Cultural & Arts Workshops
Background information: Moto has been studying Noh Drama for past three decades with one of acclaimed Noh performers Akira Takahashi (National Cultural Asset, Hosyo-School, Tokyo) who is son of Susumu Takahashi (National Treasure). In addition to Noh he also studied Kotsuzumi: Noh percussion with Cyojyuro Ohkura (School Master of Ohkura School). He also has been performing Taiko and contemporary music and has performed at over 500 ritual/commercial ceremonies in Japan, New Zealand, Italy, and throughout Australia. He established and taught various Taiko groups in Japan and two groups have received an award from the Yokohama City Council for its traditional activities, he also influenced and inspired many other traditional drumming groups in Yokohama and Tokyo. In Australia he established Contemporary Taiko Ensemble BATARI and Arts Ensemble ANCESTRAL PLANE and performed with diversity of cultural and musical background artists. He also has been collaborating with Italian well-being organization to develop training program for self-realisation.
1. Noh: Japanese Traditional Mask Drama
The workshop will introduce new perspective for today's theatre arts through basic principals of Noh. It focuses on 1) Core elements of Noh 2) Movement, dance and voice, and 3) Visual lecture: The Art of Noh, Noh masks and costumes. Noh has highly sophisticated dignity and stylised forms in both movement and dramaturge as ceremonial performance. The performance could describe as sculpture and there is freedom to explore individual's artistic aspect. Today, Noh become more popular than ever in Japan. Moto suggest some performance principal and concept is quite valuable for individual's lifetime artistic development.
Background: Noh has established around 13-14th century and is one of the oldest mask theatre forms in the world today. Recently selected as World National Heritage by the UNESCO. The definitive history of the development of the Noh is yet to be written but it kept maintaining and performing today. It originated from various culture's court performances, which from Indo-Asia, China, Korea and South East Asia about 1200 years ago. Those court performances were adapted to Japanese culture and integrated into hybrid forms of performing arts.
2. Taiko: Japanese traditional drumming
Taiko is a traditional drum, which originally used in ritual and festive occasions in Japan. The drum shell is hollowed from single hardwood, applied cow skin with rivet, and play with large drumsticks. Today Taiko becomes very popular in the world and emerging Western Taiko groups have existing in the worldwide.
The workshop introduces unique history of Taiko, various basic techniques, forms and hands on ensemble. Without any special technique or any special training, you can progress with drumming. It's simply a matter of enjoying the sound textures you produce and attuning yourself to others rhythms. This workshop will provide enjoyment of the drumming and spontaneous harmony with others.
3. Hand made Musical Instrument Making
a. Bush drum
Cylindrical or conical drums are the commonest types of tubular drum. Cylindrical drums vary considerably in size and proportions but have the same diameter throughout. Conical drums also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from a flattish bowl shape to a long tapering cone. Both types may be single or double headed. They are found throughout the world and date back to prehistoric times.
Material: large Milo or instant coffee can (large can produce deeper notes), twin: hemp, rummy or nylon strings for washing line, kangaroo skin* (rawhide for drums) *Packer Tanning Leather Shop: Boundary Rd, Narangba Qld, Ph: 3203 1323. Equip: punch (3mm), hammer, wood plate as worktable, knife, scissors.
Cut Kangaroo rawhide to circle with large cutter or knife - the size of drumhead should be at least 2 to 3 inches larger than drum shell. Then go soak drumhead with water (overnight or 12 hours.) Next morning take them out of water and wipe off the excess moisture. Next is to make 8 to 10 holes into drumhead ? note that holes are 8 to 10mm from the edge of the skin (you can make holes two heads at the same time). Then place skin both top/bottom of can and start stitch with hemp or durable strings. You may need to hold top drumhead with weight while you stitching drumhead. This process requires fare amount of elbow grease and might need friend's help. Make sure that the string always come through inside to outside. Once you stitch the drum, and check that the head is placed centre, you tighten the strings once again to get firm tension. Keep drum in a shady, cool place overnight. When the head is completely dry it will shrink and tighten up further. Be patient - if you play drum before the skin is firmly dry you will damage drumhead.
b. Bamboo Whistle & Panpipes
Panpipes are sets of graduated flutes that are joined together in a raft of bunch shape. Blowing across the top of the holes produces the sound. The tubes have no finger holes and the lower end is usually stopped (closed). Panpipes have been known for over several thousands of years and specimens have been found in most parts of the world. Materials include clay, stone, cane, bamboo, wood, and more recently metal and plastic.
Collect 15 to 20 mm diameter bamboo and cut with hacksaw from the partition. Then file the edge round so that mouthpiece has smooth edge. Then stuck two pieces with strings and apply glue top of string. Blow air into the edge to make sound ? you need to workout to find collect direction to make good sound. Material: bamboo, fiber string, Equip: scissors, paper glue, drill.
Background of R & D for the program
For the past three decades I have been working as a professional arts guide, training and helping people to navigate in this challenging field. The workshop program has been developed from actual workshops with people from a diversity of cultural backgrounds, age groups and geographical locations in Queensland. I also work as a professional artist in various design fields to maintain and develop my full potential to be flexible, versatile, spontaneous and creative. The knowledge has crystallised into a simple and very practical form which is valuable for the student.
For the past four decades I have been continuing to research world art history, diverse art techniques, methods and skills. For the development of this presentation I have researched with various traditional arts from around the world, including icons, symbol, sign, emblem, clan, signature, rock art, cave painting, corporation logo mark, etc. Related issues include contexts of Community Cultural Development, Community Arts, Ecology and Environmental.
I also research fundamental arts principals from traditional Japanese visual/performing arts including Noh, Japanese Calligraphy, Japanese Sumi painting, Japanese textiles design, also relation and comparison between Japanese arts and with Western arts, etc.
Participants gain a rare insight by having a look at themselve, having an opportunity of being in the creation process and how to fly with their imagination. They discover how to design and produce a unique work with limited time and resources. The solution is always hidden if there's a difficulty or problem. The artist has to deal with various limitation factors and change that limitation to a positive outcome.
Updated June 2007
