Atarigane Techniques Online Course
Mar
24
to Jun 30

Atarigane Techniques Online Course

  • Portland, Oregon USA (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Atarigane Techniques Online Course
March 24 - June 30, 2025
8 Lessons, 16 Weeks

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

Comments from participants:

“So much helpful personalized feedback. You pointed out a couple of things that I was sort of aware of and just never focused on fixing, like striking off-center and not rotating the shumoku.”

“I loved the variety of the play along tracks - they all had a different feel and that encouraged me to try playing along with different kinds of music.”

“I think each lesson was very thorough, and I really appreciated the individual feedback from the video submissions.”

“It was a fun intro to atarigane playing technique.”

“I really appreciated that I could download the audio files with and without kane.  It really helped me to listen and feel what your solos were and how they fit with the music. I also appreciate the worksheets.”

“I really liked the opportunity to improvise/solo for a significant number of measures.  Establishing basic rhythms for the song & then accompanying the vibraphone -- this is the most comfortable I've ever been for improvising.”

“I liked everything, especially the demo video from two different angles.”

“I liked getting the feedback on the homework.  I also liked playing along with the pre-recorded music.”

Includes:
8 video lessons released every two weeks
Play-along audio tracks (downloadable)
PDF sheet music (downloadable)
Eien’s detailed individual feedback
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 have the option to record and send your homework videos to Eien to receive personal feedback on each assignment. 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.

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Portland Shishimai Kai - Performance, Discussion, & Workshop
May
14
1:00 PM13:00

Portland Shishimai Kai - Performance, Discussion, & Workshop

Portland Shishimai Kai
Performance, Discussion, & Workshop
Headwaters Theatre
55 NE Farragut St. # 9, Portland
May 14, 1:00pm
Free

The Portland Shishimai Kai presents an afternoon of traditional Japanese music and dance from the Wakayama Ryu school, performing:

Edo Bayashi - traditional festival music of Tokyo
Ryomen Odori - double-masked dance
Edo Kotobuki Jishi - traditional celebratory shishimai of Tokyo

After the performance, there will be an explanation of the history, equipment, and significance of these traditional art forms. There will also be an opportunity to learn some of the shishimai movements for anyone interested in trying.

The Portland Shishimai Kai is a group dedicated to performing and teaching the traditional celebratory lion dance of Tokyo, the Edo Kotobuki Jishi. Through ongoing study under Kyosuke Suzuki of Wakayama Shachu, we aim to preserve the history and culture of this shishimai and to bring good luck to businesses, organizations, and everyone who celebrates in the presence of the shishi. Membership is open to anyone interested in helping to raise awareness and deepen appreciation of this art form. This project is supported in part by the Regional Arts & Cultural Council, Oregon Arts Commission, and Water In The Desert. More info here.

Contact Eien for more information

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Mar
31
to Apr 11

Shishimai Tour in Minnesota & New York

  • Portland, Oregon USA (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Shishimai Performance and Workshop Tour

TaikoArts Midwest
March 31 - April 5, 2023
St. Paul, Minnesota
More info:
https://www.taikoartsmidwest.org/classes

Workshop links:
Shishimai
Shimedaiko

Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center
April 5 - 11, 2023
Brooklyn, New York

Contact Eien for more info:
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/contact

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Feb
1
to Mar 22
teaching

Shimedaiko Techniques online course

  • Portland, Oregon USA (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Shimedaiko Techniques
Online Course
February 1 - March 22, 2023
8 Weeks, 8 Lessons
All levels OK
Equipment: practice pad & bachi

Registration:
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/onlinelessons/shimedaiko-techniques

“I learned a lot about shime playing, especially about Edo Bayashi style”

“A lot of information and knowledge about shimedaiko…this course is easy to understand and interesting”
— Participants from 2022 course

This course is designed to improve your shimedaiko playing by providing a solid foundation for small drum technique. Each week, a new lesson will be released including instructional videos, downloadable sheet music, and audio tracks. You are encouraged to submit your practice video for each lesson where I will provide feedback on your individual google spread sheet. The course material is designed to accommodate players of all skill levels to help you learn at your own pace.

The topics include:
Bachi selection
Kuchishoga and notation
Strokes - single, double, triple
Accents and dynamics
Rhythmic vocabulary
Upbeats and syncopation
Ji playing

The main advantages I see for this format are:

1. You can view the material at your convenience, rather than adjusting your schedule to a live session at a predetermined day and time.

2. The individual feedback is much more personal and detailed compared to a typical workshop format.

3. You can view the videos as many times as you like as well as be able to pause, rewind, or jump to the section you want to view.

4. The task of recording yourself is invaluable for your growth. It is also a great motivator to practice the assignments.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is it suitable for beginners? Yes, the course introduces basic fundamentals from the beginning and you can learn at your own pace.

  2. How long will the lessons be available? The lesson page will be available until July 13. The sheet music and audio tracks are downloadable so it’s recommended to save those files on your computer or device.

  3. Do I need a shimedaiko? No, it’s recommended to practice these lessons on a practice pad.

  4. Does each lesson remain available to the end of the course? Yes, once the lesson is posted, everything will be available until July 13.

  5. I can’t make it this time. Will you offer this course again in the future? Yes, probably.

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Sep
7
to Oct 26
teaching, music

Atarigane Techniques Online Course (8 weeks)

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, shumoku, and ideas for practice instruments

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Feb
2
to Mar 23
teaching, music

Atarigane Techniques Course (8 weeks)

"One of the best kane players I know, offering an Atarigane class with personal feedback? This is definitely worth signing up for!”
- Yuta Kato, Los Angeles Taiko Institute

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

Atarigane, shumoku, and ideas for practice instruments

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Oct
2
to Oct 31
teaching, music

30 Days of Taiko Skills

30 Days Taiko photo with text WEB.jpg

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/

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