Atarigane Techniques Course
September 7 - October 26, 2022

Includes:
8 video lessons released weekly
Play-along audio tracks (downloadable)
PDF sheet music (downloadable)
Eien’s detailed individual feedback on submitted videos
All of your questions answered

Registration
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/onlinelessons/atarigane-techniques-course

This course is designed to improve your technique and enhance your musicality on the atarigane. There are 8 video lessons along with downloadable audio tracks to be used as play-along material for effective practicing. You will have the option to record and send weekly videos to Eien to receive personal feedback on each assignment. After submitting payment, you will receive a PDF download link by email. A size 5.0 atarigane and the Marukuma Edo Bayashi shumoku are recommended for this course. However, you can use any atarigane or practice setup you currently have. Please contact Eien if you have any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it suitable for beginners? Yes, the course introduces basic fundamentals from the beginning. No prior atarigane experience is necessary.

2. How long will the lessons be available? The lesson page will be available until November 9. The sheet music and audio tracks are downloadable so it’s recommended to save those files on your computer or device.

3. How do I figure out the size of my atarigane? If you lay it flat like a bowl of soup, the outer diameter of the size 5.0 should be around 13.5cm, and the size 5.5 should be around 15.0cm.

4. Does each lesson remain available to the end of the course? Yes, once the lesson is posted, everything will be available until March 31 or later.

5. What if I don’t have an atarigane or can’t make loud noises in my home? No problem - you can make yourself a practice kane or shumoku. See the photo below for some ideas.

6. Is this the same course from February? Yes, and you are welcomed to take it again.

Atarigane Techniques Course
February 2 - March 23, 2022

Registration closes February 1

Registration
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/onlinelessons/atarigane-techniques-course

Includes:
8 video lessons released weekly
Play-along audio tracks (downloadable)
PDF sheet music (downloadable)
Eien’s detailed individual feedback on submitted videos
All of your questions answered

This course is designed to improve your technique and enhance your musicality on the atarigane. There are 8 video lessons along with downloadable audio tracks to be used as play-along material for effective practicing. You will have the option to record and send weekly videos to Eien to receive personal feedback on each assignment. After submitting payment, you will receive a PDF download link by email. A size 5.0 atarigane and the Marukuma Edo Bayashi shumoku are recommended for this course. However, you can use any atarigane or practice setup you currently have. Please contact Eien if you have any questions: https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/contact

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it suitable for beginners? Yes, the course introduces basic fundamentals from the beginning. No prior atarigane experience is necessary.

2. How long will the lessons be available? The lesson page will be available until March 31 or later. The sheet music and audio tracks are downloadable so it’s recommended to save those files on your computer or device.

3. How do I figure out the size of my atarigane? If you lay it flat like a bowl of soup, the outer diameter of the size 5.0 should be around 13.5cm, and the size 5.5 should be around 15.0cm.

4. Does each lesson remain available to the end of the course? Yes, once the lesson is posted, everything will be available until March 31 or later.

5. What if I don’t have an atarigane or can’t make loud noises in my home? No problem - you can make yourself a practice kane or shumoku. See the photo below for some ideas.

I am very excited to be offering a new course called Atarigane Techniques on my website. It features a hybrid format which combines the convenience of video lessons with the personalized instructor feedback of real-time private lessons. The 8-week course starts on February 2 and each week a new lesson will be available. In addition to the instructional videos, I have created a series of play-along audio tracks specifically designed to improve your atarigane technique in progressive steps. There are also accompanying sheet music PDFs and everything is downloadable for your convenience.

For each lesson, you will have the option of uploading an unlisted video of your practicing, and I will provide detailed feedback on your personalized google doc sheet where you can also ask questions and track your progress. This idea is inspired by my conversations with Yuta Kato of the Los Angeles Taiko Institute who has been using a similar method for online teaching. I have heard good reports from both instructors and students regarding this format and I am looking forward to trying it out for the first time. I still think that a real-time private lesson is the most effective way of learning, but this new format will offer much better results than simply viewing a pre-recorded video lesson. Feel free to ask any questions and please share this information with anyone who might be interested. - Eien

30 Days of Taiko Skills

Donate here:
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/30-days-of-taiko-skills

I am posting one video a day for 30 days where I discuss and demonstrate a different taiko topic each day. Hopefully you can join me and follow along! If you are able, please consider making a financial contribution or help me to spread the word by forwarding this information to your friends. At the end of the 30 days, I will donate 50% of the proceeds to Asano Taiko US in support of Donference, the week-long taiko conference happening at their Torrance facility in December 2021. I have been invited to teach workshops at this event and I'm looking forward to working with the great people there and all of the participants. Any donation amount is very much appreciated. As a special thank you, starting at the $100 level, I am offering a choice of a complimentary online lesson or having me personally sharpen your kitchen knife during the conference. Registration for Donference opens on October 8.

Donference info and registration:
https://www.solatidon.com/home

Blog
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog-archive/

KADON LIVE WORKSHOP - Introduction to Edo Bayashi

More info and registration:
https://kadon.com/kadon-live-introduction-to-edo-bayashi-workshop-with-eien-hunter-ishikawa/

Video about the workshop:
https://youtu.be/3zk16LBrheA

Class Dates
November 30
December 7
December 14
December 21

All 4 classes will be recorded and made available to registered participants until January 21.

This class is an introduction to Edo Bayashi, the traditional festival music of Tokyo. The Edo Bayashi ensemble consists of two shimedaiko, one odaiko, one atarigane, and one shinobue. In this session, we will start with a focus on the shimedaiko part and then branch out to some of the simpler patterns of the odaiko and atarigane. The Wakayama Ryu Edo Bayashi repertoire consists of many pieces and you will learn sections of Yatai and Nageai (Mikoshi Bayashi), two pieces that represent the festive feeling of this music. We will focus on the use of kuchishoga (vocal patterns) to learn the rhythms and to understand the interplay of the different parts. You will also learn about the history and context of Edo Bayashi in relation to Wakayama Shachu, Kyosuke Suzuki sensei, and Tokyo’s famous festival Sanja Matsuri. The workshop material is designed to work for beginners and for people with experience.

More Edo Bayashi info:
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/my-edo-bayashi-year-2018

https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/japan-trip-part-1