Koto Performance Video

Here it is, finally. The video of my koto performance at Awagin Hall, including the beginning commentary.

Japanese Koto

I had the opportunity to take Koto lessons for a couple months while living here. I had my last lesson yesterday. I'm so grateful to have had the teacher I did. She was absolutely wonderful, lending me a koto to practice on, teaching me for free, giving me the chance to perform in front of a crowd, and giving me so much free music.

So in just a couple months, I went from playing "Sakura" the first song one learns on a koto, to this song "Fuji" which is a representation of Mount Fuji. I really enjoyed learning so much on the koto. I had Jacob record this on our camera at our last lesson. The song is really long and we ran out of space on our SD card :( so it cuts off before the end of the song, but you get a pretty good idea of what I learned in the past two months. :)

High class fashion boutique.

I don't have a picture for this one but a story will have to do.

We were driving and got lost in Tokushima. Wile driving down a road we will never find again we saw a sign for the "Beauty Saloon".

Finally, I thought, a place where Jemma can get her hair done and get into quick-draw shootout.

Koto Festival at Awagin Hall

So I started Koto lessons here in Japan. My family actually owns a koto back in Utah and I've tried to learn it on my own using a small book that we got with it. So I knew the basics and how to read the music, but I was never quite sure I was doing it right because I never had a teacher. So one of my wishes was to come here and be able to get lessons and learn how to do it correctly.

With the help of a teacher Jacob works with, we were able to find a teacher that lives pretty near us. I started at the end of January. The teacher is wonderful! No English what-so-ever, but we seem to communicate okay. Because I would only be learning for a couple months, she actually is teaching me free of charge. Yay! I ended up learning my first song in a week which really impressed her and she asked if I would play with a group at a festival in Tokushima a few weeks later. I said yes! It was a great experience and a lot of fun. I got to play with about 7 other kids, most quite younger, but I didn't mind. We also had some guys on the flute. It was a pretty big deal. :)

So the festival was a bunch of koto players from around Tokushima and even a couple really famous people that are known throughout Japan. We had it at Awagin Hall, which was a big theatre center. We were set up in a dressing room and got ready for the performance.

We had all of our kotos lined up and ready for when it was our turn to play.

Because the koto is a very traditional instrument, it's required that we were to be dressed in kimono. My teacher lent me one of hers because the one I had wasn't quite fancy enough. (haha!) So it took about 30 to 45 minutes getting dressed and fixing the obi (Belt) to look just perfect. It was quite the undertaking. But I loved the kimono. It was beautiful. And a pain to wear. But beautiful :D

This was the hall that we performed in. The curtain covering the stage features a large Japanese painting.

With the curtain drawn, we had a lovely stage set up. This isn't actually my group. That was recorded on a fancy video camera that we haven't been able to get the video off of yet. We have to get the right kind of software apparently. So the video will be up at a later point in time.
After having a flawless performance, our group gathered out in the foyer for a lovely group picture. It seemed that our group had the most youth in it. Most other groups were only adults. We felt pretty spiffy.

And of course, a picture with Jacob!

And here's a picture of the back of my kimono with the obi. I love the green obi!
Here is a video of one of the performances we saw that was taken on our camera. Picture quality isn't that great, but I think the song is just lovely. I want to learn this one!

Overall, awesome experience, and had a great time. I bet not many foreigners get to perform for a crowd during their stay in Japan. :D

Wadaiko

Jacob and I had the opportunity to go see a Wadaiko (Japanese Drums) Performance. When I was an exchange student four years ago, my high school was famous for their taiko drums, and so I am very fond of them. I was really excited to be able to see a performance by professionals, and it was fantastic.

There really is no describing what these drums sound like. There's no way to really record the sheer awesome power they emanate. The whole building shakes and you can feel the clothes your wearing vibrate as the drums are hit. Apparently, even the hearing impaired and deaf can enjoy these drums, as there was a person signing for the people who spoke between songs. It is also a joy to watch, as it almost appears to be a dance as well.

Part way through the performance they welcomed students and people from the audience to come up and give them a try. Jacob and I were beckoned to join, but I had played them before and wanted to record Jacob as he played the gigantic drum in the center. They had them play a rhythmic practice. (The first video).

We loved it. And maybe, maybe these videos will give a little insight as to how awesome a wadaiko performance is.

hum....

We see this all the time when we are driving.

I thought you would enjoy.

For your health.

Coming Home.

First things first. It is official, we are coming home. We will be arriving in the Salt Lake City Airport on March 29th at 7:41 pm. YAY.

Just a quick update, I have been home with the Flu, or Influenza. So Jemma and I have been enjoying each others company for the past 4 days. I am happy to see her more. We played some games and stuff.

We have had the privilege of having the missionaries over for dinner several times. It has been a great experience. We found out that they really like us. I have been noticing a trend that everyone around here really likes us. It must be the good smelling soap we use, not sure though.

Jemma is doing great in her job. She is coloring backgrounds and characters for an online comic. Her first page goes up TOMORROW. we are so excited.
http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1794

I know I said I was going to post more Engrish but I keep forgetting to take pictures. I have some doosies on the way though.

We are good. We are planning a trip to Kyoto, Way excited.

See you on a later post.

Jacob