If you’ve been part of Mark H Taiko for awhile, you know that when it comes to amazing taiko teachers, 嶋本 龍 is at the VERY TOP of our list! And if you haven’t yet had the chance to take a workshop with him … well, now is your chance to find out why we are always SO EXCITED to bring him back to the US!
JOIN US AUGUST 3 – 6!
We’ve curated a great selection of workshops with 龍 this August and there is something for EVERYONE! If you’ve only taken a single series of our Recreational Taiko Class or our Mini-Session, check out one of our All-Levels or Fundamentals workshops. If you’re an odaiko fanatic, check out the two Odaiko Saturday workshops. And if you’d like to work on a different style of taiko, like Set Playing or Katsugi Okedo, we’ve got you covered with our Styles Sunday. And no matter who you are, do NOT miss the “Sato no Matsuri” taiko party on Saturday evening!
Ready for all the info? READ ON, my friends, and sign up for your chosen workshops ASAP so you don’t miss out on all the fun!
Schedule
About
嶋本 龍
Born in Yuasa-cho, Wakayama-Ken where he first encountered taiko at age 11 and still resides, 龍 led a local taiko group (Shippu Uchi Daiko) for 15 years and in 2008, became a professional solo taiko performer and instructor. He has won recognition in recent years for playing odaiko, a style he has been training in directly from former Kodo core player, Mr. Katsuji Kondo.
In contrast to traditional volume and brute strength, 龍’s style of playing emphasizes sensitivity, power and clarity. He also stresses the importance of properly stretching and warming up the various parts of the body in a natural way achievable by people of all age ranges.
TAIKO PARTY!
All-Levels
Song: “Sato no Matsuri”
SAT, Aug 3
@ 7pm – 9:30pm
Max number of participants: 50 60
Location: Dance Exchange
(Studio 1)
7117 Maple Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Directions from Metro:
Exit the Metro and travel straight up Carroll Avenue. Continue for one block to Maple Avenue. Turn left on Maple Avenue and arrive at 7117 on your right. The main entrance and parking lot is at the back of the building.
Join us for a relaxed evening in the spirit of a small-town festival! This will be a unique, all-levels workshop that is equal parts taiko, food, drink, and FUN!
Whether you come for the taiko (and stay for the party!) or come for the party (and stay for the taiko!), we know one thing for sure: you are absolutely gonna have a great time!
First, we’ll learn the rhythms of “Sato no Matsuri,” an original song by 嶋本 龍 that highlights the festival experience. The song is designed to challenge advanced players yet also be easy enough for beginners (you just have to show up so you can see how and why this is true).
Then, we will play the song together, with everyone rotating through playing while also enjoying food, drink, and camaraderie. Much of contemporary kumidaiko music is based on “matsuri bayashi” (“festival music”) – meant to be played all day long and in the context of a festival – and this workshop is designed to help you to enjoy that feeling!
MATSURI AMBIANCE!
YES, this workshop will include food and drinks! Contributions encouraged! We’ll be keeping it simple (think finger foods that are OK at room temperature for a couple of hours – trust us, no one wants sternos in a room with a lot of taiko and dancing). “Adult” beverages are also welcome (no kegs, haha).
Summer-appropriate festival attire like jinbei and happi are welcome – just remember you will be playing TAIKO so you gotta be able to move and be comfortable
The more the merrier!
Prerequisite: ANY taiko experience (yes, even just an Intro Workshop!)
FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS
Fundamentals
Beta-uchi Technique
Mon, Aug 5
@ 7pm – 9:30pm
If you’re reading this, you already know that playing taiko is completely, remarkably different from other kinds of drumming … but what you may NOT know yet is that learning taiko with 龍 is completely, remarkably different from any other teacher! Don’t miss this opportunity to study with Mark H’s teacher from Japan, experience his fun and high-energy teaching style, and learn about his approach to Beta-uchi playing.
This is the right workshop for YOU if…
Prerequisite: 1 MHT class series (including our mini-session!) or previous taiko experience.
Max number of participants: 24
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(The Choreography Studio – Room 1611)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
All-Levels
Odaiko Technique
Tue, Aug 6
@ 7pm – 9:30pm
Every taiko player should experience the unique feeling of playing odaiko … and the amazing opportunity to learn from an odaiko champion from Japan! This workshop offers you BOTH of those experiences at once!
To many people, this powerful style is what comes to mind when they think of “taiko.” It is challenging, and there’s nothing else quite like it!
This workshop is perfect for newer taiko players who want to try odaiko for the first time as well as more experienced players who are interested in revisiting their odaiko basics with an expert odaiko teacher.
Heads Up!
Our Fall 2024 Styles Class will focus on Odaiko! If you’ve already taken 2 Rec Class series and are interested in that class … don’t miss this workshop!
Prerequisite: 1 MHT class series (including our mini-session!) or previous taiko experience.
Max number of participants: 24
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(The Choreography Studio – Room 1611)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
ODAIKO SATURDAY
Intermediate
Odaiko Technique
SAT, Aug 3
@ 12pm – 2pm
Study with an internationally-recognized odaiko champion and gain insight into his unique approach to odaiko playing!
This workshop will help you “level up” your existing odaiko skills:
HIGHLY recommended for anyone who wants to take the Saturday afternoon “Taikai” workshop and needs a refresher on their odaiko skills!
Prerequisite: 1 MHT odaiko class series or 3 months of previous odaiko experience. Not sure if this workshop is the right fit for your experience? Just ask Mark H and he’ll be happy to help!
(This workshop is NOT for those who are new to odaiko – if this is you, please register for the All-Levels Odaiko Workshop on Tuesday!)
Max number of participants: 24
Location: Dance Exchange
(Studio 1)
7117 Maple Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Directions from Metro:
Exit the Metro and travel straight up Carroll Avenue. Continue for one block to Maple Avenue. Turn left on Maple Avenue and arrive at 7117 on your right. The main entrance and parking lot is at the back of the building.
Intermediate
Odaiko Song: “Taikai” (大海)
SAT, Aug 3
@ 3pm – 6pm
In this workshop, you’ll learn to play 龍’s original odaiko song, “Taikai,” which is meant to be played on both sides of the odaiko.
No odaiko? No worries! This song can ALSO be played on beta uchi.
It’s a great fit for any group, so please join us! Everyone who takes this workshop is welcome to add this piece to their own group’s repertoire.
Prerequisite: 2 MHT odaiko class series or 6 months of odaiko experience. Those who took the Intermediate Odaiko Technique Workshop are ABSOLUTELY encouraged to take this one as well! Not sure if this workshop is the right fit for your experience? Just ask Mark H and he’ll be happy to help!
(This workshop is NOT for those who are new to odaiko – if this is you, please register for the All-Levels Odaiko Workshop on Tuesday!)
Max number of participants: 24
Location: Dance Exchange
(Studio 2)
7117 Maple Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Directions from Metro:
Exit the Metro and travel straight up Carroll Avenue. Continue for one block to Maple Avenue. Turn left on Maple Avenue and arrive at 7117 on your right. The main entrance and parking lot is at the back of the building.
STYLES SUNDAY
Intermediate
Song: “HITOKOBU
RAKUDA”
(ヒトコブラクダ)
SUN, Aug 4
@ 11am – 2pm
This workshop will be focused on learning 龍’s original song, “Hitokoburakuda” (ヒトコブラクダ). This enigmatic title has MANY layers of meaning … come to the workshop and discover all of the different ways you can interpret it musically!
Those who take this workshop are welcome to add this piece to their own group’s repertoire. It was created for players with a wide range of experience, so there’s something for everyone!
The song includes both a beta-uchi and a shime-daiko part, and 龍 will teach both the chu-daiko and shime-daiko parts according to each player’s experience and background … so be sure to bring a friend so you can each learn one of the parts! 😉
Prerequisite: 3 MHT class series or 1 year of taiko experience. Not sure if this workshop is the right fit for your experience? Just ask Mark H and he’ll be happy to help!
Max number of participants: 24
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(The Choreography Studio – Room 1611)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
Intermediate
Set Playing
SUN, Aug 4
@ 3pm – 6pm
This workshop will focus on technique for playing on multiple drums – as many as four! Set playing is a modern taiko innovation and has become an important and recognizable element of today’s kumidaiko.
Learn skills that will help you in ALL of your taiko playing:
Heads Up!
Our Skills Class will be returning in Fall 2024 and will focus on set playing! This workshop will be a great intro to the style if you have never played multiple drums before! And for those of y’all who already have some experience playing a set, you KNOW you don’t want to miss the chance to learn from an amazing set player like 龍!
Prerequisite: 6 MHT class series or 2 years of taiko experience. Not sure if this workshop is the right fit for your experience? Just ask Mark H and he’ll be happy to help!
Previous set or shime-daiko experience helpful but NOT required.
Max number of participants: 24
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(The Choreography Studio – Room 1611)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
Intermediate
Katsugi Okedo Technique
(BYOO* for a $10 rebate on the day of the workshop!
*Bring Your Own Okedo!)
SUN, Aug 4
@ 7pm – 10pm
Katsugi Okedo (an okedo that is slung on a strap over the shoulder) is a modern style that is based on Korean drumming and has grown in popularity over the last 20+ years. It’s great for parade and festival playing and adds lots of possibilities for dynamic movement to any staged show. In this workshop, 龍 will help you build your katsugi skills as you play fun rhythms and patterns.
This workshop is a perfect continuation of our recent Katsugi Okedo Styles Class and is also an excellent fit for those with previous katsugi experience who are eager to return to the style
Prerequisite: 1 MHT okedo class series or previous katsugi okedo experience.Not sure if this workshop is the right fit for your experience? Just ask Mark H and he’ll be happy to help!
(This workshop is NOT for those who are new to katsugi okedo – if this is you, please join us for one of our other workshops and stay tuned for our next okedo series!)
Max number of participants: 20
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(The Choreography Studio – Room 1611)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
