Filtering by: teaching
Feb
1
to Mar 22
teaching

Shimedaiko Techniques online course

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.

View Event →
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

View Event →
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

View Event →
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/

View Event →
Nov
30
to Dec 21
teaching, music

KADON LIVE WORKSHOP - Introduction to Edo Bayashi

KADON LIVE WORKSHOP - Introduction to Edo Bayashi

kadon live promo video photo web.jpg

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

View Event →
Nov
2
to Nov 3
food, teaching

Food Events at Hawaii State Art Museum

IG Carousel 1 jpeg web.jpg

Natto and Knife Sharpening
Hawaii State Art Museum
Honolulu, HI

Natto Demo
November 2, 1:00 - 3:00pm
https://www.shophisam.com/event-details/natto-workshop

Japanese Knife Sharpening Workshops
November 3
10:00am - 12:00pm (Session 1)
https://www.shophisam.com/event-details/japanese-knife-sharpening

1:00 - 3:00pm (Session 2)
https://www.shophisam.com/event-details/japanese-knife-sharpening-by-eien-hunter-ishikawa-session-2

Contact Eien for details

Four knives and two stones square web.jpg
Natto and knife 2 copy.jpg
View Event →
Natto and Knife Sharpening in Chicago
Dec
1
to Dec 2
food, teaching

Natto and Knife Sharpening in Chicago

Eien natto in black apron square web copy.jpg

Japanese Knife Sharpening Workshop
December 1, 2018
10:00am - 12:00pm

Japanese Knife Sharpening Workshop
December 1, 2018
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Natto Demonstration
December 2, 2018
12:00 - 1:00pm

Midwest Buddhist Temple event page:
https://mbtchicago.org/natto-japanese-knife-sharpening/

Contact Eien for more information.

Natto and knife 1 WEB.jpg

Japanese Knife Sharpening
In this workshop, Eien will teach the basics of Japanese knife sharpening on water stones. Japanese knife culture is distinct in several ways - the blade is sharper and thinner, sharpening is done on stones, and all chefs sharpen their own knives to complement to their individual cutting style. With this introduction of a few techniques, everyone will be able to sharpen their own knives and feel the joy of cooking with a sharp blade. More info about Japanese knives is on my blog:
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/interview-jon-broida-knives

Natto Demonstration
Eien will talk about natto, the fascinating, delicious, and nutritious fermented soybeans from Japan. The demo will include samples of fresh natto and offer ideas for traditional and non-traditional preparations. In Japan, natto is highly regarded as a ‘superfood’ with many health benefits including cardiovascular health, brain function, bone and teeth strength, and improved digestive system. Because all natto imported into the United States is frozen, this is a very rare opportunity to taste fresh, organic natto, whether you consider yourself a fan or not yet.

View Event →
Sep
1
to Sep 2
teaching

Tataki Taiko and Shamisen Workshops

Kyle Abbott and Eien Hunter-Ishikawa of Tataki Taiko and Shamisen Workshops

Kyle Abbott and Eien Hunter-Ishikawa of Tataki Taiko and Shamisen Workshops

Tataki Taiko and Shamisen
September 1 & 2, 2018
Mountain View, CA
Instructors:
Kyle Abbott (shamisen)
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa (taiko)
Patrick Oiye (taiko, shamisen)

Tataki registration is open!
http://jundaiko.com/tataki/

On Sept 1st/2nd 2018, Eien Hunter-Ishikawa and Kyle Abbott will be leading a joint workshop for anyone interested in Taiko and Shamisen! More information at: http://jundaiko.com/tataki --Just the Facts-- What: Learn basic/advanced skills for taiko and shamisen (and more!), and learn how to play as a ensemble of percussive and melodic instruments.

TATAKI brings two unique workshops each day in San Jose Japantown! The goal is to work on deeper collaboration between taiko and shamisen players. Kyle and Eien are composing a piece for this intensive, and participants are free to take it with them for their own use after the gathering.

Advanced Level: For regular practitioners of taiko and shamisen seeking to level up their abilities.

Beginner Level: To give regular shamisen and taiko players the opportunity to have fun trying the other instrument! Shamisen players can learn taiko basics, and taiko players can learn shamisen basics.

View Event →
Jun
4
10:00 AM10:00
teaching

Solo Creation Workshop at Asano Taiko US

Workshop: Solo Creation for Taiko
Asano Taiko US (Torrance, CA)
June 4, 2017, 10am - 12:30pm
More info here:
http://taiko.la/event/solo-creation-taiko-workshop-eien-hunter-ishikawa

This workshop will focus on creating solos on taiko. It is designed to help boost confidence by providing effective tools for any soloing scenario. The class will be divided into two parts: 1) working through improvisation exercises and 2) looking at ways to arrange predetermined material. By expanding our range of rhythms, sounds, and dynamics, we will strive to create solos which highlight individual expression. There will also be exercises to help ji players become better accompanists by listening, being flexible, and increasing tempo control. All experience levels are welcomed to participate.

Contact Eien with any questions.

View Event →