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Get into the beat, and express yourself
THE Campsie hills are alive with the sound of something rather unusual - the ancient art of Japanese taiko drumming.
Kirsty Hamilton, 31, of Auchinstarry, is currently co-ordinating a series of community workshops to get local youngsters to try out the rhythmic drumming, and is looking for 14-19 year olds to form a group which will then perform at the Kilsyth Carnival later this year.
She says taiko, which means "great drum" in Japanese, is ideal for young people - as having a go is as easy as picking up a pair of drumsticks - and no previous experience is necessary to join in.
She said: "The good thing about taiko is that it's so accessible and everyone starts from a level playing field. Everyone gets an equal chance." She adds that it is very disciplined - something children seem to love - as they like learning all the moves and learning the Japanese words.
Her first brush with taiko came nine years ago when she spent three years living in Japan and became involved with a taiko group there. She says: "I was fascinated - the first performance I saw totally blew me away. You convey your energy through the drum."
She is pictured here playing what is known as an okedo drum which was made in Arran out of handstitched cowhide stretched over steel rings. The drum's sound improves the more it is played, Kirsty says - all the more reason for as many people to join in as possible.
She explains the origins of the increasingly-popular activity: "It's been in Japanese culture since ancient times for ceremonial use and festivals. It's really intrinsic to the culture." She also mentions how it was used to determine how far communites extended - by how far away the drums could be heard.
Kirsty is a part time lecturer in music at Cumbernauld College, and says that there are many benefits to getting involved in taiko - for example stress relief - with drummers known to picture their former partners on the drums. "I think it's a great outlet," she says. "You're expressing yourself through the drums and through your performance."
There are also benefits of drumming in a group, she says. Taiko can be very therapeutic, lowering anxiety and stress levels, she says, and experts have even found that music can increase intelligence.
She has also had a grant of 19,000 from Communities Scotland to buy drums and also to fund a minibus. "I'd like to get local people from the whole Kelvin Valley involved in the project," she says, "anywhere from from Milton of Campsie to Twechar."
And anyone who joins up now will have the opportunity to take it further if they want to. "There's the opportunity to go further to a more professional level. They can be trained up to be a high quality performing group and even go on to represent the Kelvin Valley."
Lanarkshire is a great place for Taiko, with the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, the UK's first and only professional touring taiko drum group, based in Strathaven. "It's a great place to get involved in it," she says.
Kirsty plans to train up the new group, called the Kelvin Valley Demon Drummers, to perform at the Kilsyth carnival ( http://www.kic.me.uk/ ) on Sunday August 13 - and also hopes to extend taiko groups to a wider age group at some point. Drumming is a recurring theme of the carnival with Suleman Chebe's djembes also being performed.
Anyone looking to get involved in the taiko group should contact Kirsty by e-mail at taikovision@tiscali.co.uk or by phoning (01236) 829850.
Story: EMMA NEWLANDS
Picture: ALAN MURRAY
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Weather for Kilsyth
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 1 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
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