Mark H Rooney Taiko

Taiko Instructor & Performer

Save the date for summer workshops!

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calendar with notebook and laptopSummer is a time when we’re supposed to relax, but somehow, it always ends up being a really busy time – there are vacations to plan, pools to swim in, barbecues to attend, and lots of ice cream to eat!

As you’re planning all your summer fun, don’t forget to save time for TAIKO! Although we don’t run a standard 8-week session of our Rec Class or Advanced Skills Class in the summer, we know that it’s just not possible for you to go all the way til September without a few chances to hang with your taiko peeps!

With that in mind, here are some dates to reserve on your calendar…

Saturday, June 29, 5:30-7pm

Bon Odori Workshop

Learn folk dances from one of Japan’s favorite summer festivals! Open to ANYONE: no dance or taiko experience required!

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!

Sunday, July 21, 5-8pm

STAY TUNED!

We’ll reveal all the details of this workshop soon – but we can tell you that it’s 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 & 5-8pm

STAY TUNED!

W H A T ? ? ? More mystery workshops?! Yup, you know it! After all, we don’t call Mark “the world’s most dangerous half-Japanese/half-Scottish solo improvisational taiko artist” for nothin’ … we like to live on the edge here at Mark H Taiko! There will be TWO workshops on this date and BOTH of them are open to anyone who has taken one series of our Rec Class! We guarantee that these workshops will give you plenty to practice and keep your taiko mojo going until our fall classes kick off in September.

Watch this space for the rest of the details and we’ll see you this summer!

Yodan Uchi with Yuta Kato

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“Yodan Uchi,” which means hitting on 4 levels, was originally composed by Yoshihisa Ishikura, Yutaka Ishizuka, Seido Kobayashi, and Motoei Onozatoone of one the first kumidaiko groups in Japan (Sukeroku Taiko of Tokyo, formed in 1959). This exciting and dynamic piece, in which the players hit on all 4 drum heads, has become one of the most popular in the taiko world today.

In this workshop, Yuta will cover naname and 2-drum exercises and drills that are essential to playing Yodan Uchi well. He will also introduce patterns for you to use as starting points for your own arrangement.

Previous naname (the style of playing on a slanted stand) experience is required for those who wish to take this workshop.

After training for 3 years in Japan, Yuta Kato was granted permission to teach Yodan Uchi by one of the founders of Sukeroku Taiko, Motoei Onozato.

 

About Yuta

Yuta Kato was born and raised in California to a Japanese-only speaking family. Introduced to taiko by Kagami-Kai, a local rice-pounding group, he decided to further his studies with San Francisco Taiko Dojo at the age of 10. Since then he has been a part of UCLA Kyodo Taiko, Nihon Taiko Dojo, Getsuyoukai, as well as professional groups TAIKOPROJECT, ON Ensemble, and Portland Taiko. From Fall 2007 until Winter 2011, he lived in Japan to study under masters of various traditional Japanese music. Upon returning to the US in 2011, he served as the Coordinator for the 2011 North American Taiko Conference, one of the largest gathering of taiko players from around the globe.

Yuta is also a sought-after taiko instructor who has been invited to teach throughout the world.  He currently resides in California, serving as the principal and instructor for LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute) housed at  Asano Taiko US, which opened in 2013. He performs as a member of UnitOne (Torrance, CA).

Don’t miss Yuta’s other workshops

Intro to Hachijo Daiko (Saturday, June 8, 11AM-2PM)

Creating your Hachijo Solo (Saturday, June 8, 3-6PM)

Register for multiple workshops and save!

Plus!

Keep the awesome taiko flowing all weekend … Join us just up the road in Takoma Park for Yuta’s Meet the Artist performance (Friday, June 7 @8PM) and Hachijo Party (Saturday, June 8 @8PM)!

Creating your Hachijo Solo with Yuta Kato

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This 3-hour workshop will dive into the details of how to practically go about creating your own Hachijo solo piece. Yuta will lead you through a series of exercises based on lessons learned throughout his Hachijo Daiko experience.

Yuta’s Intro to Hachijo Daiko workshop (or previous Hachijo Daiko experience) is required for those who wish to take this workshop.

 

Hachijojima is an island located 178 miles south of Tokyo. During the Edo Period, convicts who committed the worst crimes (political activism) were sent to Hachijo island. Often times these convicts were members of the educated Samurai class. They brought with them sophisticated art and culture to the island. Since their swords were taken away, legend has it that the samurai picked up bachi and played taiko as a substitute for martial arts and recreation.

Today, 8,500 people live on this small island, and the spirit of the drum lives on in almost everybody.  The style is truly improvisational, with just two people hitting on each side of the drum. Yuta Kato has lived on Hachijo for 15 months and immersed himself in the taiko and culture there.

About Yuta

Yuta Kato was born and raised in California to a Japanese-only speaking family. Introduced to taiko by Kagami-Kai, a local rice-pounding group, he decided to further his studies with San Francisco Taiko Dojo at the age of 10. Since then he has been a part of UCLA Kyodo Taiko, Nihon Taiko Dojo, Getsuyoukai, as well as professional groups TAIKOPROJECT, ON Ensemble, and Portland Taiko. From Fall 2007 until Winter 2011, he lived in Japan to study under masters of various traditional Japanese music. Upon returning to the US in 2011, he served as the Coordinator for the 2011 North American Taiko Conference, one of the largest gathering of taiko players from around the globe.

Yuta is also a sought-after taiko instructor who has been invited to teach throughout the world.  He currently resides in California, serving as the principal and instructor for LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute) housed at  Asano Taiko US, which opened in 2013. He performs as a member of UnitOne (Torrance, CA).

Don’t miss Yuta’s other workshops

Intro to Hachijo Daiko (Saturday, June 8, 11AM-2PM)

Yodan Uchi (Sunday, June 9, 12-3PM)!

Register for multiple workshops and save!

Plus!

Keep the awesome taiko flowing all weekend … Join us just up the road in Takoma Park for Yuta’s Meet the Artist performance (Friday, June 7 @8PM) and Hachijo Party (Saturday, June 8 @8PM)!

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