Question Everything: When is it taiko?

image credit: http://bayareaocd.com

I've posed this question in the past, but for my newer readers I'd like to throw it out there again with a slight change.  Instead of the broader "what is taiko?" question, I'll make it "when is it taiko?".

Follow along the steps and when it hits a level you feel qualifies as taiko, ask yourself why?

Imagine a group of people ("training" = "training in taiko):

• with no training, standing, hitting phone books with Western drumsticks.
• with no training, standing, hitting phone books with bachi.
• with no training, in a low stance, hitting phone books with bachi.
• with some training, in a low stance, hitting phone books with bachi.
• with some training, in a low stance, hitting drums made out of PVC pipes with bachi.
• with no training, in a low stance, hitting wooden taiko drums with bachi.
• with no training, standing, hitting wooden taiko drums with bachi.
• with some training, standing, hitting wooden taiko drums with bachi.
• with some training, standing, hitting wooden taiko drums with bachi, playing a song written for Western percussion (marching band, orchestral, etc.)
• with some training, but very unskilled, in a low stance, hitting phone books with bachi.
• with no training, but very skilled, in a low stance, hitting phone books with bachi.
• with some training, very skilled, playing non-taiko drums as if they were taiko (Western, Samba, African, etc.)
• with some training, very skilled, hitting wooden taiko drums with bachi, incorporating non-Japanese elements such as juggling, hip-hop dancing, electric guitar, etc.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  Which of those qualify as taiko for you?  Is it more dependent on training?  Stance?  Equipment?  Why?  Can you argue for the others or are you steadfast in your opinion?  Has your opinion changed over your time playing?

I find it really interesting when people qualify what is or what isn't taiko, and I'm happy to debate them with this sort of logic-list.  Most of the time, when people say "that's not taiko," what they really mean is "I don't like it" but don't want to come out and say that...

Recognizing that all of this comes down to opinion, we can either choose to be more open-minded or close-minded.  But either way, just realize that no one is "more right" than anyone else!