Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you

A teacher performs a song on a koto.

A koto with the music sheet and picks.

 After the test Friday morning, we (my fellow JCMU students and myself) had the option to go to a koto lesson. A koto is a 13 string instrument much like a guitar and played somewhat similarly. You use picks on your thumb, index and middle finger to pluck the strings. The teacher that played for us has been playing for over 12 years. After she played for us and taught us the basics we were able to try in out for ourselves.
It was also my first time being in a tatami room. The room if what most people imagine when they think of old school Japan: woven mats covering the floor, sliding doors with the off white thin paper covering the openings, and they look out over a traditional Japanese garden. 

Deanna learns to play a song on the koto

Deanna plays a song on the koto.

The koto teacher explains to Ashley how to follow the music score and play the koto.

Koto Lessons from Kaitlin Thoresen on Vimeo.