(Photo credit: Christopher Polanzi)
Adult Beginning I
For students with little or no experience with taiko. Basic form, rhythms, movement, philosophy, centering, and balance will be emphasized. Practice ensemble pieces are introduced.
Repeating this level is recommended for developing a solid foundation.
Instructor: Kenny Endo
Assistant:
Adult Beginning I – Nice & Easy (Tuesday)
For students with little or no experience with taiko and would like to study taiko at a gentler pace than our regular Beginning Taiko I. Basic form, rhythms, movement, philosophy, centering, and balance will be emphasized. Practice ensemble pieces are introduced.
Repeating this level is recommended for developing a solid foundation.
Instructor: Chizuko Endo
Assistant:
Adult Beginning II (Monday Online)
This course is for those students who have successfully completed Beginning I. Basics learned in Beginning I will be reinforced and expanded upon. Movement exercises in preparation for soloing will be introduced. Emphasis is on developing ensemble drumming skills, form and technique.
Instructor: Sho’on Shibata
Adult Beginning II (Thursday)
This course is for those students who have successfully completed Beginning I. Basics learned in Beginning I will be reinforced and expanded upon. Movement exercises in preparation for soloing will be introduced. Emphasis is on developing ensemble drumming skills, form and technique.
Instructor: Kenny Endo, Brock Asato
Adult Intermediate (Thursday)
This course is for those students who have successfully completed Beginning II or have three or more years of experience playing taiko. Focus will be on ensemble drumming, soloing, and repertoire development with possible opportunities for performance.
Instructor approval required before enrollment.
Instructor: Kenny Endo
Assistant:
Drills for Skills (Monday Online)
This class is all about improving fundamental drumming skills such as timing, bachi control, and coordination, through the time-tested drill and practice method. Systematic practice places emphasis on building rhythmic vocabulary and musical flexibility, while repetition aims to improve concentration and technique execution. These drills for skills are sure to make you a better taiko player in all settings.
Instructor: Sho’on Shibata
Japanese Festival Music (HIATUS)
This course is designed for students who are interested in diversifying their taiko experience by learning how to play Japanese festival music. As a folk art, there is less emphasis on form and more on expression and learning how to play well together. For a true ensemble experience, students will be encouraged to learn how to play all of the different instruments and gain musical independence.
Instructor: Sho’on Shibata
Katsugi Okedo Daiko (HIATUS)
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Beginning I and are interested in diversifying their taiko experience. Katsugi Okedo is a unique style of taiko playing in which the taiko is slung over the shoulder and carried as it is being played. This enables the players to have greater mobility and a wide range of choreography for a playful experience. This course currently uses a variety of practice drums that mimic the feel of Katsugi Okedo but are much lighter in weight, allowing players to hone technique, patterns, and movement while building the strength and form required to wield an authentic drum.
Instructor: Sho’on Shibata
Taiko for the Deaf Community
A Beginning I Taiko class accompanied by a sign language interpreter. Class material is the same as Adult Beginning I but is geared towards the deaf and hard of hearing.
Instructor: Chizuko Endo
Assistant:
Taiko Performance Training for Adults
Open to students who have already successfully completed Intermediate Taiko or have equivalent background in Taiko, and who have interest, talent, and potential to become a performer. Review of basic foundations of technique and form are on-going. Emphasis is on developing ensemble drumming and performance skills.
Instructor’s permission required for enrollment. Contact us for more details.
Taiko Center of the Pacific 