It is very interesting the habits we get into when we play a song. We have played Domo almost since the beginning of our group. Beth and Jackie played it,solo, each having a side, at the first concert. It takes a lot of strength and endurance to play in the high horizontal position. We are finding that out, even more, as we learn John Yost’s piece he taught us in February. Since that concert, to date, everyone in the current performing group knows this song and we can play it with whoever is there at a performance. Because this song is an echo and someone has to lead with part one of the song, somehow, Beth has been on the part one side frequently. So frequently in fact that it has become a habit that ‘Beth’s side is leading’ even when she isn’t there!
We even get into habits about where we stand, who we are next to and how the song is arranged. So much so, that sometimes we have a hard time remembering the song if the anchor we look to for that song is different, be it placement, where the audience is and even who is playing the song. Flexibility is very key in taiko. What habits do you get into??
