Question Everything: Tradition

Most of you have heard some form of the "kumidaiko, or ensemble drumming has only been around for the last 60 years or so" speech.

So here's some questions for you. First, what is tradition? And second, when does what we do start becoming traditional?

Definitions of "tradition" get results like:

• "The handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction."
• "The body of customs, thought, practices, etc., belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period."

The first example is how most taiko is taught and learned, not by text but through repetition, rote, and action. The word generation is something to look at, but I hear people talking about "the next generation of taiko player" often enough. That "next gen" is already performing!

In the second example, while the the entire NA taiko community is a little too diverse to be a "people" or "family", certain styles of taiko (community, collegiate, professional) could apply.

Most definitions touch on some sort of repetition over a period of time, but I was hard-pressed to find anything saying how long it takes to make a tradition. Think of the traditions you have that are annual, like a vacation spot or a thing you like to do on your birthday. Do you have to have done it for 60 years before it's a tradition? Probably not.

There are certain rhythms that come up often in NA taiko, both in composition and in soloing, like triplets. Is that a tradition? Most taiko gatherings I know tend to revolve around food, but is that a tradition?

A tradition definitely doesn't have to be something unique, either - do you bow before entering your dojo/studio? That's definitely a tradition. Do you warm up with your group counting in a cadence together? Do you bow to each other before you start practice? Traditions!

When does playing a song become a tradition? Is it more defined by when it's played or how often? Will someone decide when your songs are traditional, or will that only happen in hindsight? As usual, I don't try to answer all the questions I pose. My goal is to get you to come up with your own!

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"tradition." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam-Webster Online. April 16 2011

"tradition." TheFreeDictionary.com. 2011. Farlex. April 16 2011