Boom Kashakas – Asalato

$89.00

$$ ALL PRICES ARE IN CANADIAN DOLLARS $$

  • Our Boom Kashakas (aslalato) are a beautiful, durable and challenging percussive instrument consisting of 2 pairs of 2 hardwood balls measuring 2″/ 5.08cm, filled with two sizes of steel and copper pellets and connected together by a sturdy piece of paracord.
  • Now even lighter, only 7 grams per pair
  • Our original size Kashakas which are great for people with medium to large hands
  • Having two sizes of pellets gives the shaker a very unique sound.
  • The adjustable rope means you can size your Kashakas perfectly for your hands.
  • Your set of 2 pairs of Boom Kashakas come with a cotton drawstring bag.
  • The process that we use to locally handcraft our instruments ensures that your Kashakas will stand up to rigorous use and are backed by a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
  • We are very confident that you will love your Boom Kashakas and will be very happy with the sound, the feel of the balls in your hand, the satisfaction of watching your skill improve as you practice, and all the cool rhythms you can create!

9 in stock (can be backordered)

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Product price: $89.00
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Description

MEDIUM – BEST FOR MEDIUM TO LARGE SIZE HANDS

Our Boom Kashakas are a percussive instrument consisting of 2 hardwood balls filled with steel pellets connected together by a sturdy piece of paracord.  The process that we use at Artisan Instruments ensures that your Kashakas will stand up to rigorous use and are backed by a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Your set of 2 pairs of Boom Kashakas come with a cotton drawstring bag.

We craft our Kashakas to order, a process that takes 3 -5 business days. We are make approximately 40 sets per week and not every ball makes the grade! Your order may be ready to go in a day, or at the most in 5 business days depending on where we are in the process.

CHOOSING A SIZE:

If you have smaller hands, we suggest that you purchase the Lakas Kashakas. The Laka Kashakas are the easiest to learn to play, and they have a lighter sound. Our Boom Kashakas are our medium size Kashaka and they have a very satisfying sound and feel and we recommend these for those with medium to large hands. The Papa Kashakas are the most challenging to play however the thicker rope that they are made with allow them to pass around the hand very smoothly. All three sizes can be played with practice – this is a challenging instrument to learn even for those who have played percussion for years, but with patience and persistence you will see your skill grow. We include information on where to find lessons and inspiration on YouTube and Udemy with your Kashakas, and we highly recommend you check out Maisie Weller and Inbar Heyman on YouTube,as well as the videos right here on our website.

ADJUSTING YOUR KASHAKAS:

To adjust your Kashakas to your hand size, loosen the middle knot and move it so that when both balls are in your hand and the rope is over the top of your knuckles, there is enough room to a finger between the rope and your hand. Every player will have their own personal  preference as to the length of rope they like and it may change over time. We find it is easier to learn if the rope is a bit longer, and after you become more proficient you may like the control offered when the rope is tighter. If, after sizing, there is a lot of extra rope, you can trim it with a sharp pair of scissors or a box cutter, and use a candle/lighter flame to seal the rope so that it will not fray.

LEARNING TO PLAY

The technique for playing them is to hold one ball in the palm of your hand while swinging the other ball from side to side around the hand resulting in a clacking sound when the 2 balls meet. The pellets inside the balls create a shaker sound. The original version comes from Africa and is made from 2 small gourds off of the Oncoba Spinosa tree. This instrument is called many names including asalato, aslatua, patica (Japan), Kosika (USA), kes-kes, cas-cas, tchongot tche, and thelevi.

Learning to play the Boom Kashakas can be difficult at first, however they are super fun to play and with a little practice you will amaze yourself and your friends with all the cool rhythms that you can come up with. Check out the many videos on youtube and you will see how versatile this instrument can truly be.

They are also a skill development tool that can help improve dexterity, cross brain synchronization and can help to build strength and flexibility through the hands, arms and upper body. They can be a meditative tool that can lower stress and promote relaxation.

This is the perfect gift for musicians, teenagers, and anyone looking to improve their eye hand coordination, order a set today for someone you love!

Feel free to contact us anytime if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

May the Peace be with you,

Kristian Power and Lori Frederick

Additional information

Weight .2 kg
Dimensions 10 × 10 × 5 cm
Rope Color Options

Black, Bumblebee, Sand Camo, Fireworks, Viridian