Katsugi Okedo Lab
担ぎ桶胴ラボ
Friday Evening

「Learn about this unique style within the taiko landscape」

The katsugi okedo is perhaps the most dynamic instrument in the modern taiko world. Because the drum is carried on the body, it creates a unique combination of rhythm, movement, and expression. The player is no longer bound to a fixed position behind a drum, but learns to create music while the entire body becomes part of the performance.

In the Katsugi Okedo Lab, we delve deeper into the technique, background, and musical possibilities of the katsugi okedo. We work from the playing style developed by, among others, Leonard Eto and Eri Uchida, where technique always serves musicality, freedom, and ensemble playing.

During the lessons, we focus on topics including:

• The history, development, and role of the Katsugi Okedo within contemporary taiko culture.
• Tuning and maintaining the Katsugi Okedo.
• Proper adjustment and balance of the drum in relation to your body, carrying technique, and posture.
• Body movement and playing in space.
• Stick control and sound production.
• Various basic rhythms and technical exercises.
• Both Side Techniques: balanced development of the left and right sides.
• Listening, responding, and musical communication.
• Free play and improvisation based on simple rhythmic building blocks.
• Ensemble playing and stage performance.

In these lessons, we deliberately do not work on a fixed composition. The goal is to learn to understand the language of the instrument. Through technical mastery, we build musical awareness and ensemble skills. Because the katsugi okedo is a mobile instrument, it naturally invites interaction, movement, and spontaneity. The lessons therefore provide participants not only with technical skills, but also with the confidence to play freely and musically with others.

This module is suitable for players who want to deepen their technical abilities and discover how movement, rhythm, and expression come together in one of the most dynamic disciplines within modern taiko.

Not required, but recommended: your own katsugi okedo and bachi.

Schedule:
Arrival: 7:00 PM – instrument setup with coffee and tea
Lesson starts: 7:30 PM
Lesson ends: 9:45 PM

Instructor:
Erwin Oudshoorn

Level:
All levels

Number of lessons:
11

Taiko Tunes 太鼓節
Tuesday Evening

「Learn to understand and apply music in taiko」

Taiko Tunes is a class focused on fundamental musical principles. You will learn how music works—from meter and rhythm to form, dynamics, and phrasing—and how to apply this knowledge within taiko music.

The lessons are practical and interactive. We work on recognizing musical structures, reading simple notation, and understanding rhythmic building blocks. You will learn how to play with greater awareness and how musical choices contribute to the ensemble as a whole.

Taiko Tunes is ideal for players who not only want to play, but truly want to understand what they are doing—and why it works.

Schedule:
Arrival: 7:00 PM – coffee/tea and instrument setup
Lesson starts: 7:30 PM
Lesson ends: 9:45 PM

Instructor:
Marit Oudshoorn

Level:
Intermediate

Number of lessons:
11

Narimono Ensemble
鳴り物アンサンブル
Friday Evening

「Small instruments. Big impact.」

Narimono Ensemble (Applied Narimono) is an extension of last season’s Narimono class. You will learn the roles that smaller accompanying instruments play within a taiko ensemble. Combined with, among others, the Katsugi style, you will learn how to apply narimono within a taiko ensemble.

The term narimono（鳴り物）literally means “sounding things” and refers to the wide range of small percussion instruments used in Japanese music. These instruments have a subtle yet essential role in rhythmic accompaniment, structure, creating atmosphere, and building musical tension.

In this class, you will further explore the principles of these additional instruments, such as chappa, atarigane, and hyōshigi, as well as how they can interact with instruments such as the shime-daiko or katsugi-daiko.

You will develop technique and movement, precision, timing, and musical awareness, while learning how to move within an ensemble using these specific styles.

This class is suitable for all levels and offers a valuable opportunity for any taiko player who wants to broaden their musical role.

Arrival: 7:00 PM – coffee/tea and instrument setup
Lesson starts: 7:30 PM
Lesson ends: 9:45 PM

Instructors:
Wouter van der Wildt & Erwin Oudshoorn

Level:
All levels

Number of lessons:
11

Taiko Bashi 太鼓橋
Sunday morning

「Transition Group for New Participants」

Normally, we close our class groups and ensembles to new participants from November onwards, but throughout the season there are naturally people who become interested in taking taiko lessons. For these people, we have created a transition group.

Several times a year, there will be trial lesson opportunities. After attending a trial lesson, participants can decide whether they would like to join the Taiko Bashi group, allowing them to continue practicing taiko until the new season begins.

The trial lesson dates are not fixed. We will promote these opportunities and contact interested participants who have left their email address via [info@houseofcircles.nl](mailto:info@houseofcircles.nl).

The Taiko Bashi group is therefore the ideal opportunity for new participants to start learning taiko with us.

Schedule:
Arrival: 8:45 AM – coffee/tea and instrument setup
Lesson starts: 9:15 AM
Lesson ends: 11:30 AM

Instructor:
Nikki Boutellier

Level:
Beginners

Number of lessons:
To be determined (TBD)