Koto Adult (18+) Workshop

The thirteen-stringed koto originated in China during the eighth century and was initially employed in gagaku orchestral music for aristocratic courts. By the thirteenth century it had entered temple ensembles, while by the seventeenth century blind musician Yatsuhashi Kengy transformed it into an art form accessible to broader audiences. Western musical influences from the Meiji era onward reshaped koto performance through the twentieth century. Miyagi Michio blended traditional techniques with Western elements in his innovative style; his composition Haru no Umi remains a staple during New Year celebrations today. The thumb plucks strings by pressing them laterally toward the player, while the index and middle fingers strike from the opposite direction. The left hand presses on the left side of the bridges to alter pitch. This workshop series offers two sessions: introductory youth classes for ages thirteen through seventeen run from ten a.m. until noon, followed by adult instruction from one p.m. to three p.m. Youth tickets cost one hundred dollars for members or one hundred twenty dollars for non-members; adult tickets are priced at one hundred twenty dollars for members and one hundred forty dollars for non-members. Please note that instruction is primarily conducted in Japanese.