NATC 2025 Phoenix

Naname-style is where the drum head is oriented diagonally and played in a ‘slanted’ style.
The foundation of proficient taiko playing lies in mastering basic form, technique, and fundamentals. The essential components of taiko fundamentals encompass the proper grip of bachi, adopting a suitable stance, and refining hitting techniques.

During this workshop, participants will receive an introduction to bachi grips, stances, and strokes. A specific drill will be presented, emphasizing the core elements of taiko form and music. This workshop is designed to concentrate on learning basic form and technique, which can subsequently be applied to various styles of taiko playing and music.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Beginner-level workshop, but open to all skill levels. No naname experience required. Participants will need a pair of chu-daiko bachi.

This workshop will go deep into San Jose Taiko’s naname fundamentals, learning how to move energy through and around the entire body and drum. We will also be exploring creative naname expression in order to build your own unique movement vocabulary regardless of your comfort/experience around moving in taiko.

With 50+ years of taiko history, San Jose Taiko’s naname style encourages a combination of ergonomics and expression, a vocabulary for teaching naname and developing a critical eye for maximizing power and effortlessness at the same time.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Requires general comfort playing naname style. Participants will need their own bachi.

Overview: Join us for Taiko Taichi, a unique workshop that blends traditional taiko techniques with a bachi-less approach, reminiscent of “air bachi.” This method reduces joint stress and enhances body awareness by focusing on grip, arm speed, and positioning.
Benefits:
Gentle on the body, ideal for all fitness levels.
Perfect for practice in environments with limited resources; we’ll only need 5 drums and stands. beta or naname
Structure: Participants will receive instruction on techniques, followed by practice and demonstrations. The workshop will include both group and individual feedback. While some participants play on drums, others will follow the motions and timing with their bodies, switching roles after a few repetitions.
Join us to enhance your taiko skills, improve your energy efficiency, and experience the benefits of Taiko Taichi!

Join Sumie Kaneko, David Wells, and Isaku Kageyama in a workshop series where participants will be the first to learn WAISSHO Ondo ・ 和一緒 (ワイッショ) 音頭 ・an original song written by Sumie in the style of Bon Odori. This series will focus on learning the taiko, fue, and vocal parts of the song, giving participants a unique opportunity to be the first to bring this new composition to life at their local Obon Festival.

By the end of the series, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to perform a newly crafted song that honors the spirit of Obon. Recordings and practice tracks will be provided. This workshop is open to all experience levels and is designed to foster a sense of community through the shared joy of creating and performing music.

Participants in this workshop are invited to also take "Playing as an Ensemble for a New Bon Odori Song" on Saturday (4:45-6:45), where the drum, dance, fue, narimono, shamisen, and singing parts will come together to play as an ensemble. Participants are then invited to play WAISSHO Ondo for the closing ceremony of NATC Phoenix.

This workshop is for learning the fue and narimono parts for WAISSHO Ondo.

Please bring your fue.

Join Sumie Kaneko, David Wells, and Isaku Kageyama in a workshop series where participants will be the first to learn WAISSHO Ondo ・ 和一緒 (ワイッショ) 音頭 ・an original song written by Sumie in the style of Bon Odori. This series will focus on learning the taiko, fue, and vocal parts of the song, giving participants a unique opportunity to be the first to bring this new composition to life at their local Obon Festival.

By the end of the series, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to perform a newly crafted song that honors the spirit of Obon. Recordings and practice tracks will be provided. This workshop is open to all experience levels and is designed to foster a sense of community through the shared joy of creating and performing music.

Participants in this workshop are invited to also take  "Playing as an Ensemble for NATC Ondo, a New Bon Odori Song" on Saturday (4:45-6:45), where the drum, dance, fue, narimono, shamisen, and singing parts will come together to play as an ensemble. Participants are then invited to play WAISSHO Ondo for the closing ceremony of NATC Phoenix.

This workshop will cover the drum and dance components of WAISSHO Ondo.

Join Sumie Kaneko, David Wells, and Isaku Kageyama in a workshop series where participants will be the first to learn WAISSHO Ondo ・ 和一緒 (ワイッショ) 音頭 ・an original song written by Sumie in the style of Bon Odori. This series will focus on learning the taiko, fue, and vocal parts of the song, giving participants a unique opportunity to be the first to bring this new composition to life at their local Obon Festival.

By the end of the series, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to perform a newly crafted song that honors the spirit of Obon. Recordings and practice tracks will be provided. This workshop is open to all experience levels and is designed to foster a sense of community through the shared joy of creating and performing music.

Participants in this workshop are invited to also take "Playing as an Ensemble for a New Bon Odori Song" on Saturday (4:45-6:45), where the drum, dance, fue, narimono, shamisen, and singing parts will come together to play as an ensemble. Participants are then invited to play WAISSHO Ondo for the closing ceremony of NATC Phoenix.

This workshop will cover the drum and dance components of WAISSHO Ondo.

Participants who learned a part for WAISSHO Ondo in another workshop come together to play and dance to WAISSHO Ondo in a full ensemble arrangement. Participants in this workshop are invited to perform WAISSHO Ondo for the closing ceremony of NATC Phoenix!

Prerequisites: Participants should have taken one of the following classes before this workshop.
- Learn Vocals for WAISSHO Ondo, a New Bon Odori Song (Sumie Kaneko)
- Learn Shamisen for WAISSHO Ondo, a New Bon Odori Song (Sumie Kaneko)
- Learn Shinobue and Narimono for WAISSHO Ondo, a New Bon Odori Song (David Wells)
- Learn Drum and Dance for WAISSHO Ondo, a New Bon Odori Song (Isaku Kageyama)

Series Description:
Join Sumie Kaneko, David Wells, and Isaku Kageyama in a workshop series where participants will be the first to learn WAISSHO Ondo ・ 和一緒 (ワイッショ) 音頭 ・an original song written by Sumie in the style of Bon Odori. This series will focus on learning the taiko, fue, and vocal parts of the song, giving participants a unique opportunity to be the first to bring this new composition to life at their local Obon Festival.

By the end of the series, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to perform a newly crafted song that honors the spirit of Obon. Recordings and practice tracks will be provided. This workshop is open to all experience levels and is designed to foster a sense of community through the shared joy of creating and performing music.

Hachijo Daiko is an improvisation-based Taiko style from the island of Hachijo. But learning to improvise is hard! Learn the basics of improvisation while playing Hachijo Daiko as we go through a set of exercises designed to help you warm up your improvisation muscles and be freely in the moment. These exercises can be taken home and used for other styles of Taiko as well.

Prerequisite Experience: Intermediate/Advanced
Please Bring: Hachijo / Chu Daiko bachi

This workshop offers participants an in-depth exploration of the Naname Style, focusing on the core techniques including grip, stance, and mechanics necessary for sound performances.

Participants can expect to learn practice methods to continue their development beyond the workshop, as well as repertoire that can be performed within their own taiko groups.

Open to all experience levels, this workshop is designed to support both beginners and experienced players seeking to refine their fundamental technique in Naname drumming.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Chu Bachi

‘Midare Uchi’ is a piece performed in the naname style, popularized by Sukeroku Daiko. This piece features solos based on Bon-daiko rhythms, a style of taiko that accompanies the music and dance at the Japanese Obon festival.

During this workshop, participants will receive instruction on the foundational elements of Bon-daiko, which includes playing a solid ‘ji’(base beat) and playing various fundamental Bon-daiko phrases. This workshop will present a simplified structure of Fred’s interpretation of a Midare Uchi solo and will introduce challenging naname choreography, emphasizing the modern and stylized interpretation of Bon-daiko within the context of Midare Uchi.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Intermediate/Advanced-level workshop. Participants must have naname experience.
Participants will need a pair of chu-daiko bachi.

Naname-style is where the drum head is oriented diagonally and played in a ‘slanted’ style.
The foundation of proficient taiko playing lies in mastering basic form, technique, and fundamentals. The essential components of taiko fundamentals encompass the proper grip of bachi, adopting a suitable stance, and refining hitting techniques.

During this workshop, participants will receive an introduction to bachi grips, stances, and strokes. A specific drill will be presented, emphasizing the core elements of taiko form and music. This workshop is designed to concentrate on learning basic form and technique, which can subsequently be applied to various styles of taiko playing and music.

Prerequisite/What to bring: Beginner-level workshop, but open to all skill levels. No naname experience required.
Participants will need a pair of chu-daiko bachi.