Emeryville Taiko Newsletter

Special April events

We are holding some combined classes and a taiko in the park event in April. Please check the schedule below and go to the Classes page at our web site for complete and updated information.

Upcoming performances

Saturday, April 18
Emeryville's Earth Day 2009 Celebration (page 21). This annual community event features fun and informational exhibits, music, and more. Noon to 4:00 p.m. at Temescal Creek Park, 47th and Adeline Streets. Free and open to the public; we will perform at 12:30pm.

Sunday, April 19
Northern California Taiko Expo at the Morgan Hill Haru Matsuri (Spring Festival). Check their web site or ours for the performance time.

Wednesday, April 22
The Mills College Ethnic Studies Department is sponsoring a performance and participatory drumming experience with Emeryville Taiko at 7:00pm in the Student Union. The event will be in honor of South Asian Middle Eastern Asian Pacific Islander Awareness Now! Month.

Sunday, April 26
Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival at Memorial Park on Stevens Creek Boulevard across from De Anza College. As in past years we will be the closing act on Sunday, performing at 3:45pm.

Taiko in the park

Our three March outings at Lake Merritt were a great success and attracted appreciative audiences. Even the drums seemed to appreciate being out in the sun. The second outing was breezy under gray skies but just as energizing.


Picture by Adrian Martin	Picture by Julie Cummins

Welcome new students

We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 classes:

January
Dennis, Catherine and Tiana

February
Mayumi, Jake, Dana, Marianne and Sarah

March
Liza, Ryan, Andrew, Krisztina, Diane, Janet, Sandra, Sandia, Beverly, Kazem, Seth, Rina and Linda

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

Taiko in the Park
Saturday April 11th
Beginning 2 from 11am to 1pm
Beginning 1 from 2pm to 4pm

Here are the details of our Saturday Taiko in the Park classes by the Lake Merritt Pergola. It is at the North East corner of the lake, between the lake and Lakeview library. This is the google view of it:

Click here for Map view

The site is on "El Embarcadero" just south of I580 between Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue.

We will set up on the terrace between the pergola and the lake.

Morning parking is tight immediately around the site, but much easier in the afternoon. The residential streets off Grand and Lakeshore will be the best, but you might need to drive around for a bit. Plan a few extra minutes to find a spot. You can also try farther down Grand Avenue itself.

Rain will cancel - we can wheel the drums undercover if it starts raining until transport arrives. You can call (510) 393-6690 on Saturday morning if the weather's marginal for a final status update.

Combined Beginning 1 & Beginning 2 classes
Thursday nights from 7pm to 9pm

On April 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd we invite Beginning 2 students to join the Beginning 1 class for a lively combination of drills and portions of the new pieces we've been working on.

Beginning 1 classes
Thursday nights from 7pm to 9pm,
Saturday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm

Thursdays April 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd (with Beginning 2); April 30th
Saturdays April 4th, 11th, 25th

Beginning 2 classes
Tuesday nights from 7pm to 9pm,
Saturday mornings from 11am to 1pm

Tuesdays April 7th, 14th, 21st (with Intermediate); April 28
Saturdays April 4th, 11th, 25th

Intermediate classes
Wednesday nights from 7pm to 9pm

Wednesdays April 1st, 8th, 15th (with Beginning 2); 29th

Schedule Exceptions (No Class at the church)
Mondays April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th - Space not available
Saturday April 11th - Taiko in the park, lake Merritt
Saturday April 18th - Emeryville Earth Day performance
Wednesday April 22nd - Mills College performance

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

Call and response

We asked Emeryville Taiko members the question "How has taiko changed you?"

"By learning that taiko is more than just making beautiful sounds. It also brings with it tradition, respect, commitment, discipline, and community. " -Brad Mar

"Taiko has given me confidence in my inner strength and my abilities." -Jen Pesek

"Since I've started playing taiko, I've gained a stronger sense of responsibility to myself and others." -Jonathan Rodgers

"Taiko is a natural anti-depressant. Not only has it improved my physical capabilities, but I find it really lightens my mood and makes me calmer and happier." -Karisu Willrich

"I am no longer terrified of being on stage; I even enjoy it. I have gotten a deeper understanding of how my participation affects a community. And I get lots of compliments on my muscles!" -Julie Cummins

"Taiko has helped me stay connected to my heritage and given me inner strength, plus I love making others smile!" -Keith Nomura

"I look forward to Tuesday evenings. I view drumming and percussion as an art not just the backing. I *like* standing up in front of people and performing. I have another family." -Adrian Martin

"It's given this old dog a new trick, a great workout and a new circle of friends." -David Lingren

"It has made me more beautiful." -Sensei Susan Horn

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.