Playing Japanese Wadaiko/Taiko Drums

In July 2017, I had the privilege of going to Tsukuba, Japan for the 15th World Congress (my first time!) and attending a workshop on traditional Japanese drumming. The workshop was led by an association from the city of Nara that worked with people with a mental disability and teaching them how to drum and perform. They found that drumming can increase eye hand coordination and synchronisation, improve social interaction, increase one's confidence, expression and communication via eye contact, rhythm and shouting!

The Wadaiko drum or taiko drum is a traditional Japanese drum, often used to perform during festivals and other ceremonies and events. It has a very powerful reverberating sound, when played with two large drum sticks. It sounds big and can be very deep and loud like thunder. It's not simply a matter of just hitting the drum and playing in rhythm. It requires a certain posture.

To play, you must engage your whole body, head up to the ceiling first (the sun), feet steady on the ground, with legs slightly apart and crouched if playing the big drum standing up and then with amplified gestures striking the drum to make the sound. It does also require a strong core and arms AND most of all being very present in the moment. For some, it can be a physical workout!!

Here is a sheet of the basic rhythms that I learnt during the workshop, including Don Tsuku, a very popular Wadaiko drum rhythm.

Here is an example of how we can integrate drums with songs like London Bridge and a traditional Japanese song called Itomaki. It was real fun trying to sing in Japanese and striking the Wadaiko drum.

Have you ever played Japanese drums and used them in music therapy? How do you think you can incorporate Wadaiko drumming in music therapy? Please comment and share your experiences.

Musical regards

Christina

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