Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center (KWTC)

The KWTC, besides teaching weekly classes in Japanese taiko drumming, holds special workshops and events featuring world class guest instructors (see below). The taiko center could not exist without generous support from Kenny Endo, On Ensemble, Lenora Lee, Ariel Sherman, Gerry Senise and Ryushu Taiko in lending us long term their precious taiko. The Taiko Center has many plans to grow in scale and scope in the coming year and needs all the support we can muster.

KWTC is honored to have the Center for Traditional Music and Dance as a fiscal sponsor. If you’d like to make a tax deductible (for US taxpayers) donation, please make a check out to Center for Traditional Dance, indicating the donation is for the Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center and send it to 32 Broadway, Suite 1314 New York, NY 10004 or please use this paypal link:

KAORU WATANABE TAIKO CENTER (KWTC)
Starting in August of 2008, the Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center has been holding classes, workshops, student recitals and other events in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Modern day taiko drumming is both a physical and musical art form – a performer must have a dancer’s grace, an athlete’s stamina and a musician’s rhythm. Students at the KWTC explore multiple ways to develop their physical and spiritual understanding of the art of taiko.

WHERE:
Renate Albertsen-Marton Gallery – The Village@Gureje
886 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11238 (Btw. Pacific and Washington Aves in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn)
C or G to Clinton Washington, or NRQW to Atlantic Ave.
Please call for directions: 718 857 2522

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KWTC general information

Wednesdays
6 to 8 fundamentals class

Sundays
2 to 4 beginners class
4 to 6 fundamentals class
6 to 8 repertoire class

Fee list

KWTC member annual fee $20
first time trial class (for non-members) $20
single class (for member) $30
single class (non member) $35
10 class package adult $250
10 class package children $130
guest workshop fee for members $30
guest workshop for non members $40
1 hr fue private lesson for non members $75*
1 hr fue private lesson for members $70*
t-shirt (adult and children) $15
bachi $10

WHAT GOES ON AT THE KWTC:

• WEEKLY TAIKO CLASSES:
1) Through various exercises and drills, we: heighten our awareness of posture, balance, poise; develop our ability to consciously relax and tense different parts of the body; build endurance and strength in the lower body, especially in the KOSHI (the hips, thighs, and pelvic area); work on independence between the left and right arms and upper and lower body.
2) Occasionally I will teach certain movements from such dances as ShiShi Odori or Oni Kenbai to allow students to explore moving their bodies in distinctly “Japanese” ways: low center of gravity, movement very earth-bound and solid in general.
3) We study traditional festival drumming pieces, some music from the hogaku repertoire, as well as compositions of my own and of colleagues in Kodo. We work on not just the rhythms but on particular movements involved in the pieces, the particular musical devices- the tempo changes, the sudden stops and starts, the stretched beats, visual and rhythmic cues, the shouts, etc that are a vital part of Japanese music.
4) SINGING- We study some traditional songs, such as Kiyari Uta and Hachijo as well as stylizes kakegoe shouts.
5) I EXPLAIN to the best of my limited knowledge, the background of each piece and rhythm: the original context in which they are performed, about the region from which they are from, etc- in order that the students have a better understanding of the meaning and feelings behind the rhythms and pieces.

• WHAT CLASSES ARE OFFERED
The classes are basically divided into “Children’s” “Beginners” and “Intermediate” classes. Regarding “beginners” and “intermediate” the general idea is anyone is allowed to come to any class with the understanding that if they aren’t able to keep up with a certain exercise or not yet familiar with a certain song, they will be asked to sit out and observe until they are up to speed, so that more advanced students are able to push their abilities further.

• HA-PYOUKAI (student recitals), BONENKAI, Summer Solstice Celebration and other events
A few times a year, we host events to foster the community spirit that has evolved at the KWTC and at The Village@Gueje. Students bring food and drinks and have the opportunity to perform for their friends and family. We have had guests performances by such acclaimed musicians as shakuhachi master Marco Lienhard, tap dancer Tamango, saxophonist Eric Person and drummer from the GRAMMY winning band Living Colour Will Calhoun.

• SPECIAL GUEST WORKSHOPS
One of the goals of the KWTC is to bring quality guest instructors to NYC in order to give students the widest possible array of knowledge and insight into the world of taiko. Past instructors have included:

Yoshikazu and Yoko Fujimoto (from Kodo)
Ryouta Kataoka (a blind professional taiko player from Tokyo)
Takumi Kato (All Japan Odaiko champion)
Tetsuro Naito (formerly of Kodo)
Kenny Endo
Shoji Kameda (On Ensemble)
Tamango (tap dancer)

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JAPANESE FLUTE(SHINOBUE) LESSONS

For anyone from children to adults- with or without experience.  I encourage students to develop a nice big sound and rhythmic accuracy through finger and breath control.  I expose students to various fue- Noh Kan, Ryuteki, shinobue, etc and the differences in their playing techniques, with the intention of expanding the range of the student’s expression.  We will explore traditional folks songs as well as original compositions. We will also look at different forms of kuchishoga, a system of singing the fue melodies as means to learn the melodies and phrasing.

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TAIKO DICTIONARY

Ohayo Gozaimasu – literally “good morning” but used among musicians/ dancers/ actors, etc anytime of day to say “hello!”
Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu – literally “I ask you to do well for me”, used when meeting someone for the first time or at the beginning of a rehearsal or lesson.  Can be shortened to just: Yoroshiku or Onegaishimasu.  “Onegai Itashimasu” is also a good way to say it.
Arigatou Gozaimasu- Thank you.
KUCHI SHOUGA （口唱歌）Vocalization of rhythm and melody
Zokin gake zokin = cloth rag  gake- to use:  When you use the cloth to wipe the floor by running on all fours.
Ippatsu Uchi　（１発打ち）- Ippatsu= singe uchi= to hit  – One hit at a time practice
Shoumen Uchi (正面打）- shoumen- the front  -  Facing the drum when you hit
Yoko Uchi （横打ち）- yoko = side   standing parallel to the drum and swinging sideways to hit
Ji Uchi – (地打ち）Ji= earth (base) to play a base beat. Taisou = （体操）exerciseKaoru_Postcard_005