Usagi Usagi

Usagi Usagi

Usagi Usagi 

Nani Mite Haneru

Jugoya Otsuki-san

Mite Haneru

Rabbit Rabbit

What are you looking at when you jump?

On the night of 15th (lunar calendar) with the Full Moon

that is what I am looking at

Usagi Odori

In Summer 2014, my friend Mika Yamazaki and I created this dance for Usagi Daiko. In this video, I was dancing in mirror image, so you can easily dance along as if you are looking at the mirror.

Usagi Daiko

composed by Chizuko Endo

Section 1: Hop Hop Hop

Don Don Don  (teke te Ten te teke teke)

Don Don Don (teke te Ten te Ten)

Don Don Don  (teke te Ten te teke teke)

Don Don Don (teke te Ten te Ten)

Section 2: Squiring around looking for carrots 

(teke teke) Doko Doko

(teke teke) Doko Doko

(teke teke) Doko Doko

Don Don Don 

(teke teke) Doko Doko

(teke teke) Doko Doko

(teke teke) Doko Doko 

Don Don Don

 

  Section 3: Dance

Don  Don  (teke Ten)

DoDON (te Ten Teke)

Don  Don  (teke Ten)

DoDON (te Ten Teke)

Don  Don  (teke Ten)

DoDON (te Ten Teke)

Don  Don  (teke Ten)

DoDON DO DON

Here is a video of Taiko Tots (Tuesday) preparing for their performance in Bonenkai 2014

Usagi Daiko (beta/upright)

 

Here is a video of Family Taiko (Monday) preparing for Bonenkai 2014

Usagi Daiko (naname/slant)

Video of the Family Taiko (Honolulu) dancing Usagi Bon Odori

Story Behind the Song

In May 2014, I had the opportunity to work with Yoko Fujimoto from KODO and Hanayui (Sado Island, Japan). During the Pau Hana, we had a wonderful conversation about pedagogy for taiko drumming and dance. She taught me this beautiful song, "Usagi Usagi." I also shared with her the Usagi Daiko piece composed by Chizuko. The two songs work perfectly together, so then I decided to teach these two songs together for my Taiko Tots class.

 

We also had an opportunity to take a "taiko, song, and dance" workshop with Yoko Fujimoto, Chieko Kojima, Mitsue Kinjo, and Kodo’s premier odaiko player Yoshikazu Fujimoto. The workshop had inspired me to create similar pieces to bring drumming, dancing, and sing together for my Taiko Tots class. Usagi Daiko with the song and Odori was the first attempt in doing so.

Hanayui in Concert, May 2014

 

Five Little Monkeys - Wild Monkeys Version

Five Little Monkeys

Five Little Monkeys jumping on the drums

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama call the Sensei and the Sensei said

NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE DRUM!

...

 One Little Monkeys jumping on the drums

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama call the Sensei and the Sensei said

PUT THOSE MONKEYS IN TO BED!

a silly version demonstrated by Manman and Amanda

Pineapple Huckleberry Apple Grape

Pineapple Huckleberry Apple Grape

(Group 1 Call) Pineapple, Huckleberry, Apple, Grape

(Group 2 Response) Would you like them in your milkshake?

(Group 1 Call) Pineapple, Huckleberry, Apple, Grape

(Group 2 Response) Would you like them in your milkshake?

(Shime call) Who want pineapple?

(everyone) Yes I Do!

(Shime) Who wants huckleberry?

(everyone) Yes please thank you!

(Shime) Who wants Apple?

(everyone) No thank you!

(Shime) Who wants Grape?

(everyone) No ~~~ Thank You!

[Solo Section]

(everyone, soft to loud) Pineapple Huckleberry milkshake yum!

Pineapple Huckleberry in your tum tum!

Here is a video of Manman and Amanda playing the "Pineapple" Song

Manman on the naname is playing mirror image, so you can easily play along while watching. 

 

 

"Solo" Echo Section

one person from the ensemble shout out 4 fruits pattern, 

and everyone respond by playing the pattern on the drum

• The length of each phrase is the same as "Pineapple, Huckleberry, Apple, Grape"
• Solo person can pick any choice of 4 fruits (repetition is allowed) out of 
• Pineapple
• Huckleberry
• Apple
• Grape
• the combination could be anything but the theme of the song
• the placement of each fruit can be on different part of the "beat"/"count"
• the challenge is to say it on time, and play it on time

 

Story behind this song

 In Fall 2014 Family Taiko class, I started a game with a collection of fruit names categorized by number of syllables. Each family has to pick 1 fruit from each category and create a musical phrase out of them. Tammy and Chase picked these 4 fruits and created "Pineapple, Huckleberry, Apple, Grape" which has a very satisfying rhythmic drive to it. In Spring 2015, Chizuko and Amanda continue leading the family class while I was on a trip. Chizuko created this song with the rest of the family class.

Walking Walking (Melody of Frère Jacques)

Walking Walking (melody of Frère Jacques)

Walking Walking (Don Don Don Don)

Walking Walking (Don Don Don Don)

Hop Hop Hop (ka ka ka)

Hop Hop Hop (ka ka ka)

Running Running Run-ning (doko doko Don - Don)

Running Running Run-ning (doko doko Don - Don)

Now we stop (Don Don Don)

Now make a pose! (Don Don Don+pose)

Here is a video of Manman and Amanda playing the song

We are playing mirror image, so you can easily play along with the video!

Mochi Megane (Mochi Mochi)

Mochitsuki

original song "Mochi Megane"
adapted and arranged by Yuri Kanamaru

Mochitsuki Mochitsuki Pe-Tan-KO!

Mochitsuki Mochitsuki Pe-Tan-KO!

Pe-Tan Pe-Tan Pe-Tan KO!

Pe-Tan Pe-Tan Pe-Tan KO!

Pe-ta Pe-ta Pe-ta Pe-ta Pe-Tan-KO!

Pe-ta Pe-ta Pe-ta Pe-ta teki agari!

Chu Daiko

Here is my friend Yuri-sensei demonstrating the Mochi song on the Chu Daiko

ODaiko

Here is video of Yuri playing the O daiko part (hitting only on "ko")

 

Ji/Ositinato (base beat by 2 persons)

Here is video of the 2-part "MO-CHI" pounding section of the song

Manman is playing "MO" while Amanda is playing "CHI"

MOCHI! (Woodblock and Atarigane part)

mo-chi-tsu-ki (Shime part)

Here is a video of my little friend Yuna demonstrating the Mochi song

Mochitsuki by Taiko Tots Tuesday
2015 Spring Session III

Take 1

 

outtake

Take 3

Aisatsu Song

Aisatsu Song (Greeting Song)

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu (clap clap)

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu (clap clap)

Respect the Sensei

Respect the Dojo

Classmates!

Instruments!

and the Art of Taiko!

Taiko Tots Bonenkai 2015 Performance of "Aisatsu Song"

Here is a video of the song by some of us from the Thursday Family Taiko Class 

Here is a video of the song performed by Taiko Tots Sunday 2014 Fall Session II

Here is the Japanese Version (aka LATI version)

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu (clap clap) x2
Sensei Arigatou
Taisetsuna Studio
Taiko! Tomodachi!
Tanoshiku Manabou

From our little friends at Los Angeles Taiko Institute