What’s happening at CONNECT 2025? A LOT! We’ve got great workshops and activities planned.
Everyone who attends CONNECT 2025 will get to take the same 4 awesome workshops – that’s 12 total hours of drumming in 2 days! Because of this unique format, there’s no need for you to agonize over which workshops to sign up for. All you need to do is register!
Workshops
Aki’s workshop
Katsugi Okedo: Connecting with Your Drum for Harmonious Movement
Katsugi okedo is a challenging and dynamic style that requires a deep connection with your drum to create fluid, harmonious movement. In this workshop, we’ll learn how to build that essential connection, allowing the drum to become an extension of your body. We’ll cover fundamentals of wearing the okedo, proper striking techniques, and ways to move with ease and comfort while playing.
This workshop will help you gain confidence and coordination. You’ll also learn a short song to continue your katsugi journey after CONNECT. Whether you’re just beginning your katsugi okedo journey or looking to enhance your technique and musicality, Aki will help you discover how to create a balanced, natural rhythm that feels as good as it sounds!
Emily’s Workshop
Discovering Your Selfless Confidence
In this workshop, we’ll explore what it means to play taiko together through the use of breath and connection. When it comes to playing in unison, we may think in terms of sound, or visuals, or spirit – but what is ultimately needed is for each player to find their own selfless confidence.
Using a variety of exercises, we’ll explore techniques for beta-uchi form and technique that achieve different sounds, learn phrases from several songs, and play as individuals and in both small and large groups. We’ll create a welcoming awareness of one another and shift the focus away from ourselves as individuals to those that we’re playing with. We’ll learn to listen deeply and open up our hearts – all with the goal of gaining a greater connection with our fellow taiko drummers.
龍’s workshop
Odaiko Song: “Taikai” (大海)
In this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from an internationally-recognized odaiko champion and gain insight into his unique approach to odaiko playing!
龍 will help you develop greater confidence and body awareness, explore the finer mechanics of odaiko technique, and help you add more complex rhythms, greater speed, and a wider dynamic range to your odaiko vocabulary. In short, you’ll broaden the scope of what you can express on the big drum. You’ll also learn his original odaiko song, “Taikai,” which is meant to be played on both sides of the odaiko. This song can ALSO be played on beta uchi, and everyone who takes this workshop is welcome to add this piece to their own group’s repertoire.
Young’s workshop
Movement and Choreography for Taiko
This workshop, which is based in fundamental dance techniques and styles, will expand your movement vocabulary for taiko performance and composition. We’ll consider body awareness, address body alignment and breath, and use butoh imagery, all to help you connect with your body and its capabilities. We’ll also explore movement through space in both vertical and horizontal planes by creating longer phrases of movement, learning how to take weight in the hands, moving between and through bodies and drums, and moving as an ensemble.
Be willing to be open, to be creative, to be uncomfortable, and to take risks.
Schedule
(some times may change, but these are the basics!)
4:00 – 7:00 PM
Check in, settle into dorms, etc.
7:30 – ??? PM
Informal dinner/drinks/fun for all who are interested
7:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Conference check in for commuters and late-night arrivals
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Opening Session
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Box Lunch
1:00 – 4:00 PM
Workshop Session #1
4:15 – 5:15 PM
CONNECTION Session #1
5:30 – 6:30 PM
Dinner
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Workshop Session #2
10:00 – ??? PM
Informal taiko mingling & frivolity
7:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Workshop Session #3
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Box Lunch/ CONNECTION Session #2
1:30 – 2:30 PM
CONNECTION Session #3
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Workshop Session #4
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Dinner Reception/Taiko Open Mic/Closing
7:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Check out
