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Mark H Rooney Taiko

Taiko Instructor & Performer

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!).

2020 is almost here!

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Happy Holidays from Mark H Taiko!

Thanks to all of you who are part of the Mark H Taiko family for making 2019 such a fun, taiko-filled year! We’d like to pause and give a shout-out to all our incredible students, fabulous Miyako and MHTX members, and amazing friends from near and far who’ve joined us for workshops or for the Sakura Taiko Takeover over the past year. YOU are what makes our corner of the taiko world such a wonderful place to be and we are so glad to have you with us on this taiko journey. Doumo arigatou gozaimashita!

Another year is almost here … and with it, as always, MORE TAIKO!

Three awesome taiko workshops to kick off 2020!

As is our tradition here at Mark H Taiko, we’ll be starting the New Year with some workshops to help you get your taiko year in gear! Please save the date and join us in Takoma Park!

Saturday, January 4

Katsugi Okedo: The Moving Drum (12:00 – 3:00pm)
The okedo daiko is a tied drum with a barrel-shaped body – and it is light enough to move with you as you play! Learn the fundamentals of this exciting style and how to move as you drum!

Taiko Communication (4:00 – 7:00pm)
Spend some time focused on the connection and communication among taiko players while also learning key techniques for improvisation and soloing in a kumidaiko context!

Sunday, January 5

Intro to Naname Uchi (1:00 – 4:00pm)
Naname uchi is a favorite of many taiko players because it offers so many interesting possibilities for movement and expression. Whether you are new to naname (pssst, it’s our focus for the Winter Advanced Skills Class starting in January!), looking to brush up on fundamentals, or interested in exploring the methodology for teaching this style in your own group, this workshop is for you!

We hope to see you there!

All three of these workshops are open to anyone who has taken at least two full series of Mark’s Rec Class or has equivalent experience (about 6 months). We welcome visitors from out of town who are looking to start 2020 off with some taiko camaraderie! (And as always, those who sign up for multiple workshops get a special discount!)

Of course there’s lots of other great stuff happening next year too – our first Introductory Taiko Workshop of the year is on Sunday, January 12; classes will be starting up again in January; we’ve got a new Taiko Voices blog series in the works, featuring many of YOU from the Mark H Taiko community; the 2020 Sakura Taiko Takeover is happening at the Tidal Basin on Saturday, March 28; AND we’ve got CONNECT 2020 coming up on August 1 & 2! SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO!

We’ll see you in 2020!

Happy Fall from Mark H Taiko!

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person wearing grey socks stands on wooden stairs with pumpkin, leaves, and coffee
photo by Alex Geerts on Unsplash

It may still feel like summer here in DC (how many more of these 90-degree days are we going to have?) but we know you’re as ready for those warm and fuzzy fall feelings as we are!

We’re super excited to be back in the taiko zone again after a summer break. Our Fall class series kicked off this week and we’re loving all the great energy all of our students are bringing to the Recreational Taiko Class and Advanced Skills Class! Don’t miss the opportunity to see all of these great folks sharing that taiko energy at our Fall 2019 Recital … our Mark H Taiko recitals are always fun and family-friendly events and they just keep getting bigger and better every year.

Mark is also super excited to bring his newest venture, The Mark H Taiko Connection (aka MHTX), to the venue where he first saw taiko 22 years ago! Boston-area friends, come out at see MHTX at the Manjiro Festival in Fairhaven, MA this Saturday!

And for those of you looking ahead to 2020, we’re excited to announce our next Introductory Taiko Workshop, which is coming up on January 12 … our last several Intro Workshops have all sold out, so if you or a friend wants to sign up, don’t wait to register!

And now … bring on the pumpkin spice! 😉

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