- The Beat Goes On – An article by Wendy Whiteside on the evolution of taiko to its modern day form. References and links.
- Hydaiko – A network site for taiko players. The site serves as a place where people with a new idea can find Taiko players.
- Kumidaiko.com – Provides daily news about Japanese drumming. Offers a forum and a store with taiko-related merchandise.
- Kuni’s HomePage – Information about Hi no Taiko with photographs and audio samples of performances with explanations and terms, a Yoko-bue, the Japanese bamboo flute, tutorial, and links to Taiko sites. [Japanese, English]
- Phil’s Taiko Page – A Taiko artist presents his history, an introduction, lists of various drums, a survey, and links.
- Rolling Thunder – Provides a resource for information about Japanese Taiko drumming. Offers sales of Taiko Drums and instruments.
- Taiko Drums From A Small Planet – Listen to and play taiko, information about the Minnesota based dance and taiko group Sanseiyonseikai, and links.
- Taiko Ring International – Websites that promote the art and history of taiko drumming.
- TaikoInfo.org – Provides a detailed and accurate source of information on the Japanese instruments and related goods of ensemble taiko, or kumidaiko
- Taiko.us – Resources for new groups. Free web sites, public domain music to play and teaching drills to use in classes.
- Emeryville Taiko – San Francisco Bay area group. History, performance and class schedule, photographs, and video.
- Kokoro Taiko Kai – Long Beach, California community group. History, membership information, performance schedule, and photo gallery.
- Portland Taiko – Multiethnic community group, ensemble, and youth group in Oregon. Schedule of workshops and classes, performance and tour schedules, photographs, and reviews.
- Sacramento Taiko Dan – Community based non-profit group. History, performance dates, class and practice schedule, photo gallery, booking information, and links.
- San Francisco Taiko Dojo – Founded in 1968, it is the first Taiko group formed in America. News, history, schedule, Rising Stars youth group, plus taiko history, philosophy, audio, and links.
- San Jose Taiko – California based group. Festival, touring, and workshop calendars, photo galleries, newsletter, conservatory history and programs, and online store.
- Singapore Japanese Cultural Society Suwa Daiko – Introduction to taiko, membership information, and performance schedule. [English/Chinese Big 5]
- Southern California Taiko Community – Brings together many taiko groups to share their experiences and resources, and to grow as a community.
- Stanford Taiko – A collegiate group founded in 1991. Event listing, photographs, members and alumni rosters, history, and links.
- Taiko Center of Los Angeles – A performing and teaching Taiko group with ongoing workshops in the Los Angeles, California area. Information on performances, classes, history, and merchandise.
- Taikoza and East Winds – New York based organization and ensemble. History, instruments, performance schedule, photographs, and video.
- UC Davis Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan – Homepage for UC Davis’s Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan, a student run taiko group.
- UCLA Kyodo Taiko – First North American collegiate group. History, members and alumni rosters, photographs, and links.
- University of Tasmania’s Taiko Society – Class, workshop, and performance schedules, drum making, and links.
- Venice Koshin Taiko Dojo – Teaching and performing Southern California-based community group. History, biographies, upcoming and past performances, photo galleries, practice schedule, and booking information.
- Wadaiko Newark Taiko Group – Wadaiko Newark is a community based performing and teaching Taiko group affiliated with the Newark California Unified School system. Group information and news.
- Zendeko – Nonprofit youth-oriented group based in Los Angeles. Photographs, event schedule, and history.
The word taiko (??) means simply «great drum» in Japanese. Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums (???, ‘wa-daiko’, «Japanese drum», in Japanese) and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming (sometimes called more specifically, «kumi-daiko» (???).
Types of taiko
Display of the manufacturing of a Taiko drumThe nagado-daiko (????, long-body taiko) consists of two pieces of cow hide stretched over a wooden body (traditionally carved from a single piece, now often made from the stays of a barrel) and tacked to high tension. The heads of the tsukeshime-daiko (?????, often shortened to simply, «shime-daiko» or «shime») are stretched over iron rings and sandwiched around a smaller body. The tsukeshime-daiko’s rope is pulled tight before each use. The okedo-daiko (????, barrel-body taiko, often shortened to «okedo» or «oke») can be set on a stand and played like other taiko, but is usually strapped over the shoulder so the drummer can walk and play at the same time. Other Japanese taiko include the uchiwa-daiko (?????fan taiko), hira-daiko (???, flat taiko), o-daiko (???, big taiko), and a host of percussion instruments used in Japan’s traditional noh, gagaku, and kabuki ensembles.
Giant Taiko drum, with a length of 240cm, a maximum diameter of 240cm, and a weight of 3 tons. Made out of a single piece of wood of a 1200 year old treeThe okedo-daiko drums range from small and easy to carry, up to the largest drum of all Japanese drums. Unlike the nagado, this drum can be made in many sizes but NOT in any size due to its stave wooden construction.
The Aomori region is famous for the Nebuta festival where huge okedo are played by many people while carted through the streets. The Okedo has its own betta stand which was invented by Hayashi Eitetsu.
Again, like the nagado-daiko, the okedo has a rim sound, called «ka.» When playing the rim of an okedo, however, it is important to only hit the outermost metal ring and not the actual rim of the drum body. The thin, light wood of the okedo is particularly susceptible to denting and will quickly deteriorate if hit.
Uses of the Taiko in Warfare
In feudal Japan, taiko were often used to motivate troops, to help set a marching pace, and to call out orders or announcements. Approaching or entering a battle, the taiko yaku (drummer) was responsible for setting the marching pace, usually with six paces per beat of the drum (beat-2-3-4-5-6, beat-2-3-4-5-6).
According to one of the historical chronicles (the Gunji Yoshu), nine sets of five beats would summon an ally to battle, while nine sets of three beats, sped up three or four times is the call to advance and pursue an enemy.
Related Terms
Bachi
the wooden sticks used to play taiko drums. (See separate entry for additional details.)
Ji
also called Jiuchi, it is a basic rhythm used to support the main rhythm, or the O-uchi. It can also be described as the meter or feel of a piece (being in a straight duple meter or having a swing feel). Some of the more common rhythms for ji are don doko, don ko, or don go (swing pattern). A Jikata is a performer who plays the ji rhythm.
Ma
a Japanese term for «space», it is used in music to describe a period of silence. In taiko drumming, ma is the period between hits on the drum. It is important to appreciate this silence when playing taiko, just as you would appreciate the sound of a hit on the drum. Since ensemble taiko is focused on rhythm, the ma of a piece is critical to adding drama, excitement, and tension. Ma can be a rhythmic rest, or an extended silence, to be broken at the player’s discretion. If the player concentrates on hearing the ma between each hit, in addition to the hits themselves, he or she will create a much more effective and satisfying sound. A good example of how ma is used is in oroshi.
Oroshi
is characterized by a series of hits on the taiko. The player starts out slowly with lots of ma. Gradually the ma (time) between each hit becomes shorter and shorter, until the drummer is playing a rapid roll of hits.
