be disconnected, biased or overly formal. And don't over-network. The Harvard Business Review provides an excellent article, and a four-step process to better networking. It isn't about the numbers, it's about having a few, close and important connections in the right place. Here's the link the article (you'll have to register to read it all, but it's well worth it):

http://hbr.org/2011/07/managing-yourself-a-smarter-way-to-network/ar/1

Video of the Month

This guy is awesome. Don't know where it was recorded, or who the drummer is. But it's worth the watch, check it out.

Plus the jump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cXxQ5kQVO0

Click play below to hear this podcast:

TaikoSkin in the iTunes Store

You can find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes (yes, for free, don't worry).

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you're an iTunes user, simply search for TaikoSkin in the iTunes store and you can subscribe to the podcast and download all the episodes. If you don't use iTunes, simply paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player.

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone.

New Look, Yay or Nay?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:50:36 PDT

So I'm giving the new Blogger Dynamic Views a shot (I personally think the timeslide option suits Taiko Skin best). But still not a 100% sold on the whole dynamic thing yet. What do you think?

Setting Sun at the Japan-Tag

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:38:41 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Crowd waiting for our stage at the Japan-Tag (Japan Day) Event in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Japanese Averse to Sex?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:59:06 PDT

--Photo by gruntzooki

The Japan Family Planning Association, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, has published a study that says a third of Japanese men ages 16-19 aren't interested in having sex.

Problem?

Yes.

The exact figures of people "indifferent or averse" to having sex are as follows:

Men ages 16-19: 36%

Women ages 16-19: 59% (!!)

Wow.

Now my surprise comes from a number of factors. First, I just don't think these figures are accurate. The wording of the questions, and issues of the respondents honesty will significantly skew results. Second, as surprising as these figures might be, I'd also like to see the figures for other countries. I think it's unfair to pick on 'indifferent' Japanese men and women without seeing stats for other nations.

That said, these figures are a little worrisome- especially when hearing that the stats for men are up from 19% when the same test was carried out just two years ago.

Why are these numbers a problem? Because Japan, as we all know, is aging like Robin Williams in "Jack". Over 22% of the population is over 65.

Japan boasts an incredible life expectancy average of 81+ years, and I think we should celebrate the healthy diet, lifestyle and medical care (and genetics) that have allowed this to be possible.

However, the daunting reality, put simply, is that there aren't enough young people to support this many senior citizens. The problem isn't that there are too many old people (they need to be applauded). The issue is that the country isn't having enough kids.

What counteracts low fertility rates? One way would be higher immigration rates. But Japan has been traditionally averse to offering citizenship.

But I don't want to get into the politics and economics in this post. Here's a few points that need to be thought about in relation to Japan's lack of libido:

Statistics (and empirical observation) show that young Japanese men have become increasingly effeminate in recent years- like 'looze-socks', 'tamagotchi' and now 'male stockings', having female-like traits is almost like a pop-culture boom

Sex education is carried out at a later age, and isn't as developed as in Western schools

There is an enormous (second in the world) and easily accessible sex market in Japan (prostitution is technically illegal, but it happens, and there are an enormous number of sex related services and products- you could make a catalog on it)

How do these all relate? In some way or another. What do you think?

Ondekoza.com is Back

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:27:29 PDT

Ondekoza's homepage was down for a bit.. but it's back with updated news, check it out:

http://www.ondekoza.com

Taiko Skin News

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:42:19 PDT

Thank you for checking in, and thank you for all the emails despite the utter lack of recent posts.

Ondekoza in Europe

Taiko Skin is off to Europe for a bit, hence the lack of posts may continue for a while longer. Along with the musicians of Music & Rhythms, Ondekoza will be participating in workshops and concerts in Prague and Germany. Check out their website for more details.

Competition Between Members and Groups

Do keep your heads up for the next Taiko Skin podcast episode about competition. Competition between members in the a group, and competition between different groups- good or bad?

And for anyone curious about what life is like at groups like Ondekoza and Kodo, we'll be touching upon that as well. You can look forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Joe Small, who'll talk a little about his apprenticeship at Kodo in the next episode.

To listen to the TaikoSkin Podcast on your iPod, in your car, your home or wherever your choose, simply search 'TaikoSkin' in the iTunes store, or follow this link:

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you don't use iTunes, simply copy and paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player:

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Want to promote your music or your taiko group?

Then let me know, and for starters, I'll have it introduced here on Taiko Skin. A quick bio about your piece or your group, and maybe a pic or a video, and I'll have the post up as soon as I can.

If you'd like to get more listeners for your music, we would be happy to play it during the podcasts as well. It's a great way to get people to actually listen to your music, and we'll obviously introduce you and your piece during the episode.

All that and anything else (except spam) can be sent to:

taikoskin@gmail.com

Stay safe and keep on drummin' everyone.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.9- 'Group Hierarchies and Culture'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:59:50 PDT

In this edition, we're taking a look at taiko group culture- the 'atmospheres' and 'funiki' of a group. Some are more 'Japanese' than others, but what does that mean? We talk about the seemingly arcane social hierarchies that exist in Japan, and how these are reflected in a place like a taiko group. Isaku and I talk about our personal experiences in taiko groups, and the senpai/kohai relationships that have existed there.

Tip of the Month

Want to get better? Then take a video of yourself practicing and playing. We've all done it, but we tend to get lazy about it sometimes. In many ways it can be better than a mirror. If you find yourself in a rut, it might just be the key to get you over the hurdle. And an extra tip from Isaku... don't get a camera with a hard-disk- all that drumming can shake your camera to death.

Video of the Month

Here is some incredible drumming from Neal Smith, jazz drummer and professor at the Berklee School of Music. Watch Prof. Smith as he 'solos in the context of the tune' in this video of the 'Cup Bearers':

And the link if you need it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pY_mO4_kjw&feature=youtu.be

Here's this months TaikoSkin episode:

TaikoSkin in the iTunes Store

You can find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes (yes, for free, don't worry).

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone.

Bundles in Bangalore

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:27:33 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Flower power at the City Market. Bangalore, India.

TaikoSkin Update

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:35:18 PDT

TaikoSkin is off to India for a bit, before a busy week to finish off the month. Keep an eye out for our next TaikoSkin Podcast episode about taiko group cultures and the dreaded 'jo-ge kankei' or hierarchical system in Japan.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.8- 'Japan vs USA'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:00:36 PDT

Taiko in Japan? Taiko in the US? What's the difference? Is taiko in Japan as strict as they say? Isaku and I talk about how taiko groups in the two countries approach taiko. They're pretty different, and if you're going from one to the other, it might be a good idea to know what you're in for. We also give a few suggestions on how to avoid being too rude when you first meet another group.

Tip of the Month

Want to promote yourself? Make a 'Promo Box' to make your life easier. Here's the link on how to do that:

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2009/07/promo-box-on-your-desktop/

Video of the Month *(I know I said 'Video of the Week' in the episode.. sorry!)

Here's On Ensemble with their piece, 'After Rain'. Great vid, fun listen, check it out:

Here's the link if you need it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiqBIuM-1DI

Here's this month's podcast:

TaikoSkin in the iTunes Store

You can find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes (yes, for free, don't worry).

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone.

Running Up Mt Fuji (again)

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:01:15 PDT

--photo by Hyougushi

Ondekoza is doing their annual run up Mt Fuji and I'll be taking part again (fearfully). The mountain itself is 3776m (12,389ft) high, and the run starts at 0m altitude, from the beach.

The total running distance is about 50km from the ocean to the Fifth station (about 2300m elevation). From there we hike the rest of the way up. No flat stretches, no downhills...just uphill and nothing else for the entire run. And yes, it hurts.

Run starts tomorrow morning. Masochist? Then sign yourself up.

Why Not to Multitask

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:01:48 PDT

--Photo by fragmented

As you're reading this now, you're probably doing so while multitasking. There's a good chance you've got some music playing, a couple other tabs open in your browser, and maybe you've got a bite and a beverage in hand. If worse, you have your iphone next to your mouse flashing you tweets and ringing bells as the texts flow in. You've got the TV running commercials in the back, a friend talking to you from across the room, all while you're petting your pet, having a smoke, doodling, checking sticky notes and looking for another 'important' tab to open despite being aware of its purely procrastinatory purpose.

Or maybe, maybe, you really are just reading this post.

If you are, you have my admiration (and thanks too, of course), because as a recovering multitaskoholic, this business of doing one thing at a time is like remembering how to be genuinely entertained by bugs and slimy things (how did we ever do that?). Back in those days when climbing a tree was fun, or sleeping in a tent, or staring at a cat. Yes, sure, those things can still be fun- but only if my phone has full bars and there's a local wi-fi connection.

We imagine ourselves to be better informed, more effective and productive when we're multitasking. But the hype is that multitasking is a myth. That we can't really multitask. Or that we can but it ends up being less efficient. There's all kinds of 'scientific' research about it- just google 'multitasking' and half the hits are about how ineffective it is.

The fact of the matter is, there's a definite benefit to focusing on one task and getting it done. Think about the times when you really are focused at one task. It just feels better. You think deeper, have better ideas, and are probably more creative.

So I've been making an active effort to reduce my 'multitasking', or perhaps more accurately, my habit of continuous partial attention. It's pain-staking and withdrawal-gnawing at first, but what I'm finding is that there really are genuine benefits. For example:

1. I'm enjoying music again. Instead of listening to music as BGM to another task, just listening to music- and really doing nothing else- has been a pleasant reminder to why I liked it in the first place (it's also been a great way to rediscover -and delete- some of the awful stuff that's piled up in my music library).

2. Reading is fun. Reading without the distractions of music, laptops and phones, makes the book a heck of a lot more interesting. I remember more of what I read, and I'm also realizing just how much I've been casually skimming through in the past.

3. I'm getting work done quicker. Making sticks is a part of my peculiar job description. I'm still no good at it, but I'm banging out a whole lot more when my phone/ipod are out of sight.

4. There are fewer conversations that drag. This one obviously depends on the company (as we aren't all bouncy conversationalists, for better or worse), but the one commonality of any stimulating conversation, is that participants don't have their touch-screens out.

5. I bump into interesting things and people more often. This has probably been the biggest plus. I get to travel a bit on the job, and when I'm offline and disconnected (phone-wise), I just notice things more. I take better photos. Scenery I've taken for granted, scenery that's changed, new shops, old shops, shops that are gone. Likewise with people. Gadgets gone, and the strangers in the room start talking. And all the extra noticing of things that happens, often and surprisingly ends up being great conversation starters with those strangers.

That's my take on it. I don't expect myself to be 100% monotask-able (I will sadly admit I've opened three new tabs since the start of writing this post). But I can say with confidence that at the very least making a conscious effort to cut down has its perks.

Taiko Skin News

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:01:00 PDT

As always, big thanks to everyone who's been checking in, despite the recent lack of posts. Here are some updates:

Taiko Skin in August

How are things looking for August? Busy. Probably busier than July, which was spent mostly in some mountains in Saitama and on an island in Shikoku. But, sorry, who's not busy, right? I'll stop whining now.

That said, I will unfortunately be absent for almost the entire month of August, and in a place without reliable internet (again, mountains in Saitama). Hopefully all the practicing will amount to something.

Taiko Skin Podcast

In more productive news, Isaku and I will continue to dish out episodes, to be published on the first of each month. You can expect some changes over the course of the next few episodes (they'll be good changes), so do check them out.

To listen to the TaikoSkin Podcast on your iPod, in your car, your home or wherever your choose, simply search 'TaikoSkin' in the iTunes store, or follow this link:

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you don't use iTunes, simply copy and paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player:

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them in and we will answer them in the next episode (unless of course you want to keep it private, in which case we'll just email you back). You can send in all your questions, comments, complaints, hate mail, love mail to the following address:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Want to promote your music or your taiko group?

Stay safe and keep on drummin' everyone.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.7- 'Taiko Compositions'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:02:39 PDT

There are plenty of taiko pieces out there, some old, some new. While some have been around for a while and have lasting appeal, other innovative pieces are constantly being composed. In this edition of the TaikoSkin Podcast, we talk about compositions- how to listen to them, and how to create your own. Also some tips on how to deal with copyright issues.

Here's the episode on taiko compositions:

TaikoSkin on iTunes

You can now find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so you can simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes.

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you don't use iTunes, simply paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player.

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

And check out Isaku's new album "IK" on his website: isakukageyama.com

Love for the Kingdom

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:46:48 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Love for the King, Love for the Kingdom... in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PS Can someone translate?

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.6- 'Auditions'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:03:06 PDT

Auditions can be fun, but they're usually a pretty nerve-racking process for everyone involved. Are they even necessary? When should your group have auditions? And how should the auditions be carried out? In this episode of the TaikoSkin Podcast, we talk about the pros and cons of auditions, and ways in which they can be carried out- plus some tips on how to pass an audition.

Here's the episode:

If you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

And check out Isaku's new album here (free track!): isakukageyama.com

Towers in Dubai

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:04:04 PDT

-Photo by Raiki Machida

Like a lot of buildings here, apparently under construction.

Kibou no Mai by Yakudo and Friends

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:24:50 PDT

Here's a great video created and performed by the members of Yakudo in Toronto, dedicated to all those affected by the disasters in Japan.

Taiko Skin

When to Throw Out Bachi Sticks

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.16- "Starting a Taiko Group 2"

How to Make a Happi Coat

Podcast Problems Fixed!

Earthquake in Japan- One Year Later

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.15- 'Getting a Musical Education'

Ondekoza in Paris

Ondekoza at the UN

Ondekoza and Musicians in Paris, March 10-11th 2012

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Ondekoza and Musicians on a Worldwide Tour Through March 2012

Paris Shows:

-March 10th at the Palais des congrès de Paris

-March 6th at the Lycée international de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Ondekoza and Musicians in New York, March 5-6th 2012

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Ondekoza and Musicians on a Worldwide Tour Through March 2012

New York shows:

-March 5th at the UN Assembly Hall in the UN Headquarters

-March 6th at the Lincoln Center (Rose Hall)

Tickets can be requested here: http://gratitude-concert-march6.org/

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.14- 'Starting a Taiko Group'

Ondekoza in LA, March 2nd, 2012

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Ondekoza and Musicians on a Worldwide Tour Through March 2012

Overcoming the Disaster: Gratitude from Japan to the World

Concerts are free admission, and feature artists from the Tohoku region, as well as an entire ensemble of various Japanese musicians.

Ondekoza is on a World Tour

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.13- 'New Year Episode'

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Tickets can be requested here:
http://gratitude-concert-march6.org/