[Report] Percussion Festival 2025 in Hiroshima

Percussion instrument maintenance course

In the maintenance course, we welcomed Mr. Shun Kanehara, percussionist of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, and in the first half he played small drums,
The second half uses the timpani to explain everything from the structure to maintenance and tuning methods.
I learned a lot of useful content from the start.

The explanation was based on the original materials, but among them was the tuning bolt.
When cleaning with a cleaner or applying grease, it is important to know how and on what parts.
Very easy to understand, even for those doing maintenance for the first time, such as how to apply grease.
It was explained.

Also, if you turn the timpani sideways and check the structure of the springs and pedals, you will notice that it is always at this angle.
The students, who have never seen them before, looked surprised. A figure leaning forward to listen to the explanation.
was very impressive.

During the Q&A session, I answered the question, "What is the hole next to the timpani pedal?"
, there was an explanation of the pedal adjustment bolt, and everyone was nodding deeply.

Mr. Kanehara, who gave a wonderful lecture, said, ``Everyone from junior high school students to adults and professionals participated in the room.
A large number of people gathered, and everyone listened intently. very meaningful time
I was able to spend some time there. Especially when it comes to timpani, we actually use the instrument to examine its structure and maintenance.
I was able to give a lecture on how to do a nonce, and I was able to see together important parts of the mechanism that we don't normally touch. ” I received a message.

Although the time was limited to 90 minutes, there were many perspectives and ideas unique to the players.
The course had a relaxed atmosphere from beginning to end, and it was clear that all the participants were having fun.

(Hiroshima Prefectural Bureau Chief: Fumiko Fukuba)

exhibition sales booth

The exhibition and sales booth was held in the lobby on the first floor of Cecilia Hall, Elizabeth College of Music. Surrounded by percussion instruments-related products, everyone from students to the general public happily wandered around each booth.

Thanks to the cooperation of musical instrument stores and instrument manufacturers from within and outside the prefecture, visitors to the festival can purchase not only sticks and mallets, but also small instruments, snare drums, cymbals, cajons, and other instruments from a variety of manufacturers. Opportunities like this are rare in local cities, and unlike the Internet, you can hear directly from the person in charge about the instrument in detail, and you can actually try out instruments such as mallets and purchase them, so I think the visitors enjoyed it.

Thank you very much to everyone who cooperated with the exhibition and sales.

(Chugoku-Shikoku Branch Accounting Auditor: Eiko Ikegami)

family concert

Each university in Hiroshima performed family-friendly songs arranged into percussion ensembles in a fun way.
At the opening, children gathered at the venue to the tune of Hiroshima University's "Do-Re-Mi" song.
They also got on stage and enjoyed the performance together! Next, everyone got into a groove with familiar Latin rhythms such as ``Disney Medley'' by Elisabeth College of Music and ``Mambo Medley'' by Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen University.

main concert

The first part is a performance by the winner of the solo contest held in January. Junior high school students, high school students, and university students each gave unique performances in the resonant Cecilia Hall.

The second part is a performance by percussion ensembles mainly active in the Chugoku-Shikoku region.
This year, "Percussion Ensemble y's" (Tottori Prefecture), "Hiroshima City Futaba Junior High School" (Hiroshima), "Fuchu Town Fuchu Junior High School" (Hiroshima Prefecture), "Shimane Prefectural Hamada High School" (Shimane Prefecture), "Hiroshima Prefectural Shobara Kakumichi High School" (Hiroshima Prefecture), "Marimba TETO" (Hiroshima Prefecture) and "Petricor Marimba & Piano Ensemble" (Shimane/Tottori) performed. It was a wonderful performance that fully demonstrated the results of their daily activities and showed the colors of each group.

At the end of the concert, association members and today's performers performed "Disco Kid."
Even though we only had 30 minutes of rehearsal on the day, the percussion solos went well and we were able to finish the performance safely.

(Chugoku-Shikoku Branch Secretariat: Hideyasu Hakutani)