Shoreline hosts Koto workshop for area K-14 teachers

Anne prescott of the Five College Center
for East Asian Studies plays the koto
Photo courtesy SCC

Shoreline Community College hosted a Japanese koto (13-string instrument) music workshop for K-14 educators and musicians on Saturday, February 28.

The workshop was co-sponsored by Seattle Miyagi Koto Association, Silk Strings and the University of Washington East Asia Resource Center.

This hands-on workshop was led by Anne Prescott of the Five College Center for East Asian Studies, Smith College in Massachusetts. Participants learned the history of the koto from the 17th century to today, and learned how to play “Sakura, Sakura” on the koto.

Shoreline resident Shiho Kurauchi

Attendees also enjoyed koto performances by Chiaki Endo and Seattle koto artist Shiho Kurauchi, who is a Shoreline resident. On March 1, Chiaki Endo was a guest performer with Seattle Symphony, performing in the “Celebrate Asia” Series

During the workshop, the 815 classroom in the music building was filled with K-14 teachers trying to play koto for the first time. Since the Westernization of Japan in the 19th century, Western music has been encouraged and the sound of traditional musical instruments such as koto have grown rare in Japan.

This workshop is part of an effort to preserve traditional Japanese musical instruments in a creative way that also appeals to Westernized ears. All the participants were impressed with the beautiful sounds of koto and were reminded of how the traditional aesthetic value transcends time and space.

--Shoreline Community College