Taiko Shine* is about having fun and healing from the stresses of day to day life. Taiko fun brings us back to our natural selves, before all that life happened to us. For kids, it builds self-esteem, confidence, musical ability, and community. It’s for anyone recovering from any kind of trauma they have experienced. It is an excellent healing tool for our brains, body, and spirit. It is FUN! Get on the mailing list here. Planning ahead for winter? Click here!
Fall Beginner Taiko
followed by Level 2 Hour of Fun
When: Mondays, (7:00-8 and 8:00-9) starting September 9
The 7 pm sixty-minute taiko lesson is a revolving course, each week focusing on a different part of taiko and the big drumming experience. There is no first or last class, so you can come to all or some. All are designed for the beginner player, even if you have never held bachi (sticks) before! More experienced players can get a lot out of the classes and improve their technique and form. More info on individual classes.
The second hour (8-9) is for those who like to move faster in class, who have had the basic taiko classes, and who would like to learn a longer, more difficult song as part of the curriculum.
Where: 2161 University Avenue, Keene Sense of Rhythm studio in St. Paul. Parking is in back.
Payment Information:
2 payment options for classes:
1) $15-$25 per person/per hour
2) $10/per hour. If this is not doable, please don’t hesitate to contact me to work something out.
(Venmo, cash, or paypal). Pre-registration is required unless it is the day before or day of – then DM me or text me so we know to bring a drum for you.
***New students please pay in advance. After your first class, cash and check are accepted, but if there are no-shows w/out a 24-hour advance notice, advance payment will be required. If you cancel within a day of class, you can use the payment toward a future class.
Looking ahead to winter:
We will have a student recital (participation not required) in December for family and friends.
The facilitator is Wendy G: Since the 2017 women’s march in St. Paul, I have been fixated with taiko. Like others, when I saw taiko, I knew I had to do it. I was signed up in the next week and purchased my first drum shortly afterward.
I attend workshops around the country, have been to four in Germany, and usually drum several days a week with others. This art form has changed and healed me. Originally Japanese, now people in all kinds of settings and with differing abilities play taiko around the world. For me, it is about connecting with others while moving, vocalizing, and making music. It has been a great resource for me to heal trauma, spur further emotional growth, lose weight, giggle like a child, and make new friends. It is loads of fun! Who doesn’t like making lots of noise with big sticks?
Here is an example of Taikollaborative having a blast playing Narushima by Katsuji Kondo of Japan and Mozamjam! by Shonagh and Martin Walker of Scotland or Harisen Daiko playing Yui by Roy Shimamoto.
Contact me if you would like a class from me at your treatment center, sober house, nursing home, or elsewhere. We can have fun, grow, de-stress, and heal at the same time!
Taiko is all about community: SANGHA.
S: We make a Song together.
A: When we play taiko, we are Assertive and Amazing (it’s hard to to be feel scared playing taiko).
N: We come back to our Natural selves, before life, trauma happened to us.
G: Playing taiko, we have to be as tall as Gigantic Giraffes (we gain perspective!), and we are Graceful (despite being so loud!).
H: We have Fun. Taiko is FUN!
A: We Affirm each other by yelling, encouraging, smiling (kiai in Japanese).
To me, taiko is extremely healing: it is full of power, community, spirit, support, freedom, fun, and it brings us back to our natural selves before troubles entered our lives. In the Buddhist tradition, Sangha means community or those we travel with, and community gives us strength, as does taiko and the taiko community. With taiko and community we can recovery from all kinds of trauma and troubles we carry.
Past taiko classess in St. Paul
* First known as Recovery Taiko, because the first class was sponsored by a Recovery Dharma meeting in St. Paul. It was awesome, and despite the name change, I still reach out to the recovery community!