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For the last three months I’ve been offering taiko classes in Ashland, Oregon.  Currently classes are being held on Monday afternoons 12:30-2PM and Friday evenings 7PM-8:30PM.  All levels are welcomed.  A variety of traditional rhythms and really useful techniques are covered.  If you happen to be in the area and you’re interested in lessons just contact me at kdrumlab@hotmail.com or give me a call at (541) 488-5503 for more details.

It was my pleasure to present a taiko demonstration for the Oregon Reads 2009 program last Tuesday in Medford, Oregon.  Oregon Reads 2009 is a community reads program that is encouraging Oregonians to read certain books.  This program will take place in nearly every public library and in every county in Oregon during the state’s sesquicentennial, January through April of 2009.  One of the selected books is Stubborn Twig by Eugene, Oregon author Lauren Kessler.  It’s the true story of three generations of a Japanese-American family, spanning across the 20th century in Hood River, Portland and Eugene.

The pieces that I performed were “Miyake”, “Kaitoryu” and “Yataibayashi”.  It was an interesting experience performing all of these ensemble pieces solo.  This Friday I’ll offer a taiko class here in Ashland, Oregon.  This will be the start of regular taiko classes that will be held once a week at the InnerSpace studio located at 280 East Hersey St. Bldg. #1 Ashland, OR.  For more information contact me at:  kdrumlab@hotmail.com

The tour to the east coast was awesome.  I especially had a lot of fun playing “Miyake” with Kaoru at the Drom show and at Kinokuniya.  It had been a long time since we both had played the piece and man am I sore.  It was also great to share  our experiences with Kodo and Ondekoza.  Now I’m back in Ashland, Oregon and today I’ll begin rehearsals for the Wole Soyinka play “Death and the King’s Horseman“.  It’s a Nigerian play that features Yoruban drumming and I’m one of the percussionists.  I’ll be performing with the Nigerian master drummer Bisi Adeleke.  This will be a lot of fun and an awesome learning experience.  The play opens on February 21st and closes on July 5th.  If you can, come check it out.

As we were conducting workshops on this tour I was reminded of a passage from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran and I want to share it with you.
“No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge. The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind. The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding. The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it. And he who is versed in the science of numbers can tell of the regions of weight and measure, but he cannot conduct you thither. For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.”

-Kelvin

I will be giving a two hour workshop on Saturday October 18th at 1:30PM in Ashland, Oregon. This will be geared towards beginners and intermediate levels. I will cover the basics and traditional rhythms (Renshuu Daiko, Miyake Daiko, etc.) The location is the InnerSpace 280 East Hersey St. #1 Ashland, Oregon. Workshop fee is $30.00 at the door.

Kelvin

Me with Ondekoza at the Den San memorial concert April 2008.

Let’s follow our inner music. Take heed to the cadence of breath, the cadence of rest. Taiko players, let’s see the correlation between this rhythm, our timing and our performance.

Kelvin

I’d really like to thank Maz for the iBook G4 computer. This brings me one step closer to being creative with compositions and recording, and staying more in the loop with the band since I’m far away in Ashland, Oregon.

Kelvin