Home again, home again, one two three.

It's been a while, but now feels like the perfect time to pick up the blogging reins again.
The good people of Wai Taiko have just returned from our three-week trip to Japan, to celebrate the group's ten-year anniversary! (We went to Japan to celebrate. Coming back was not the bit to get excited about. Just thought I'd clear that up.)

Japan was amazing. And hot. And inspiring. And enlightening. But mostly hot. Really, really hot.

For most of us, it was our first visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, but there was no time for culture shock. We were essentially thrown in the deep end and told to swim or sit on the bottom and sulk, so we broke out the doggy paddle and didn't stop. Three weeks continuously on the go: drumming, walking, workshopping, performing, watching other people performing, eating, sleeping, travelling, dying of heatstroke... it was full on. Culture shock is for the weak.

Speaking for myself, I returned to New Zealand completely amped about taiko and my place in that worldwide puzzle. The people we met and drummed with were so awesome, and every workshop I did fair set my head alight. I felt no urge to put the fire out either, as unhealthy as that sounds. Let's hear it for wobbly metaphors.

Now, back in New Zealand, I can't stop thinking about it. I want to improve on my control and speed for shime, my technique on fue, and I want to have a go at writing my own songs. In short, I want to push myself a little further than I have been; I want to improve.

I dearly hope I'm not alone in that.

Last Wednesday's practice - the first night back for me - was really good. We messed around with a few rhythms to begin with and moved on to practicing some of the new bits and pieces we learned on our travels, followed by the resuscitation of a few old pieces. I'm sore now, I must have done good.

The Japan trip is not something I'll forget in a hurry. So many intense, hilarious or otherwise memorable moments, and so much food for thought when it comes to drumming!

Go team. Wai Taiko World Tour 2020?

Let's get the drum roll... rolling?

Hello, hello, and welcome to Wai Taiko Blog!
This will predominantly be the ramblings of a junior member of Wai Taiko (that's me!), but I'd like to convince other members to write to it as well, so it'll hopefully become something of a group project.

First things first, a little introduction is in order. Wai Taiko is a Japanese drumming group based in the mighty Waikato, specifically the mighty Waikato Uni. The group was formed in 2000 by our wonderful leaders, Lianne Stephenson and Michelle Miles - who is currently in Japan going to workshops, festivals and all manner of exciting things. We're all so jealous! The group's first drums were made out of wine barrels by Barry Stephenson, who just so happens to be Lianne's multi-talented father.

Highlights over the years include performing at the premiere of The Last Samurai and The Big Day Out.

Anyway, more info on the group and taiko as a whole is on our website, so enough about the past already...

Those of you who can do math will notice that the group is nearing its 10th anniversary, and we have plans to go to Japan mid next year... More on that later.

To jump ship once more on my subject, we held a public workshop last night. We had a good turnout and everyone seemed to pick it up quickly and enjoy themselves, which is the main idea, really.
We went over basic rhythms (doko doko; san doko etc.), stance and strike, then progressed on to swing beats and a bit of minaguchi. Then miyake, which I more or less taught, with some guidance from Lianne, followed by seiryu, always the crowd-pleaser. There was an almighty "AWWW!!" when we finished that one. We warmed down, chatted and went over twirls a little too. Then it was time to put the drums to bed for another night and depart.

Well now it's done. Goodbye for now!

~Iris~