Taiko
Quick update with a promise for more in a few days.
In post 341, just above, I described an epiphany
that I had about short sticks as a percussionist.
Here are a few more details.
I've played drums for around 15 years.
Mostly hand drums - congas, bongos, etc -
but about five years ago, tried my hand at a standard trap set
(like used in rock and roll: kick drum, snare, toms, symbols, etc
all hit with sticks, except the kick of course, which is more like muay thai).
I still prefer hand drums, including electronic,
but when I'm camping, I usually always find a hollow log
and use my 16" or 18" stick or both to make rhythms on it.
Last night, when using both 16 and 18 to practice,
I realized with the speed of a light coming on that I prefer the 16.
For my anatomy, it's got far more speed and wrist snap potential than the 18,
even though the 18 obviously has that extra 2" for reaching out to touch someone.
So, in a snap decision, I cut off the 18" to a 16".
Well, I gotta tell you, it's changed my whole approach to short sticks.
First, I find that I can use these dual sticks like drum sticks,
the average length of which is 16" (15 - 17).
Second, today, I carried both in my pack.
A pair of sticks is easier to explain than a single: they're drum sticks.
Third, I remembered the name of
a type of Japanese stick drumming
-
Taiko - and began to research it.
I've decided now to study Taiko.
Fourth, I started researching Taiko sticks, called
Bachi.
The most common size? 1" x 16".
Hmm. I may be onto something here.
I'd be really surprised if I couldn't find a pair in really hard wood.