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Newsletter - June 2010 |
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Next free lecture and hands-on demonstration: June 25 |
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Taiko: What is it? Come find out at our free lecture and participatory demonstration on Friday, June 25 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 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 July 1 and July 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 |
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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Emeryville Taiko: Where we've been - A thumbnail sketch of ET over the last twelve years
By Keith Nomura |
I've been a student at Emeryville Taiko for 9 years. I've seen a lot of changes, but two things have remained constant: Sensei Susan Horn and a shared love of taiko. I wrote a brief recap of our history to reflect on where we’ve been. The future of Emeryville Taiko is full of possibilities, and I look forward to finding out what's next.
1998-2006: Emeryville Taiko Began as Oakland Taiko, an East Bay kids' class affiliated with San Francisco Taiko Dojo. The instructor was Yuri Morita, with Susan Horn as her assistant. When Yuri returned to Japan, Susan-san took over as sensei and in 1999 moved the group to a warehouse space on 63rd Street in Emeryville, renaming the group Emeryville Taiko (ET). ET called this space home for the next 7 years, until the building owner informed Sensei that he longer wanted to lease the space to ET (suddenly after 7 years deciding that we make too much noise). Sensei fought to keep our home, but to no avail. A search for a new space began...
2006-2008: After searching high and low around Emeryville and other local areas, a warehouse on 64th Street (about 100 yards from the 63rd Street space) became available. With the hope of turning this space into a permanent home for ET, Sensei purchased the building, which formerly housed a coffee roasting factory.
During this time, a committee of ET members stepped forward and established ET as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. A Board of Directors was formed. Aside from the challenges of forming a new organization, Sensei and the Board were faced with the task of retrofitting the 64th Street building to comply with the City of Emeryville's zoning requirements for a permanent space for instruction and performance. Although the retrofit was originally thought to be doable, after consultation with architects, contractors, and other experts it was discovered that the cost of complying with seismic, fire, and ADA requirements was significantly beyond the scope of what the organization could financially manage. The City of Emeryville’s planning department eventually mandated that ET could no longer use the space for classes. Sadly, after only 2 years in this building, we began the search again for another space.
2008-2009: In preparation for a 2008 concert at the First Congregational Church in Oakland, we discovered that the church had a basement space that was available most weekdays and some Saturdays. The rent was affordable, but this space proved to be problematic. As time passed, the church began to use the space more frequently. We experimented with holding classes outdoors at a nearby park, but as the space availability became more irregular, classes, especially for Beginning 1 students, floundered. So once again a search for a new home was on. Around this same time Sensei was also looking to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities of running ET. A steering committee made up of the Intermediate class students and some of the more senior Beginning 2 students was formed and the Board of Directors was also re-established. This group then worked to try and figure out what responsibilities could be taken over by students so that Sensei’s main focus could be on being the Artistic Director of ET. During this time we also made a plea to the Emeryville City Council for their support and to help us find a suitable space in order to remain in Emeryville.
2009 - Present: At a 2008 celebration for Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, ET performed for the City of Emeryville at the newly re-opened Anna Yates Elementary School. A conversation ensued between staff from Emery Secondary School, and ET was introduced to the District Superintendent. A series of meetings then took place between Sensei, other members of ET and the Superintendent. An arrangement between the Emery School District and ET was negotiated and we moved into Shop B, our current home. A full range of classes is now offered at Shop B, including a new Saturday morning kids' class taught by one of our former members.
Over the course of this year the responsibilities of the Board and other volunteer members of ET, who’ve taken on various tasks, continue to be determined. Those tasks include oversight of facility and fiscal issues, performance coordination, external communications (web info, PR, etc.), internal communications (email, Yahoo groups, etc.), drum building, drum repair, bachi making, costumes, merchandise, and other Ad hoc committees as needed. The ultimate organizational structure is a work in progress with ongoing input from Sensei, the Board, and the membership of ET.
Throughout our history, despite the above mentioned challenges, ET has persevered. Thanks to the ongoing dedication and commitment of Sensei Susan Horn and various members, past and present, we have continued to prepare for and successfully perform at numerous venues around the Bay Area as well as at our own concerts. We continue to be known as a high energy, high quality community performance group that has performed for and pleases audiences over and over again.
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May Performances |
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We had the pleasure of performing on the field of AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants' pre-game show, in honor of Japanese Heritage Night. The weather was excellent and the Giants won, as did the A's last time we played at their game. Perhaps Emeryville Taiko imparts good luck to baseball teams!
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Welcome new students |
We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 and Kid's classes:
Sarah, Jeff, Lily, Benjamin, Dawn
Aron (kids' class)
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 July 1 at 6:30pm and July 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 |
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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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