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Newsletter - May 2010 |
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Kids' classes through July 31 |
 We are delighted to announce our next series of classes for kids 8 to 12 years old! Echo Costanzo is our returning instructor.
Classes are 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 June 5. New students must attend a registration and orientation session at 9:30am 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 June 3 and June 5 |
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 |
Friday, May 14
We will be part of the pre-game show at the San Francisco Giants' Japanese Heritage Night at AT&T Park. We will take to the field before the game starts at 7:15pm.
Thursday, July 29
We will be giving a "Thursday Lunchtime Concert," part of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. The festival presents music, theater, dance, cultural events, educational and children’s programs, reflecting the rich cultures and creativity of the region. We will perform from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
Sunday, September 12
Emeryville Taiko will be performing at the 36th annual Solano Stroll, which organizers call "the East Bay's largest street festival."
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Meet the Student: Naho Shono |
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| Copyright (C) 2010 Richard Man |
Naho is from Japan and started learning taiko with us in October. After almost a year and a half in the U.S., she'll be returning home at the end of May. We will miss her!
Emeryville Taiko: What part of Japan are you from, and what is it like there?
Naho: I'm from Tokyo, which is the capital of Japan. As you probably know, it is quite a big and busy city. It can be likened to Manhattan in NYC, but larger and cleaner. What I think is most different from the Bay Area is that in Tokyo we can go anywhere using the extensive commuter train and subway, which comes every five minutes. In Asakusa, which is one of the most well known sightseeing spots in Tokyo, there are many temples and shrines and taiko is often played there.
ET: What attracted you to taiko?
Naho: Because I grew up in Japan the sound of taiko is familiar to me. As a child I went to the Bon Dance Festival (a celebration to honor and remember ancestors) every summer with my grandma, and taiko was played there with music. Bon festivals are performed in towns and villages across the country, and we know the Bon festival is being held when we hear the sound of taiko. That's why taiko is very exciting for me, and it's also because of Japanese blood, I think.
However, taiko is usually played by specific people. I never thought I could play taiko. But nowadays taiko is becoming prevalent among young women as a form of exercise. (It's called taikobics.) I knew that if they could play, I could too.
I visited a dojo in Asakusa and tried playing taiko. It was really fun. I wanted to take a class, but the dojo was far from my home and I couldn't find one closer, so I had to give up. A few years later, I came here and found Emeryville Taiko at the Solano Stroll. Finally I started playing.
ET: What brought you to this country, and why are you now moving back to Japan?
Naho: My husband is studying at UC Berkeley, and I came here with him. He is graduating this month and needs to return to his company in Japan.
ET: Do you have any plans for what you'll do when you return, or anything you're looking forward to?
Naho: I was an engineer in Japan and I quit the job to come here. I'll hopefully get the same kind of job as soon as possible. After I get a job, I will look for a taiko dojo. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends after more than a year away. This is the first time I have left Tokyo since I was born there 30 years ago, so I can't imagine how I'll feel when I return. I'm just so excited!
ET: Do you have any observations about how taiko traditions in the U.S. compare to Japanese traditions?
Naho: In Japan, taiko exists in many different forms, not only in formal settings but it's also played in a casual way, and it's very different depending on the region. The traditions in the U.S. tend to have a very formal style, I think. When I see other parts of Japanese culture here, it usually looks strange but taiko follows Japanese tradition well.
ET: What do you do when you're not playing taiko?
Naho: I go to Berkeley Adult School every day to study English. Now I have many friends from different countries. It's a very precious experience to get to know each of their different cultures.
ET: When you go back home, what will you miss about the U.S.?
Naho: Although I sometimes miss the fast-paced city life in Tokyo, I will probably miss the slow and relaxing time that I spent in the Bay Area. But most of all, I will miss the friends and all the friendly people that I met in the U.S.
Thank you for everything. I'm so happy to have nice classmates, senpai, and sensei!!
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Congratulations, graduates! |
This month seven students progressed from our Beginning 1 class to Beginning 2, and we surprised them with an announcement at the end of our Cupertino performance. They are Naho Shono, Jeff Shoji, Monique Painton, Heidi Rayher, Anna Hirsch, Gabriela Frank and Shann Ikezawa (not pictured).
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| Photo by Eric Anderson |
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April Performances |
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April was a busy month, with six performances all over the Bay area. Our Intermediate class debuted its latest piece, Rakuda, at the Morgan Hill Taiko Festival. We fielded our largest performing group ever at the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival and enjoyed a post-performance picnic.
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| Rakuda debut at the Morgan Hill Taiko Festival, photo by Andrea Blanchette |
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| Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival, photos by Richard Man and Eric Anderson |
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Welcome new students |
We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 and Kid's classes:
Dana, Elsie, Jenni, Kikue and Kira.
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 June 3 at 6:30pm and June 5 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 |
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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. |
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