Japanese – Aber Taiko

More Taiko drumming workshops!

Our second Taiko workshop in 2024 is open to all 12+.

Much fun was had in our January workshop. There were 8 people aged 17-‘ancient’. Some completely new to Taiko, some have been before to one of our courses. They learnt how to approach the drums, and quite a few basic rhythms that interlaced with each other. The drums were loud, and it was really nice to see people smiling when enjoying a new cool combination of hits and choreography. We had the big drum out as well, and had a round of really energetic playing. It wasn’t just about drumming – a really nice time was spent together, meeting new people and old friends, catching up after a few years, seeing children growing up.

We are continuing with this offering of a monthly opportunity to get hooked on Taiko.

Come with your family or your friends, make music, increase your heart rate, and be LOUD .

Drum line, ready for one of our summer gigs

Sunday 25th February, 11:00-12:30
Gors community hub, Heol Y Gors, Swansea SA1 6SA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/k81uFCVagV886wxb8
Adults: £15/ £11 concessions
Young people: (12-18): £10/ £8 concessions
Booking Essential!!
email us: aber.taiko@gmail.com to book and for details on payment

Spring Workshop

[This one was cancelled and will be rescheduled when life gets back to what it used to be – stay tuned!]

What is it about taiko? is it the drums themselves? maybe the rhythms? or the power? the movement? the community created in a room of strangers trying to achieve something in unison? the freedom to shout when anywhere else we need to be polite? the endorphins that come with continuous physical activity? why not come and see for yourself?

Summer Taiko

Summer has been a busy time for us, with gigs almost every weekend of July. After the Tanabata festival we played for the

tipsy runners of the beer mile relay in the Love Trails Festival. We gave them an ‘Oroshi’ (a kind of a drum roll that conveys the feeling of wind swooshing down a mountain) to start the drinking and while they ran we played our pieces for the cheering audience. This repeated 7 times – the last of which we had taken turns playing improvised solos to the mitsu-uchi (don d0 ko) back beat. Indeed we have come a long way since we had been wincing to the thought of soloing in front of anybody!

Drum line and set list at the Gower Chilli Festival

2 weeks later we played at the Gower Chilli festival. It was a bit more grim and the rain was absolutely pouring down but this didn’t stop us having fun and cheering wet people up.

Immediately after we went down the road and gave a workshop to the guests of a lovely wedding. They had then played their hearts out for the bride and groom who enjoyed the show immensely. It was nice to be part of that.

In August we had a break from gigs and group practice but some of us had gone to study taiko – with Mark Alcock at his summer school for chappa and Yoko Uchi and then – Taiko Baka with Tiffany Tamaribuchi. Taiko Baka happened for the first time in the UK, 3 days of Odaiko playing.

We couldn’t really let Tiffany leave the UK without teaching us some more so we invited her to our practice session and she helped us find energy and spirit when playing Buchi Awase, one of our favourite songs. And she also gave us some tips on playing 2 or more drums. We now have many ideas for drills and movement. We are so inspired by Tiffany’s teaching and demonstrations – ready to start our 4th year together now in September.