koto
Thirteen-stringed Japanese instrument
A koto is a Japanese stringed instrument, traditionally with thirteen silk strings stretched over a long wooden body.
Players pluck the strings with finger picks while moving bridges to change pitch.
The koto has been central to Japanese classical music for centuries: She studied koto for years before her first recital.
Flat stringed instrument, played horizontally
- stringsThin flexible lines
- pluckedPulled out forcefully
- silkFine woven insect fiber
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
picks · tuning · soundboard · fretless · resonance · lacquer · wooden · timbre
Pleasing sequence of notes
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- performanceCarrying out a task
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- recitalSolo musical performance
repertoire · sakura · notation · tempo · dynamics · soloist · accompaniment · improvisation
Steadiness or amount owed
- unityWholeness through cohesion
- concordMutual agreement, peaceful relations
- accordHarmony between parties
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
serenity · peace · consonance · blend · integration · synchrony · cohesion · rapport
Japanese arts entertainer
- performerOne who entertains audiences
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- accompanistOne who plays alongside
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
Japanese word for teacher
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
- repertoireWorks ready to perform
transmission · mastery · certification · apprenticeship · pedagogy
zither
Flat stringed instrument, played horizontally
bridge · picks · tuning · soundboard · fretless · resonance · lacquer · wooden · timbre · fingerboard
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- performanceCarrying out a task
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
recital · repertoire · sakura · notation · tempo · dynamics · soloist · accompaniment · improvisation
balance
Steadiness or amount owed
- unityWholeness through cohesion
- concordMutual agreement, peaceful relations
- accordHarmony between parties
tranquility · serenity · peace · consonance · blend · integration · synchrony · cohesion · rapport · orderliness
geisha
Japanese arts entertainer
- performerOne who entertains audiences
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- accompanistOne who plays alongside
sensei
Japanese word for teacher
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
repertoire · transmission · mastery · certification · apprenticeship · pedagogy
- East AsiaChina, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Korea
- Japanese culturesamurai, kabuki, sumo, origami, tea ceremony
- Asian artskabuki, noh theater, Peking opera, Beijing opera, Chinese opera
- instrumentsguitar, guitars, piano, pianos, drum
- stringed instrumentsguitar, lyre, lute, mandolin, harp
- Edo Japanshogun, samurai, shogunate, daimyo, Tokugawa
kotodrum
Struck percussion cylinder
taiko · percussion · synthesizer · bass drum · trumpet
kotosynthesizer
Electronic sound-generating instrument
electric guitar · drum machine · electronic keyboard · sampler · theremin