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This article is part of a three-part series. To learn about a biwa master and her music lessons, see here. To learn about a shamisen, koto and sanshin master and his music lessons, see here.
From Pokémon and Pocky to Godzilla and Goku, modern Japan has been ubiquitous worldwide for decades. But when it comes to certain aspects of the country's traditional culture, for example its many wagakki (traditional instruments), plenty of people might not be as familiar. How many of us have seen a live taiko performance, for instance, let alone tried to play one of the drums?
If you're looking to try the taiko for yourself but don't know where to start, look no further than bilingual instructor Eva Kestner, a performing artist with over 30 years of drumming experience. Read on to learn more about her and what to expect from her exceptional taiko class.
Meet the master
Tokyo-born Eva Kestner began practising taiko at the age of eight. At first, she merely enjoyed the feeling of using her whole body to play rhythms, but that simple pleasure soon developed into a full-fledged passion for the instrument. She continued practising throughout most of her adolescence before leaving Japan to study at Cornell in the US.
The music bug followed her abroad. Despite majoring in philosophy, Eva found herself forming the university's first taiko team, acting as its musical director. It was from this transformative experience that she eventually decided to pursue a career as a professional taiko player, returning to Japan after graduation to realise her dream. At just 23, she achieved her goal of becoming a solo artist and she's been performing ever since.
Eva added teaching to her roster last year when she opened her own studio in Shibuya, officially dubbed the Eva Kestner International Taiko Drum Academy. Her decision to teach was born from a desire to expose more people to the joys of taiko and the richness of traditional Japanese culture. 'I want people to know that Japan has an amazing drumming and performance arts culture,' she says.
What to expect
Eva's studio is located just a few minutes' walk from Daikanyama Station. The space has a small changing room if needed, though it's better to show up already dressed, as the 90-minute class starts promptly. Wear comfortable clothing you don't mind potentially sweating in: you're in for a workout.
Eva first instructs you briefly on the proper way(s) to hold the bachi (drumsticks), and from there you're right into playing. The warm-up consists of familiarising yourself with hitting the drums properly and learning a few basic rhythms. After about half an hour of practising the basics, things really pick up.
From here you learn a series of rhythms that real taiko players play in their performances; the patterns increase in difficulty and complexity as the class progresses. If you're rhythmically challenged, not to worry – Eva plays along with you and provides plenty of repetition. You then have about a 10-minute break before the final stretch: a fast-paced drumming game played in teams, based on the traditional taiko piece, 'Buchiawase Daiko'.
Sessions differ somewhat in their content, so you might not get a class that's exactly like the one described above, but that's more or less the overall structure. As an added bonus, Eva records a portion of the class and sends you a private YouTube link after the session if you want to look back on the experience or even practise at home.
Time Out tip: If you're a bit taller, try to get a spot some distance from the entrance. The ceiling is lower near the entrance, so you may hit the ceiling with your drumsticks when you raise your arms.
Book a class
Eva teaches both experienced and beginner students, including children as young as four, in English or Japanese. Book a class here or contact her at info@eva-kestner.com for more information on pricing for children's lessons, private lessons or corporate workshops.
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