I wrote this piece in 2008, desiring to create something that was high-energy, very visual, with patterns that were easy to learn but looked complex when layered.  I also wanted to avoid musical solos, and instead allow people freedom in how they move from drum to drum in certain sections of the piece.  The result?  Commotion!  And in 2025, I decided to release Commotion to the taiko community, as a Public Domain piece.  

This piece is high-energy and has a lot of physicality, but there are ways to tone down that intensity for people who may not be able to bounce around as much but still want to learn Commotion.  There are spots that are stationary, while others require people to hustle from one side of the stage to the other, so there are options for everyone!

The default version runs just about 4 minutes long at regular tempo, and while the minimum number of players is 7, it has been configured to fit up to 18 people for the larger venues.

For everyone who takes my workshop, I provide videos that break down each of the different parts for reference so you’ll never forget patterns, movements, or the sequence!