Mark H Rooney Taiko

Taiko Instructor & Performer

Odaiko Like a Boss!

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Do the walls shake when you play odaiko?

Does a hush fall over the crowd when you step up to the drum?

Does your 5-minute solo make time stand still?

No? Not yet?

Then this workshop is for YOU!

Odaiko is a challenging style, but it also defines the art of taiko for many players and audience members around the world. This workshop will take you “from couch to odaiko solo” – a chance to learn not just the basics but also building blocks for the kind of creative self-expression that is an essential part of odaiko playing.

Whether you are new to the form and looking to learn the basics or inspired to take your odaiko solo to the next level, don’t just play odaiko – odaiko LIKE A BOSS! In this workshop we will start with basic form and technique, learn multi-leveled drills to challenge any level of experience and build stamina and even explore the creative process for building solos.

kitten walking like a boss

We welcome anyone who has been through at least TWO series of our Rec Class or who has previous taiko experience to join us in this workshop. If you’re interested in signing up for the fall Advanced Skills Class, which will focus on odaiko, it’s HIGHLY recommended that you take this workshop first!

Please check out our workshop registration and cancellation policies.

Mark H Rooney Taiko logoTake both of Mark’s summer workshops and save!

Take one workshop for $50, or two for $90!

July 21: Odaiko like a Boss!

July 28: Drills from Basic to Insane!

Mark H Rooney Taiko logoAnd don’t forget our Gomikan Workshop on July 28!

Make your own practice drum to use at home so that you’re ready to roll when our classes start up again in the fall!

Bon Odori Workshop

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A festive workshop celebrating one of Japan’s favorite summer traditions!

In this workshop, we will learn several Bon odori (Bon dances) from instructor Noriko Nakamura. Bon odori is a style of Japanese folk dancing that is done at Obon – a festival honoring the spirits of one’s ancestors. Noriko will also teach us a bit about the origins of the dances as well what Obon means to Buddhists in Japan and here in the U.S.

Obon is a time to celebrate our loved ones and remember those who have passed away. Although there are solemn aspects of Obon, it is also a joyous festival including lots of great food, taiko, and dancing!

Bon odori can be done by everyone – young and old, experienced dancers and those who have never even seen it before! It is meant to be a time to be un-self-conscious and join with others in a communal experience… but it never hurts to know a bit more about bon odori before you try it, so you’re ready to throw yourself into the dancing without having to learn it all on the spot!

This workshop is open to ANYONE! No experience in dance or taiko required!

Once you’ve taken the workshop, be sure to save the date for the Ekoji Buddhist Temple’s Obon: Saturday, July 13, from 3-9pm.

Join us for a fun evening of dance and history and find out why one of our longtime students calls this workshop “the best idea that Mark has ever had”!

About our instructor

Noriko Nakamura has been one of three Obon dance instructors at Ekoji Buddhist Temple for the past 40 years, and, as a Buddhist PK (preacher’s kid!), has been obon dancing since she was a little girl. She also holds a natori (a professional stage name earned by those who excel in a particular school of traditional Japanese arts) in classical Japanese dance.

Thanks to Kris Ikejiri for the photos of Ekoji Obon!

Join us for July Workshops!

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summer to do list

Summer is a time when many of us try to take things a little easy … and in that spirit, the Mark H Taiko School will be taking a brief “summer vacation” in the month of August (though Mark will see some of you at the North American Taiko Conference!).

But before we do, here are all the details on our awesome July workshops! We just KNOW that you don’t want to wait until the fall to get your next taiko fix, so go ahead and register today!

Sunday, July 14, 5-8pm

Introductory Taiko Workshop

Whether you are new to taiko or just want to brush up on the fundamentals, if you’re interested for this, register soon – our Intro Workshops have a history of selling out! This workshop is open to ANYONE – if you are interested in joining us for our next Rec Class series, this workshop is the right place to start!

Sunday, July 21, 5-8pm

Odaiko Like a Boss!

Whether you are new to the form and looking to learn the basics or inspired to take your odaiko solo to the next level, don’t just play odaiko – odaiko LIKE A BOSS! In this workshop we will start with basic form and technique, learn multi-leveled drills to challenge any level of experience and build stamina and even explore the creative process for building solos. This workshop is open to anyone who’s taken at least two full series of our Rec Class or who has equivalent taiko experience!

Sunday, July 28, 2-4pm

Make your own Gomikan Taiko!

In this workshop, you’ll not only learn how to make a practice drum out of a heavy duty trash can and tape (lots and LOTS of tape!), you’ll also leave the workshop with your very own completed model to use at home so that you’re ready to roll when our classes start up again in the fall! (Ready to ROLL … get it?) This workshop is open to pretty much anyone who would like to make their own practice drum!

Sunday, July 28, 5-8pm

Taiko Drills from Basic to Insane!

If you’ve been looking for more ways to practice taiko at home, don’t miss this workshop – drills are the perfect way to keep your taiko momentum going between classes and work on speed, coordination, ambidexterity, and bachi control – in short, all the foundational skills of excellent taiko playing! This workshop is open to anyone who’s taken a full Rec Class series or who has equivalent taiko experience.

See y’all in July … and stay tuned for info on our fall classes coming SOON!

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