is quite different from the Japanese traditional thirteen-stringed musical
instrument in size, design, tone and its history. Taisho Harp or
Taisho-koto is much smaller (65cm in the length, 12cm in the width and 7cm
in the height) than the ordinary Koto. It was invented 100 years ago at the
Taisho Era (the beginning of the 20th century). That's why it is called the
'Taisho-koto'.
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| Taisho-koto |
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| Keys |
On the left side of the body, there is a keyboard, not like the piano but
like a typewriter. On each of the keys, a different figure is printed. 1
means Do, 2 means Re, 3 means Mi, and there are also sharps.
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| Strings |
On the right side, there are from 2 to 6 metal strings. The keys are pushed
by the left hand and the strings are picked with a pick in the right hand.
They are used for playing mainly Japanese songs since the 20th Century
including popular songs and school songs, but not jazz. The scores have
only figures with fingering. They don't use ordinary notes.
by the left hand and the strings are picked with a pick in the right hand.
They are used for playing mainly Japanese songs since the 20th Century
including popular songs and school songs, but not jazz. The scores have
only figures with fingering. They don't use ordinary notes.
 |
| Taisho-koto score |
I accompany Etsuko, who has visual impairment, to the Taisho-koto class
twice a month as a guiding helper. There are five ladies with the same
disability out of eight members in this class. All of them have been
learning for many years, so they can play very well. Several months ago, I
was told by the instructor, "Why don't you join the class?" Up till that
time, I had been just waiting, watching and listening to their lessons. I
like music very much, so I decided to join the class, but I am not used to
reading the figures instead of notes, so it is very difficult to play the
music smoothly. On the contrary, all these ladies play beautifully and
smoothly. They cannot see the scores so how can they play the Taisho-Koto
so smoothly and so well?
The instructor, who is an 80 year-old lady, majored in the violin in music
school when she was young. She sings the melody in figures, not in Do, Re,
Mi, and the students record it, and practice again and again many times at
home until they memorize it. They also have Braille scores, but they prefer
to practice in this way rather than reading the Braille scores. I read that
the famous pianist Tsujii Nobuyuki who has been visually impaired since
birth and won the first prize in the Chopin Contest learns the scores in
the same way, listening to the CD until he memorizes the music.
twice a month as a guiding helper. There are five ladies with the same
disability out of eight members in this class. All of them have been
learning for many years, so they can play very well. Several months ago, I
was told by the instructor, "Why don't you join the class?" Up till that
time, I had been just waiting, watching and listening to their lessons. I
like music very much, so I decided to join the class, but I am not used to
reading the figures instead of notes, so it is very difficult to play the
music smoothly. On the contrary, all these ladies play beautifully and
smoothly. They cannot see the scores so how can they play the Taisho-Koto
so smoothly and so well?
The instructor, who is an 80 year-old lady, majored in the violin in music
school when she was young. She sings the melody in figures, not in Do, Re,
Mi, and the students record it, and practice again and again many times at
home until they memorize it. They also have Braille scores, but they prefer
to practice in this way rather than reading the Braille scores. I read that
the famous pianist Tsujii Nobuyuki who has been visually impaired since
birth and won the first prize in the Chopin Contest learns the scores in
the same way, listening to the CD until he memorizes the music.
 |
| Enthusiatic players |
Thanks to God, I can see, so I can read the score and don't have to make an
effort to memorize it. It means I don't practice for as many hours as they
do. I always admire their efforts. Our instructor is planning to hold a
recital in May this year. I have to play some pieces with the other
members. I know I have to practice more and more.
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