Chad's blog

Hi Edubloggers,

Today I will talk about cases to hold Taiko Drums. Because skins tightened change pitch a lot, you need to keep it in a case to deter it from nature.

Firstly, these cases helps to carry the taiko more easily in safe. Also, it prevents from the damage like scratch. However, storing taiko in a case for a long time is not recommended. It may cause mold on the heads and crack in the body. To avoid such damage, you should take the taiko out of the case and leave it in the fresh air regularly.

-Note: As well as a case, a blanket protects taiko from dusts and scratch. The one thing is that blankets absorb water which is not good for the head, so I don’t recommend it,

Finally, I will talk about how to carry the Taiko.

It normally has 2 iron handles (kan) at each side of the body. Large taiko should be carried by 2-3 people using them. DO NOT DRAG A DRUM ON THE FLOOR!!!! A taiko may damage the head of taiko and rolling a taiko may damage the body. Usually, taiko case has handles and it’s easy to carry a taiko more easily in safe. A torn head is a pain to reskin.

 

Dear Edubloggers,

Today I will talk about how to maintain your Taiko drum. These things cost thousands of dollars and it is a honor to own one made of a hollowed our tree. Artisans spend a lot of time sanding, shining, and skinning the Taiko so here are some tips.

– The Best place to store taiko is well-ventilated and dry place. Moister packs should be put into it to avoid moisture if the taiko is stored in a case. Besides, please be aware of mice and termites. On the other hand, worst place is humid, extremely hot or cold place. Please store it in a cool, dark place to avoid dry Taiko skin

– What if it is wet: First, please wipe the wet taiko with a dry towel, and then, leave it in the shade to dry. If the head is too wet and soft obviously, more time is needed to dry it.

– What if there is mold on the drum?: To remove mold on the taiko head, rub with a small-grit sandpaper (from 800 to 1200).  Never use detergent and bleach, which will shorten the lifespan of the head. Please avoid warm and humid storage not to get mold.

 

GHi people,

Today, I will talk about a few things that Taiko Drummers or broadly all drummers have to suffer. Things range from blisters and self care to actual equipment. You see even though drumming was discovered as early as the Stone Age, there are still a lot of problems.

1. Blisters

One thing that deters us from drumming hard for a duration of time are annoying blisters. If you don’t know the science between blisters, they happen when skin rubs against something causing friction. In order to prevent further irritating the skin, either water or plasma floods underneath the skin to protect it. That is not a problem, but when it breaks or pops it causes pain and stinging since the new skin is exposed. The best thing to do in order to prevent the new skin to peal, is to put a bandaid or tape on it or even before you start playing. Another thing you can do is use exercising gloves since they cover the area that is most sensitive.

2. Transportation of equipment

Another problem is transporting equipment.

-Imagine this, your friend asks you to do a Taiko gig and you have to transport all your equipment.

Now that isn’t a problem if the drums weren’t so heavy. A drum that has a diameter of 1 foot and 3 inches on Taiko Center of Kyoto can weigh about 30 pounds. Now some groups use drums of a bigger diameter, so poor taiko groups.

Some groups use carts to carry their drums, but if it is a long distance from your loading zone, that’s a problem.

3. Finding places to practice

I’ll explain this as easily as I can. Taiko drums are loud! This means that there will always be a person complaining when you play that you are too loud and it is irritating. Something you can do is ask people if you can use their space to practice or instal sound blocking foam which works pretty well.

Stick around for part 2

Hi edubloggers,

 

Welcome back to part two for problem Taiko drummers need to face. Last time we talked about self care, lugging gear around, and it just being so darn loud. Well here are three more ways it can be a pain.

4. Maintenance: I will try to make another post about Taiko drum maintenance later, but because they are made of natural items rather than more synthetic material like typical western drum sets, they will crack, tear, scratch, and the pitch will change because of temperature. You need to find the right time to put a drum in a case. If you leave it in all the time, it will start to grow mold on the skin, but if you leave it out in humid or muggy areas, the skin will get wet and cave in which isn’t good, so it is like caring for a baby; you need to dedicate a lot of time to it.

5. People say it is not a actual art

Another complaint is that because Taiko Pioneer Daiihachi Oguchi created Kumi Daiko with a heavy emphasis on Jazz and Latin American drumming, it makes it feel more Americanized. Since they use the Shime Daiko as like a snare, a Chudaiko as a Tom Tom, and the low tuned Odaiko as bass drums, it is like a melting pot of different cultures.

So the argument is that it isn’t a actual art since it has been mended in many times, it isn’t authentic taiko. My argument however is may not be truly authentic, there are still Taiko pieces from many centuries ago that are still being shared to this day so it isn’t completely lost. Also, it has built such a tightly knit community, making it a way of community.

6. Costly equipment and global warming complaints

A big problem for starting a new Taiko group is buying new drums and  bachi. You can buy artisan material at Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten for a few grand, but people are always on a budget, so you need to start many fundraisers to get good drums which you need to dedicate a lot of time to.

Anyway do you play a instrument? What problems do you have with your instruments? Comment below!

Hi Edubloggers,

Today I am just rewriting a story I submitted for the Mission PAWsible Project, by the Hawaii Humane Society. The mission of the Hawaiian Humane Society is to promote the human-animal bond and the humane treatment of all animals. This story I wrote focuses on the dog slaughtering in Korea and China and how these innocent animals need our help.

The rain felt like bullets on my fur as I ran away from those monsters. My father was fortunate enough to run away, but my mother was beaten with sticks and electrocuted to protect me! I didn’t want to go down the same path my mother did, so my instinct said ‘you have to run’ so I ran like there was no tomorrow. My name is Jong Hyun, and here, I will tell the story on how I learned how to protect myself and the people I love.

 

I did not live a normal life in my first year alive, as I was one of many unfortunate souls born in a dog meat slaughterhouse. They would brutally electrocute us. I lived in filthy, cramped conditions with blood on the floor, and being with dogs who have been snatched from the streets, and in some cases the backyards of their owners’ homes by thieves.

 

So after I escaped what seemed like hell, I was finally free! Shortly after, I was scouring the city for food, only for trash to be thrown at me. Fortunately, someone took me to a humane center. While I was there, I was trained to become a service dog and take care of people.

 

After being at the center for a while, I was assigned someone. She was a elderly woman named Ji Yeong who had difficulty breathing and had heart problems. She also was lonely because her husband passed away and her children were a world away. So not only did I have to provide medical support, but I also had to provide emotional support. I dedicated every second with her, even though she was fragile, she made my life and job worth doing. She would always mention, “your smile makes me fall apart.”

 

 After five years of us bringing joy to each other’s lives, I woke up later that usual because Ji Yeong’s footsteps would wake me up, but to my surprise thought she slept in. I went into her room and I saw her lying on the floor and I knew my life was going to change for the worst. Her skin was cold to the touch and I couldn’t feel her pulse. So I ran out the house and barked like I never have before evoking grumpy neighbors. As soon as they saw Ji Yeong, they called the ambulance. I too was taken away by the humane society probably to nurture another family.

 

 Death doesn’t distinguish people, it just sucks us up like a vacuums with no off switch. Ji Yeong’s funeral was held on a gloomy, rainy day. The experience made me think it was all my fault and that I should’ve heard her collapse but a voice inside told me it was okay and that I needed to move on.

 

 Although change is difficult, the Humane Society transferred me to a different family like the snap of a finger. I promise to put their happiness over mine every single time.