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Thank you to all the taiko players who have applied to participate in this year’s Summer Taiko Institute, happening August 3-5, immediately prior to the 2009 Taiko Conference.  Sign up now to take advantage of an amazing opportunity for three days of intensive taiko!  The application process is quick and easy!

Applications are due Friday, April 10, 2009.
http://www.taikoconference.org/summer-taiko-institute

We’re pulling out all the stops to make this STI jam-packed with goodness!  We’re composing a brand new taiko piece, to be debuted and taught to the 25 participants.  The piece will be the foundation for exploring each step of the song cycle: from practice to performance to critical review and revision.  In addition to basic form and technique training, participants learn practical tips for improving timing, musicality, and playing as a group.  As the song is further polished, supplementary drills and performance concepts for refinement are explored.  Along with specific techniques, rhythms, and drills, participants learn the On Ensemble members’ underlying philosophies and creative processes.  STI participants come away empowered to apply the concepts to future songs. The course provides numerous take-home materials, in addition to the new piece itself, for sharing with participants’ home groups.

In the last few years, On Ensemble has been hard at work developing an extensive series of workshops, and we’ll be drawing from all this work for STI! In short, this is the going to be the best hands-on taiko intensive On Ensemble has ever done!

Visit http://www.taikoconference.org/summer-taiko-institute to learn more and apply!

We are very pleased to announce that On Ensemble will be teaching the 2009 Summer Taiko Institute!  This 3-day taiko intensive will take place in Los Angeles on August 3-5, immediately prior to the 2009 Taiko Conference.

Applications are due Friday, April 10, 2009.

We’re pulling out all the stops to make this Summer Taiko Institute (STI) jam-packed with goodness!..

(more…)

What do you think are some of the key issues to be discussed at Taiko Conference this coming August?

Past topics include:

“What you should know but we don’t talk about”, a discussion of taiko etiquitte,

“You’re a taiko player?!”, what it means to play a Japanese drum when you’re not Japanese,

and near and dear to my heart,

“Why taiko music should be free, and how Copyleft can help us”, about why I believe all music should be freely shared.

What do you think?  What are key questions for us taiko players to discuss?  Please share your thoughts below!

Thank you everyone again for some great feedback on our last Taiko Conference Survey regarding workshops for this year!

This August the North American Taiko Conference returns to Los Angeles!  Every two years the taiko community rallies together to create the Taiko Conference, an amazing weekend of taiko workshops and performances, with players, teachers, and taiko enthusiasts from around the world.  The JACCC will be hosting the Conference again, and a number of us are volunteering to help with the planning and preparations.

One of the first challenges is to determine what workshops and taiko topics we’d like facilitators to offer during the Conference.  Toward this end, we are asking past participants to give us feedback.

In the comments below, let us know!  Thank you for your input!

In past Taiko Conferences, what workshops were particularly good?

Hello all!  I am very pleased to announce an exciting new taiko course I’m organizing for December: the Performance Intensive!

Over the course of three sessions, we’ll work on form, musicality, and practice technique as we collaboratively compose a new taiko piece!

Participants first work with me one on one to determine personalized goals for the three weeks.  Parts are then tailored to individual needs.  The session culminates in a real performance, with a real audience!

The course will be engaging, challenging, and fun!  Participants come away with directed feedback, experience composing, and a new piece ready for reuse!

Open to all taiko players.  I’m really looking forward to this fast-paced, fun series!  Join us!

Title:
Performance Intensive

Class dates:
Wed Dec 3, 6:30-8:30pm
Wed Dec 10, 6:30-8:30pm
Wed Dec 17, 6:30-8:30pm
Sat Dec 20, 3:00-4:30pm
(TaikoProject members: this last date shouldn’t conflict with bonenkai)

Location:
Gardena Japanese Cultural Institute
1964 W 162nd St, Gardena, CA 90247

Price:
$65

To sign up, please send me an email (kris <at> OnEnsemble <dot> org) or call 310-350-8825!  Looking forward to playing taiko with you!

Kris

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.

Along with performances in the Minneapolis area and Winnipeg, On Ensemble will be visiting taiko groups along the route and offering a number of taiko workshops!  If you’re a taiko player in or around any of the following cities, please let us know if you’re interested in a workshop or private lesson!

On Ensemble taiko workshops coming to:

Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Lincoln, St Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Winnipeg