Workshop – Aber Taiko

April Taiko Workshop

Our next workshop will be on the 28th April 2024, 11:00-12:30. Open to all 12 years old and above – suitable for families, groups of friends or individuals who love drumming and want to try this energetic and loud art form in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

You will be shown the basics through a simple and engaging drum-song. You can expect to feel the beats through your core, use your whole body to drum, be challenged by some nice interlocking rhythms, and work up a sweat. This drumming form incorporates big movement of the arms, a bit of dancing, and use of our voices. It is so uplifting you will come out excited and smiling.

Venue: Gors community hub, Heol Y Gors, Swansea SA1 6SA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/k81uFCVagV886wxb8
Cost: Pay on a sliding scale between £8-£15. £15 is for those in work and/or comfortable. £8 for young people or those unwaged. Find yourself on that scale, no questions asked.
Booking is essential!
email us: aber.taiko@gmail.com to book and for details on payment

Taiko workshop for adults and young people (12+)

We are starting 2024 with an invite to join us in an enjoyable, energizing, and musical session of drumming suitable for all adults and young people over the age of 12.

What to expect? experience the power of our big drums, increase your heart rate, meet new people, feel the vibrations through your core, make music and have fun.

You will learn how to stand behind the drum, how to hit it to make a good sound, and a few rhythms to play along a base beat. All in a friendly and positive manner, where you can leave everything outside the room and give the drum and the group your full attention.

Date: Sunday 28th January, 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

We are planning for monthly workshops throughout the year, so watch this space!!

Studying with Kenny and Chizuko Endo

Taiko players from around the UK with Kenny and Chizuko

One of the nice things we learnt on our taiko journey is that reaching out to other taiko players will most probably lead to wonderful things happening. And so when we heard that Kenny Endo and Chizuko Endo are coming to Europe for a couple of months we immediately sent an email asking them to come over to Swansea and teach us.

Kenny Endo spent about 10 years in Tokyo playing with Oedo Sukeruko Taiko and studying classical music of the Edo period (Edo bayashi, Kabuki). So we asked him to teach us Naname and Shime basics.

Taiko players from around the UK came to Swansea to take advantage of this opportunity. Members of Mugenkyo, Kagemusha, Taiko Journey, Taiko Meantime Tamashii Taiko and Oxford Taiko arrived and brought with them drums, stands and such beautiful spirit.

We spent all day learning from the vast knowledge and experience of Kenny Endo and Chizuko. They were both so generous with their knowledge. We played drills and learnt a practice piece called ‘Oi Uchi’ on Naname. And on the shime we learnt a few Edo bayashi rhythms and could enjoy several demonstrations from Kenny and Chizuko.

The evening before – we had a demonstration and talk by Kenny and Chizuko. They played pieces written by Kenny Endo, and some from his time in Tokyo, written by Oedo Sukeruko. Kenny told us about Noh theatre and Kabuki theatre and demonstrated the use of the Kotsuzumi and voice. From his time in the Kabuki theatre in Tokyo he also demonstrated the quiet sounds that an odaiko can make that are used in Kabuki to bring to life the different natural phenomena – and unnatural phenomena too – Ghosts and spirits. It was a very inspiring evening for all of us.