Rhône Valley Rogues

Progress shots from the artwork for our latest single. by Malthus Wolf. Check out more of his artwork at artstation.com/malthuswolf
and
deviantart.com/malthuswolf
#fantasyart #fantasyartwork #wip #artwork #fantasy #visualkei #gothicrock #ビジュアル系 #V系 #v系バンド

Koto Tunings 101 - Hon Kumoi Joshi 本雲井調子
D G Ab C D Eb G Ab C D Eb G Ab
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #musictheory

The "Koto & Sake" panel is back! This Sunday, Nov 16, at Anime Iwai.
This is a VIP Premium event, so you'll need to buy a VIP pass to attend. It's 7-9 pm in the private dining room. Get yours at animeiwai.com/collections/...
#koto #animecon #Japaneseculture #Japanesemusic

Practicing koto for the 25th Annual Orlando Japan Festival this Sunday, November 9.
The event goes from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Yoshino-kai will be playing koto between 12:50 and 1:20 and I'll be doing a solo piece sometime during that slot. #koto #箏 #琴 #orlandojapanfestival

Happy Halloween from the Rhône Valley Rogues
artwork by Malthus Wolf

My favorite part of the song Ballade (バラード) by Utanoichi Okuda 奥田雅楽之一
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #Japaneseculture

Thanks to everyone who tuned in for the premiere of our new song last night. And a huge thank you to WFIT 89.5 FM and Steve Keller for playing it
It's out now on streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube. Links in bio
#gothicmetal #gothicrock #symphonicmetal #visualkei #ビジュアル系 #V系

Join us at 9 PM EST for the YT premiere of our spooky new single, In The Nightshade Grotto here:
youtu.be/HQ3jV6_Vq8k?...
Afterwards, WFIT 89.5 FM will be playing the song on Keller Radio so tune in directly after at WFIT 89.5 FM or wfit.org
#visualkei #ビジュアル系 #V系 #koto #箏 #琴

Koto 101 - pressing down with the left hand to raise the pitch #koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #musicteacher #Japan
The song is "Ballade" by Utanoichi Okuda

A quick koto play-along with In The Nightshade Grotto, our upcoming single. It's out on 10/28 but you can pre-save it on Spotify now:
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/...
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #visualkei #ビジュアル系 #V系

Do you know the name of this ramen shop? I used to pass it on the way to the SEION music store in Tokyo #ramen #ラーメン #koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesefood #Japan

Practicing a phrase from Seiza (Constellation) by Masaaki Kikushiro

Listening back, I realize that my 11th string is a hair flat...
Keeping a koto in tune during recording sessions can be challenging.
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #Japaneseculture #musicpractice

Youshun (陽春 "Springtime") by Masaaki Kikushiro opening line
It's supposed to be even faster, at 160 bpm. It's a good song for practicing sixteenth notes at a faster tempo
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #Japaneseculture #musicpractice

(Those familiar with this piece will know that I'm not strictly following the dynamics notation - a more correct interpretation would have every second phrase be softer, but I was just going along with how I was feeling the music at the time.)

My favorite part of Kitsutsuki (Woodpecker) by Yuize Shin'ichi
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #Japaneseculture #啄木鳥

Kitsutsuki (Woodpecker) by Yuize Shin'ichi
The opening to one of the first koto songs I learned at the Seiha traditional Japanese music summer program in Tokyo years ago, even before I moved to Japan.
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #Japaneseculture #啄木鳥 #唯是震一 #正派邦楽会

Harmonics on the koto, as they appear in our song Soukoku #koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #soukoku #双黒 #harmonics

Which koto tuning do you prefer?
Hira Joshi 平調子
D G A Bb D Eb G A Bb D Eb G A
or
Gaku Joshi 楽調子
D G A C D E G A C D E G A
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #kotolesson #musictheory #musictheory101

The first line of Ballade（バラード）by Utanoichi Okuda 奥田雅楽之一 While living in Japan, I had the opportunity to study under Utanoichi-sensei for several years and he greatly helped me with my koto degree. #koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #kotolesson
I know that bsky cuts off the video - pls follow on Insta & TT

Koto tunings 101 - Hira Joshi 平調子
D G A Bb D Eb G A Bb D Eb G A

I'm a licensed koto teacher who received my Jun Shihan from the Seiha school. I give lessons online or in person and do have some kotos to rent out. Send me a comment or DM if you're interested. #koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #musictheory

Koto 101 - Octaves オクターブ
I am a licensed koto teacher and give lessons both in person and online.
I do have a couple of rental kotos available. Leave a comment or DM if you're interested.
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #kototeacher #kotolesson #musiclesson

People often ask what I miss most about Japan. Navigating the train station tunnels at night is high on the list. You come across all sorts of interesting things.
Song: Villain Arc by the Rhône Valley Rogues
#Japan #livingabroad #japantravel #Japaneselife #tunnels #villainarc

Where I go, my kotos go~
#koto #箏 #琴 #Japanesemusic #soukoku #sokoku #双黒 #musicteacher #kototeacher #musician #lifeofamusician #musicalinstrument

Cherry blossoms and koto in Yokohama #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #Japan #koto #箏 #琴
Just a reminder that our music - both koto and rock songs - are available on YT and Spot if y
If you like what we do, the best way you can support is to Follow, Add, Like, and Listen. Thank you truly!

I Bet You Think This Song Isn't About You is still one of my favorite songs from any band I've been in.
And here's a short video of a stroll near Landmark Tower on my way to the pension office before I left Japan.
#livingabroad #japantravel #Japaneselife #landmarktower #Yokohama

I'm a musician from the US who lived in Japan for over six years studying traditional koto music. I've played in various visual kei influenced bands, the latest of which is called the Rhône Valley Rogues #ビジュアル系 #V系 #visualkei #Japan #koto #箏 #琴

Sharehouse in Japan. I lived here for six years #sharehouse #Japan #livingabroad #japantravel #Japaneselife

cutting off the old to make way for the new
with Bobby Griffin
#koto #箏 #琴 #satisfying #cutting #cuttingasmr #strings #Japanesemusic #musician

Bobby Griffin changing my koto strings.
Thankfully, his time in Florida overlapped with mine, so I was able to take three of my kotos to him and get them restrung. So now I no longer have three kotos with broken strings sitting in my room!
#koto #箏 #琴 #musician #Japanesemusic #musicteacher

As the story progresses, supernatural elements become more prominent and celestial conflicts in the background (written like straight-up cosmic horror) gradually spill over into the lives of the mortals.