During two of my workshops at Taiko Conference I’d had the opportunity to play on a Remo shime.  Although they don’t  quite have the same sound as the genuine hide drums, I thought they seemed pretty decent.  I guessed that they are less expensive than a lot of natural skin shimes.  Also, as a vegetarian, I’m always wishing that there weren’t animal parts involved in my music-making.  So, I started fantasizing about getting my own Remo shime, but when I found out the price ($625) from Remo’s website,  I figured it would be a while before I got one…

…but what the heck, I’ll see what’s being sold on eBay…

Just what I wanted!

There she was, a used Remo shime, and I won the auction at a price I could afford!

When she finally arrived, I opened the box with glee, but…

“Ew!  It smells like an ashtray!”

Before cleaning, the smoke residue came off on my bachi tips.

How did she end up smelling so bad?  Taiko is such an athletic activity, I don’t think many taiko players smoke.  Maybe she used to hang out in smoke filled bars and nightclubs.  She’s a hard working showgirl.  I think I’ll call her Smokey.

Whatever her past, she’s moved in with us now, and I’ve promised to give her a new and healthy life.  Fortunately, after consulting with the helpful customer service at Remo, I found out that I could clean her heads with Windex and body with furniture polish.  Then with Joy’s help, I changed the rope.  She’s gone from stinky white synthetic to elegant wine-colored hemp.

Cleaned Up and Retied

And thanks to Smokey, I finished 30 days to better shime on schedule!

My Practice Setup

At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, I absolutely love and recommend Kristofer Bergstrom of On Ensemble’s program 30 Days to Better Shime. I first heard about the course while attending this year’s North American Taiko Conference in Los Angeles, California. Not being one to often play the shime (a small, high-pitched drum often used to lead a taiko ensemble), I almost passed the program by without a thought. Luckily, I realized the very fact that I didn’t play the shime very much was exactly why I should sign up. 28 days in, I can safely say that in my 10-odd years of studying music, this course is one of the most singularly helpful and beneficial tools I have ever encountered.

If I had to find fault with the program, it would be that the title does not imply nearly the full scope of what it has to teach. The exercises and drills that Mr. Bergstrom has put together often focus on musical skills far more fundamental than technique for just this specific drum. The exercises in coordination, tempo control, ear training, and basic practice skills (to name a few) are so well constructed as to serve as training tools for fundamental rhythmic ability and overall musicianship. They’re broken down to their very basic forms, allowing them to easily be applied to other taiko, drum kit, percussion in general, and I’ve even used some of them in my guitar playing.

30 Days is ultimately as simple to use and to complete as it is useful. The entirety of the course can be completed with a single pair of drum sticks and a practice pad, and if you’re willing to practice in front of the computer, all of the materials can be downloaded for free. After a few weeks of practicing 15-20 minutes a day, I’ve already noticed a considerable improvement in my timing, technique, and consistency, and I would strongly recommend this program to any musician, percussionist or otherwise.