Thursday, April 17, 2003

Hi all, for a little while Yosuke is going to be teaching us "Zoku" on a Tuesday night, same time same place (6.30 - 8 or so, at the practice venue) and he is also helping us improve our form. All welcome and it's very good fun. Of course, it clashes with 'Taketina' so Keryn and I will be alternating between that and Zoku. Taketina is also very good value, it's a process of doing polyrhythms, very good fun and hard work. contact me if you would like to know more about it,
Rasa

Friday, April 11, 2003

Hi there,

We're going to try something a little different at practice, starting next week on Wednesday night. At the moment we have such a mix of absolute beginners, people who have been coming between 2 weeks and 2 months, and people who have been coming for 6 - 9 months, and people who used to come 9 months ago but haven't been for a few months, and so on!! that trying to structure a practice that suits everyone has become just about impossible.

So from 6.30 - 7.30 on Wednesday evenings, is going to be specifically for newer members, learning basics of rhythm and style, and learning 'songs'to be ready to perform. If you have been playing for a long time, you are welcome to come to this part too, to learn songs you haven't perfected yet, or parts of songs that you haven't yet done. If you choose not to come to this first hour, we will expect that your style is good and you know all the songs pretty well !

At 7.30, we will "go for it" - do serious practice for performing, covering not just knowing the songs but "stagecraft" and anything else we need to practice to look and sound sharp. The newer members are welcome to stay for this and just do what they feel comfortable doing, or if they prefer/need to go, that's OK too.

It is more important than ever, at the moment, to give new people the same loving care we received at the beginning, and to refine both style and knowledge of the songs, for longer-term members. So let's give it a go and see how we prosper - we will be looking for your feedback.

Rasa & Keryn

A REMINDER:

DRUM MAKING WORKING-BEE
SAT 12th APRIL 11:00 AM - 4:00pm
at the Tasmanian Cask Company
1401 Houn Rd Lower Longley -
on the left, on the way to Huonville from Kingston

You will need clothes you don't mind getting dusty, dirty or smelly.
we will be glueing a couple of drum shells together and working with wet skin for putting a second end on one of our drums. Please email Keryn if you want to go that day.

The following dates will probably be the 3rd of May, the 10th or 11th of May.

ALSO:

Simon will be holding workshops on Saturday April 26 & Sunday April 27. Saturday morning will be for beginners, with the option of staying for the afternoon session for the more advanced workshop. Sunday will be for the more advanced members of the UTTS, but others are free to continue on if they wish. Workshops will be $10.00 for each day, or $5.00 for a half day. Probably at the university Studio Theatre, TBC.

Please express your interest in the workshop to me at class. We hope to see a lot of old and new members!!

Some people have a very busy weekend. Thanks for your time.

Rasa & Keryn

Thursday, April 10, 2003

Attendance at practice on both Monday and Wednesday this week was fantastic - and good fun. thanks to all who turned up. thanks also to Dane and Yosuke (Nabe) who started teaching us some great new beats. For all performing on Sunday - please try to make it to the practice on Saturday night at the practice venue, 5.30pm - 7.15 or thereabouts.
Rasa
D R U M M A K I N G W O R K I N G - B E E
SAT 12th APRIL 11:00 AM - 4:00pm
1401 Huon Rd Lower Longley -
on the way to Huonville from Kingston

You will need clothes you don't mind getting dusty, dirty or smelly.
we will be glueing a couple of drum shells together and working with wet skin for putting a second end on one of our drums.
Please email Simon if you want to go that day.

The following will probably be the 26th of April, the 3rd of May, the 10th or 11th of May

Tuesday, April 08, 2003

Updates from Keryn, posted below by Maria.

NEXT PERFORMANCES: ALL 3 IN ONE DAY!!!!!!!

Performance Sunday 13th April 9.00 Australian Karate Federation. Casino - the Plenary Hall
Performance Sunday 13th April. Derwent Valley Fest. 2 x performances 11.30-12.00 & 1.00-1.30
Performance Sunday 13th April Japan Club BBQ Tolosa Street Park about 2.30

For those of you who feel up to it here is the schedule for the day if you want to do all 3. Otherwise meet at the appropriate place:

8.00am: Meet at Casino. Be in touch to know exactly where to meet.
9.00 - 9.30am: Performance in Plenary Hall
10.00am: latest time to be packed up and leave casino. 3/4 hour drive to New Norfolk.
10.45: arrive New Norfolk. last right hand turn before the bridge. Van will be allowed into the performance area. Others will have to park in the carpark.
1.45: Quick exit. Fast pack-up. Should be about 30 mins from N.N. to Tolosa Street.
2.30: Can we be set up by this time? The day's biggest challenge. We will try.

PLEASE INDICATE TO ME AT PRACTICE WHICH PERFORMANCES YOU WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR. WE NEED TO KNOW BY WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE RING ME: work - 6235 3504
home - 6248 5192
mobile - 0439 485 192

Keep coming to practice so that you can learn the rhythms and songs to join in performances!!


Simon will be holding workshops on Saturday April 26 & Sunday April 27. Saturday morning will be for beginners, with the option of staying for the afternoon session for the more advanced workshop. Sunday will be for the more advanced members of the UTTS, but others are free to continue on if they wish. Workshops will be $10.00 for each day, or $5.00 for a half day.

Keryn

Friday, April 04, 2003

Taiko 'Drum' web log is now open for news to be posted.