If you are having difficulty viewing this message, you can view the graphics version online at http://www.etaiko.org/news.htm.   Newsletter - March 2010   Host a taiko student from Brazil We are hoping to find an East Bay family to host a foreign student for the coming school year and to give her a place to play taiko while she's in the Bay Area.   Luciana is a 15-year old high school student from Brazil who has been playing taiko drums since she was 8. She plays 5 hours per week and gives lessons to a children's group called Mugenkyo in her home town of Bauru. In addition to taiko, Luciana studies Japanese, English and jazz dance. Her teachers describe her as dedicated, mature and flexible. Her goals in coming to the U.S. are to improve her English, grow as a person, make new friends, and learn about American culture and history. She is looking for a family who would like to host her for the 2010-2011 academic year while she goes to high school.   To host Luciana or find out more information, contact: Yvonne Lefort, Area Representative Center for Cultural Interchange www.cci-exchange.com (925) 376-5885 ylefort@comcast.net   Tell them Emeryville Taiko sent you, and let us know how it goes. Thanks!   Next free lecture and hands-on demonstration: March 26 Taiko: What is it? Come find out at our free lecture and participatory demonstration on Friday, March 26 at 7pm. Please RSVP by email to info@etaiko.org. If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to play the big drums, this is your chance!   Kids' classes May 1 through July 31 We are delighted to announce our next series of classes for kids 8 to 12 years old! Echo Costanzo (pictured) will be the instructor.   Classes will be held every Saturday from 9:45am to 10:35am. Students will learn basic rhythms, forms, principles and a song to perform.   New students will be accepted on May 1 and June 5. New students must attend a registration and orientation session at 9:30 am before their first class. Each class is $10 plus a one-time $5 registration fee (cash or check only, no debit or credit cards). Multi-class discount cards (5/$45 and 10/$80) are available. Please email info@etaiko.org to reserve a space.   New classes starting April 1 (no fooling) and April 3 Classes for beginners are held every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm and Saturday from 2pm to 4pm. We accept new students on the first Thursday and Saturday of each month. Please check the schedule below and go to the Classes page on our web site for complete and updated information.   New students are required to attend an orientation a half an hour before the first class. The class is $15 plus a one-time $5 registration fee (cash or check only, includes Member Handbook). Please email to let us know you're coming before attending your first class, and have a look at the new Frequently Asked Questions page on our web site.   Upcoming performances Sunday, March 28 The Inaugural Oakland Running Festival next to the water stop at 7th and Fallon Street by Laney College. We will perform from 9:00pm to 11:00am.   Sunday, April 11 The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, now celebrating its 43rd year, is one of California's most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions. Each year, over 150,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. We will be on the stage at Buchanan and Sutter Street in San Francisco's Japantown, performing from 4:00pm to 4:30pm.   Saturday, April 17 Emeryville's Earth Day Celebration. Doyle-Hollis Park (between 61st, 62nd, Doyle, and Hollis Streets) will be transformed into a unique Earth Day party and environmental education center. We will perform from 12:15pm to 12:45pm.   Saturday, April 17 Morgan Hill NorCal Taiko Expo at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. We will perform from 3:30pm to 4:00pm.   Thursday, 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.   Sunday, April 25 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.   Meet the Students/Family: Candice and David (and Katelyn) Poon Candice was kind enough to take time between naps and diaper changes to tell us about herself, David, and their new baby Katelyn.   Emeryville Taiko: How long have you been playing taiko? Candice Poon: I joined around October 2007. David joined 2-3 months after I did.   ET: What inspired you to try it out? CP: My friend introduced me to it because it's fun and it's good exercise for the brain and rest of the body. I wanted to take up an activity that's fun and challenging, since I was only going to work and then home, nothing else. David wanted to do something music related. He was always part of the choir and orchestra in high school and college, but stopped after college. I highly recommended he try taiko and he is loving it.   ET: Tell us about the new addition to your family. CP: Katelyn was 5 pounds 13 ounces at birth and in a month, she finally reached 7 pounds. Most people say she looks like David, except for her mouth and ears. She has a pretty loud voice when she cries (or, as David calls it, "kiai"). As opposed to most babies, she dislikes being swaddled tightly with her hands being trapped. She loves to move her hands all the time--doing kung fu or, as her grandparents say, playing taiko like us. So I guess air drumming is her favorite activity right now.   ET: How does it feel to be new parents? CP: It's exciting to be parents for the first time. Daddy David treats her as his stuffed animal at times, hugging her and playing with her in an amusing way. At the same time, it can be frustrating when we can't decipher what the baby really wants at particular moments. There were some crazy sleepless nights in the first two weeks when she was not feeling secure in her own crib. Things have definitely improved recently. She has surely brought out the nurturing side of us, including the grandparents who are here to help temporarily. I can truly appreciate the phrase "bundle of joy" now.   ET: When you're not caring for a newborn, what do you do with your days? CP: David works in a medical clinic in San Francisco as an optometrist. He is busy setting up his own optometry practice in Rockridge (Oakland), which is scheduled to open in May. It is quite a big challenge for him, but he looks forward to serving this community. I am taking at least 4 months off to care for the baby. I try to read magazines and books that have been tucked away for way too long. Of course, most books that I am reading are parenting related. I am also spending some quality time with my parents, who live in Hong Kong most of the time now.   ET: Are you planning to keep playing taiko? CP: I plan to continue playing, but probably can't go to class diligently. We need to find a schedule that will work for the both of us, or perhaps one can go to class and one can stay home with the baby?   ET: Candice, you played in a performance not long before your baby was due. How was that? CP: I played at the new year's open house performance. Performing while carrying a baby in the third trimester made it extra memorable. It was like a team effort between the baby and myself. Some people would wonder if it's safe to play with such a big belly and I was glad to show the guests that it's fine (of course, one needs to listen to her own body to decide). I felt confident about playing through the third trimester because other students had done so and their babies all came out healthy, with a good sense of rhythm too!   ET: Tell us about a memorable taiko moment. CP: There was a time when we were told to improvise part of a song, everyone playing at the same time, and I did what sounded good with the base rhythm. Sensei said I did great and wanted everyone else to watch me play. I have always been a shy person and usually not confident, so when Sensei said that, I was in shock and disbelief. My face automatically went bright red while playing that (less than a minute) solo.   ET: What's something about each of you that we might not already know? CP: I am a dietitian working in the WIC program where we see women, infants and children in the clinic, talking to them about nutrition and lifestyle changes for improving health. Even though I am a dietitian, one may say I am a pretty lenient one. My weakness lies in desserts. However full, I can always manage to accommodate a bit of sweets after dinner. I love to eat, while David loves to cook; this seems to be working well!   Welcome new students We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 and Kids classes:   Auberon, Audrey, Django, Jay, Jeffery, Joseph, Samantha, Sica.   Thank you for bringing your energy and inspiration to the group!   Class schedule Beginning 1 classes: Thursdays 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays 2pm to 4pm New students accepted April 1 at 6:30pm and April 3 at 1:30pm   Beginning 2 classes: Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays 11am to 1pm Intermediate classes: Mondays 7pm to 9pm, Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm   Classes are held at: Emery Secondary School Shop B 1100 47th Street at San Pablo Avenue Emeryville, CA 94608   Our classes are in the Shop B space on the northwest corner of the San Pablo/47th Street intersection. There is plenty of parking along 47th Street west of San Pablo. Enter through the big roll-up steel door on 47th. Click here for a map and directions.   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.