SVDSN  "A Taste of Taiko" Workshop

Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 11-11:50 am

On Saturday, August 26, SVDSN will hold a Japanese taiko drumming workshop for self-advocates, ages 11 and up, and their siblings. This is a great opportunity for those who are new to taiko and may be interested in trying out this community-based art form. 

Students will have a hands-on introduction to ensemble Japanese drumming. While taiko, the drum, has long existed in Japanese traditions, the ensemble style of taiko, a.k.a. kumidaiko, we play in North America only developed in Japan in the 1950's! This relatively new style of taiko evokes excitement and a celebratory atmosphere and is found in many festivals in Japan. In America, taiko was nurtured by the Japanese American communities during the Asian American civil rights movement in the 1960's and 1970's, and had particularly strong roots in Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Churches (Buddhist Churches of America). As a result, taiko gained visibility and popularity as a vibrant performing art, inspiring groups to form across the U.S. in diverse communities, schools, and colleges, and even in Europe and South America. Taiko is an art form that lends itself to inclusivity and unity-- it gives everyone a voice and the opportunity to be heard. SVDSN is excited to be partnering with TaikoPeace, the Mountain View Buddhist Temple, and Sydney Shiroyama to bring taiko to our families. 

In this workshop, Mallory and the instruction team will be working with students, introducing them to the basics of taiko. We will use the standard "kuchi-shoga" method that taiko players use to teach pieces to one another, chanting the drumming patterns out loud as they are learning to physically drum the movements, using words or sounds that are assigned to certain movements and rhythms. 

SVDSN will follow the same protocols used during our Spring 2023 classes: 

• Classes will be held indoors in the gym at MVBT. 
• No food is permitted during class. (Water is permitted as we will take water breaks during class.) 
• An adult, age 18 or older, must accompany the self advocate. For returning students, drop-off is acceptable if cleared ahead of time with the instruction team. 

Please note that our host location, Mountain View Buddhist Temple, is open to in-person activities, so we may see other groups of people on site. We follow their in-person activity protocols. Thank you for your understanding!

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, but we hope to see you at taiko! 

Dates: Saturday, June 10, 2022

Time: 11--11:50am PT

Location: Mountain View Buddhist Temple (outdoors)

Cost: $10/class for SVDSN members*; $20/class for non-SVDSN members

*Note: scholarships are available to SVDSN families; signing up to join SVDSN is free! Please email svdsnprograms@gmail.com with your request.