Have you heard about the Shidara Master Class Tour? I wrote about their first residency in Japan earlier here and here.
SHIDARA, the professional group located in Aichi-ken, is bringing this program on tour to North America. Their workshops aren't ordinary either! I've heard you'll even learn how to make your own fue from bamboo.
Don't take my word for it, be sure to contact the person in charge of the Shidara residency coming near you for all the details.
All classes take place during March and April 2010:
SEATTLE
MARCH 26-29, 2010
$450 + lodging for 8 workshops
contact: Marinda Chen
email: marinda.chen (at) gmail (dot) com
The Seattle classes have been CANCELLED.
BOSTON
March 19-21, 2010
contact: Odaiko New England
email: shidara-weekend@onetaiko.org
MONTREAL
contact: Sandra Kadowaki
(Please email me directly for the contact information. I do not have permission to post online. You can access my email by clicking on my photo to the right.)
MOAB, UTAH
contact: Meladye Shively
(Please email me directly for the contact information. I do not have permission to post online. You can access my email by clicking on my photo to the right.)
A place for useful tips, drills, and information about taiko.
Showing posts with label 2009 North American Taiko Conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 North American Taiko Conference. Show all posts
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Online Taiko Community
I was not present at the North American Taiko Conference Leadership Forum, but I heard from those who attended that one recurring theme in the small group discussions was an online forum for taiko players.
Eventually I caught Alan Okada (Soh Daiko) when he wasn't already chatting with someone, and let him know I was interested in being involved with the exploration of creating an online taiko community. He brought up some very basic, very important questions that should be considered before jumping into anything.
The idea of an online forum has been tried in the past, but gradually trickled out. There are a few forums out there--I know the collegiate groups have one, and there is a UK taiko forum as well. But, a forum can only exist if participants are active. How do we create an atmosphere that is inviting so it can live, thrive, and be useful?
On the other hand, someone mentioned to me that perhaps the great thing about NATC is the space that exists between its recurrence. Every 2 years hundreds of taiko players get together and have an immediate connection through the drums we all love. Would having an online community diminish the effect of this connection?
Certainly there are many opinions on this topic, and many more questions to ask. So, I wanted to start by asking your opinion.
Alan wondered if my blog was active with comments... To be honest, it's not very active here at all. If you feel this is important, please prove me wrong and leave your opinion in the comments below!
1. Are you interested in participating in an online taiko forum? If so, please tell me why and what you would hope to get from it or give to it.
2. Do you feel that having an online forum could have negative effects on the taiko community? Please explain.
Eventually I caught Alan Okada (Soh Daiko) when he wasn't already chatting with someone, and let him know I was interested in being involved with the exploration of creating an online taiko community. He brought up some very basic, very important questions that should be considered before jumping into anything.
The idea of an online forum has been tried in the past, but gradually trickled out. There are a few forums out there--I know the collegiate groups have one, and there is a UK taiko forum as well. But, a forum can only exist if participants are active. How do we create an atmosphere that is inviting so it can live, thrive, and be useful?
On the other hand, someone mentioned to me that perhaps the great thing about NATC is the space that exists between its recurrence. Every 2 years hundreds of taiko players get together and have an immediate connection through the drums we all love. Would having an online community diminish the effect of this connection?
Certainly there are many opinions on this topic, and many more questions to ask. So, I wanted to start by asking your opinion.
Alan wondered if my blog was active with comments... To be honest, it's not very active here at all. If you feel this is important, please prove me wrong and leave your opinion in the comments below!
1. Are you interested in participating in an online taiko forum? If so, please tell me why and what you would hope to get from it or give to it.
2. Do you feel that having an online forum could have negative effects on the taiko community? Please explain.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
NATC 2009 Opening Reception
The great thing about NATC is that every moment is filled with running into people you haven't seen in ages, or meeting new friends. The weekend kicked off last night with a reception and, as is an NATC tradition, ended with a bit of jamming.
This year they decided to post up signs to represent the number of years of taiko experience. For example, the first sign was 0-5 Years of experience. If that's you, then you jumped up on a drum and improvised with others within that category. The process continued in increasing incremements until reaching the final group.
Here's a little bit of the ending below. Unfortunately, I didn't capture the wonderful women of taiko, but I'll get some from someone at some point and post it.
These video clips were taken by Marinda Chen of Seattle Kokon Taiko . They're short, but if you watch them multiple times, you'll always find a new person's energy to enjoy!
Seiichi Tanaka Sensei
Kenny Endo
Russel Baba
Now I'm off to the Opening Session, lunchtime Taiko Games demo, Taiko Marketplace, a workshop with Adam Weiner, Special Tribute to Daihachi Oguchi, and the free Taiko Ten Concert tonight! More videos tomorrow!
This year they decided to post up signs to represent the number of years of taiko experience. For example, the first sign was 0-5 Years of experience. If that's you, then you jumped up on a drum and improvised with others within that category. The process continued in increasing incremements until reaching the final group.
Here's a little bit of the ending below. Unfortunately, I didn't capture the wonderful women of taiko, but I'll get some from someone at some point and post it.
These video clips were taken by Marinda Chen of Seattle Kokon Taiko . They're short, but if you watch them multiple times, you'll always find a new person's energy to enjoy!
Seiichi Tanaka Sensei
Kenny Endo
Russel Baba
Now I'm off to the Opening Session, lunchtime Taiko Games demo, Taiko Marketplace, a workshop with Adam Weiner, Special Tribute to Daihachi Oguchi, and the free Taiko Ten Concert tonight! More videos tomorrow!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Make it Your Own, STI Day 3
Time has flown by so quickly! STI is over and we're moving, full-force, into a jam-packed NATC weekend. Hopefully I'll snag some time to keep writing!
Yesterday was the final day of the 2009 Summer Taiko Institute. I was sad to see it go... There's really something great about gathering with a group of people who've never played together before, learning with them, getting challenged by and with them, and bringing it all together with a performance. (okay, it was more like a "showing".)
The song we learned, like Omiyage, is meant to be shared with the taiko community--anyone can perform it. In Shoji's opinion Omiyage, which has been released under a free art license failed to take shape has he hoped, so yesterday morning he spoke to us about how he really wishes this new song to be used by the taiko community.
On Ensemble really embraces differences in people. There's no one way to play taiko--this was communicated loud and clear. But, in addition to that, it's also important to explore and discover what works for you. What is taiko? You must experiment and discover that for yourself. If you want to really say something when you're on the stage, you must take ownership of what you're playing.
Keeping this in mind, Shoji went on to explain that if you use this new song, he hopes you'll make it your own. Take it, pull it apart, put it back together, experiment, share it. Don't say this song is "by Shoji Kameda" because when you use it, it should be yours.
Take a look at one of our final rehearsals of the song below. Be sure to visit my YouTube page for more videos from the week! (I'll continue to post videos in the coming weeks.)
Yesterday was the final day of the 2009 Summer Taiko Institute. I was sad to see it go... There's really something great about gathering with a group of people who've never played together before, learning with them, getting challenged by and with them, and bringing it all together with a performance. (okay, it was more like a "showing".)
The song we learned, like Omiyage, is meant to be shared with the taiko community--anyone can perform it. In Shoji's opinion Omiyage, which has been released under a free art license failed to take shape has he hoped, so yesterday morning he spoke to us about how he really wishes this new song to be used by the taiko community.
On Ensemble really embraces differences in people. There's no one way to play taiko--this was communicated loud and clear. But, in addition to that, it's also important to explore and discover what works for you. What is taiko? You must experiment and discover that for yourself. If you want to really say something when you're on the stage, you must take ownership of what you're playing.
Keeping this in mind, Shoji went on to explain that if you use this new song, he hopes you'll make it your own. Take it, pull it apart, put it back together, experiment, share it. Don't say this song is "by Shoji Kameda" because when you use it, it should be yours.
Take a look at one of our final rehearsals of the song below. Be sure to visit my YouTube page for more videos from the week! (I'll continue to post videos in the coming weeks.)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Taiko Center at NATC -- Free shipping!
Need new happi or other costumes for your group? Those tabi soles worn out? Did you split your favorite pair of bachi and are searching for a replacement? Need mute pads to keep your sound to a minimum? Bachi bags? Taiko bags? Fue? Chappa? Learn taiko DVDs? Taiko?
Taiko Center will be at NATC 2009. I just received an email from them saying that if you place an order by the end of June, shipping is FREE and you can pick up your goodies at the marketplace at the conference.
So, browse the Taiko Center Website to see if they have what you need.
----
FYI
Did you know Taiko Conference is on Facebook and Twitter? Get in on the updates!
Taiko Center will be at NATC 2009. I just received an email from them saying that if you place an order by the end of June, shipping is FREE and you can pick up your goodies at the marketplace at the conference.
So, browse the Taiko Center Website to see if they have what you need.
----
FYI
Did you know Taiko Conference is on Facebook and Twitter? Get in on the updates!
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