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Mark H Rooney Taiko

Taiko Instructor & Performer

Coming up this winter: Meet the Artist Virtual Concerts

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Please join us for our upcoming series of Meet the Artist virtual concerts!

meet the artist

Whether you’re an experienced taiko player or someone looking forward to seeing taiko for the very first time, a Meet the Artist event as presented by Mark H will be an evening of taiko that you’ll never forget.

Anything can happen at Meet the Artist – we’ve had Mongolian throat singing (courtesy of Shoji Kameda), ukelele (courtesy of Kenny Endo’s special guest, Abe Lagrimas, Jr), spontaneous storytelling (courtesy of Mark H and Kris Bergstrom), and audience members helping to create a special, improvisational piece (courtesy of Tiffany Tamaribuchi).

This winter, we’re ready to help you fight off the cold-weather blues with a special Meet the Artist series featuring our amazing CONNECT 2021 instructors! Help us keep the CONNECT spirit going until we’re all able to get together safely in person once more and join us for an evening of performance and conversation on Zoom.

These are FREE concerts, but you will need to register since there are a limited number of virtual seats available.

Our first Meet the Artist: Yurika Chiba!

Yurika ChibaOur first event in the series, featuring Yurika Chiba, is coming up on Friday, November 20 at 8:00pm EST.

More Info

With more great events coming soon!

Next up is David Wells in December, followed by Unit Souzou in January 2021 and Ryo Shimamoto in February 2021. Stay tuned – all the details on those events are coming your way soon.

We can’t wait to hear these awesome artists play some of their favorite pieces, share works-in-progress, discuss their influences, answer audience questions, and more – and we hope you can join us!

 

 

Join us for outdoor workshops!

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Welcome back to taiko!

People playing masks in an outdoor pavilion while wearing masks

Our classes are still on hiatus, but we are beyond excited to get back to playing taiko together. That’s the main thing we’ve all been missing during COVID – the chance to connect with our fellow human beings.

AND we have found a great outdoor space at Glen Echo Park where we can play together safely.

So whether you’ve been practicing regularly on your own for months … or you haven’t had the time or energy to think about taiko since March … or even if you have never played taiko before but you’re ready to take your first taiko workshop …

We have a workshop for YOU this fall!

Taiko Drills 101: Sunday, October 25 (3:00 – 5:00pm)

Glen Echo Park workshop

Don’t let the title fool you! In this workshop, Mark H will introduce a variety of drills to help you keep up your taiko mojo. Open to anyone who has been part of our Adult Recreational Taiko Class who has taken a full series of our Adult Recreational Taiko Class or who has equivalent experience.

Taiko Drills 201: Saturday, November 7 (3:00 – 5:00pm)

Glen Echo Park workshop

If you’re a bit further along in your taiko practice, this workshop will help you keep your taiko momentum going and work on listening and learning as well as speed, coordination, ambidexterity, and bachi control. Open to anyone who has been part of our Adult Recreational Taiko Class for at least a year or who has equivalent experience

Introductory Taiko Workshop: Sunday, November 15 (3:00 – 6:00pm)

Glen Echo Park intro workshop

This workshop is designed to introduce the basics of taiko technique, practice of kumidaiko (ensemble drumming), awareness of ki (energy), use of koe (voice), history and philosophy — all while having a good time! No experience necessary, but come ready for a workout!

 

Because space in these workshops is extremely limited, they are going to fill up quickly, so check your calendars, dust off your bachi, and click on the links above to get all the info and complete your registration.

mask with drumWe look forward to seeing you! But before you register for any of these workshops, please look carefully over our outdoor workshop policies so you know all the protocols we are taking for the safety and comfort of your fellow taiko players (and your instructor!).

New dates for CONNECT 2020!

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As many of you know (or at least suspected), CONNECT 2020 – which was originally scheduled for August – has sadly been postponed until next year.

AND NOW WE HAVE A DATE! We are postponing a full year so that we can all feel comfortable playing taiko together and connecting, person to person, as was always the main focus!

It is with much excitement (and anticipation!) that I announce our dates for next year! Please, hold onto July 31- Aug 1, 2021 (with a day or two at either end to travel and/or see the sights). We’ll be updating our CONNECT pages to reflect this new info shortly, and REGISTRATION IS OPEN for anyone who wants to go ahead and save their spot for this unique conference now happening in 2021!

Until then, Stay Safe, Stay Strong and Move Forward!

— Mark H

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