Emeryville Taiko Newsletter

Happy Lunar New Year from Emeryville Taiko!

Come and join us on Saturday February 7 as we ring in the year of the Ox with performances in Albany and Oakland. Time and location are below, with links to the official web sites for each event.

Make this new year a great one; get fit, have fun, and make lots of noise! Come learn to play the big drums with us in Oakland. No experience or equipment necessary. Current schedule and details are in the Classes section below.

Upcoming performances

Saturday, February 7, 12:00 pm
The Solano Avenue Merchants Association presents its annual Lunar New Year parade and festival with stage performances.

Saturday, February 7, 2:30 pm
Lunar New Year Festival at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. Join us as we bring in the year of the Ox with the OACC! The festival features "Tibetan Opera, Mongolian throat singing, Taiko, Chinese music and dance, and Korean drumming."

Sunday, April 19
Northern California Taiko Expo at the Morgan Hill Haru Matsuri (Spring Festival)

Sunday, April 26
Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival at Memorial Park on Stevens Creek Boulevard across from De Anza College

January performances

Anna Yates School in Emeryville
Monday January 19

We played a lively set celebrating Martin Luther King Day and the completion of renovations at the school. Audience participation drew many of the students, and the school principal favored us with an odaiko solo to top off the occasion.

Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce New Year Bazaar
Saturday January 24

Photo and report by Adrian and Carrie Martin

We performed at the annual Lunar New Year Bazaar inside the Pacific Renaissance Plaza's courtyard, open to the cloudy sky. Our entrance was delayed by the MC's fruitless search for last year's winner of the Little Princess competition. We performed Umi and Saidai, with the MC providing help with the call and response. There must have been 500 people watching from above and all around. Part way through the performance, one of the organizers tapped her watch, so that was the end. Maybe the princess had been found.

Getting the drums and stands into this area was quite tricky, as firstly we had to load them from the Church in silence (our room was being used), then had to wheel them through the crowded streets of Chinatown. This took 4 hours door to door!

Classes

New students may begin attending classes at any time. Please email us (info@etaiko.org) to let us know when you would like to come and we will confirm your place.

We are currently holding classes at the First Congregational Church of Oakland. Please see below for class schedule. For fee information and schedule updates, go to http://www.etaiko.org/classes.htm

Beginning 1 classes
Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 2pm to 4pm

Thursdays:
February 5, 12, 19, 26
March 5, 12, 19, 26

Saturdays:
February 14, 28 (No class on February 7 or 21)
March 14 (No class on any other Saturday in March)

Beginning 2 classes
Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 11am to 1pm

Tuesdays:
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 3, 17, 24, 31 (No class on March 10)

Saturdays:
February 14, 28 (No class on February 7 or 21)
March 14 (No class on any other Saturday in March)

Intermediate classes
Mondays and Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm

Mondays:
February 2, 9, 16, 23
March 2, 16, 23, 30 (No class on March 9)

Wednesdays:
February 4, 11, 18, 25
March 4, 11, 25 (No class on March 18)

Classes will be held at:
First Congregational Church of Oakland
2501 Harrison Street (at 27th St.)
Oakland, CA 94612

Our classes are in the lower level of the church; enter through the purple door on Harrison Street directly opposite the Whole Foods Market loading dock. You can get a map and directions at:
http://www.firstoakland.org/?How_to_Find_Us

In search of a new home

We are still seeking a long-term location to hold classes and give performances. Do you know of a space that might fit our needs? Our ideal space is at least 1000 square feet, plus drum storage space (preferably at least 1600 square feet total), is in or not too far from Emeryville, and is either soundproof or has no neighbors on evenings and weekends.

Support us

Emeryville Taiko is a San Francisco Bay Area taiko group providing traditional Japanese drumming classes and performances. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible and your financial support is appreciated. You can donate online at our website.