NATC 2025 Phoenix

Writing a new song or improvising a solo follows the same fundamental concepts. This workshop covers the basic dos and don'ts of composing through a descriptive and participatory process. Participants are led through a variety of exercises that demonstrate the key points. No prior composing experience is necessary.

Participants will learn the basic structure of the song "Free Spirit" by Roy Hirabayashi.
Everyone can take the song and do as they wish with their taiko groups.

Participant Level: This workshop benefits composers of all levels but is geared towards
novice and intermediate-level composers.

Playing a good DON with minimal effort might seem simple but there is a lot that can go into perfecting the most basic stroke. This workshop will focus on breaking down the basic strike into 5 points and learning how we can practice to perfect every moment of the strike. A lot of attention will be paid to efficiency and tone and developing our ears to hear the subtle differences that make for a good DON sound. By the end of this workshop participants will have a set of exercises and the awareness of how to hone, perfect and practice each moment of a basic strike.

Prerequisite/What to bring: None

Swingposium is an immersive theater production created by San Jose Taiko that tells the story of Swing music and dance at “camp” during the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. This lecture demonstration is a behind the scenes peek of how San Jose Taiko’s unique immersive touring experience was conceived, developed, and continues to evolve. Participants will learn small portions of various taiko choreography from the show along with takeaways for how an artform can be utilized to tell Asian American stories that connect to many communities. For reference:

https://taiko.org/swingposium
https://www.hapihumboldt.org/past-projects/swingposium-on-the-road-immersive-performance

Prerequisite/What to bring: No prerequisite knowledge required.

‘Mata Ne’ is an original beta composition by Fred Visaya, inspired by the adventures and experiences that lie ahead and the ways in which events can lead individuals down different paths. The title, loosely translating to "See you later," serves as a reminder that while everyone has their own journey, goodbyes are not forever, and we can look forward to our next encounters.
This piece was created as a gift for Puna Taiko, the taiko group based in Kea’au, Hawaii, where Fred began his taiko journey, marking a farewell before his studies abroad in Japan.

During this workshop, participants will learn the main body of Mata Ne, alongside movement drills on beta style. This session is designed for individuals seeking choreography experience on beta, with the opportunity to incorporate Mata Ne into their group’s repertoire.

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

Writing a new song or improvising a solo follows the same fundamental concepts. This workshop covers the basic dos and donʼts of composing through a descriptive and participatory process. Participants are led through a variety of exercises that demonstrate the key points. No prior composing experience is necessary.

Participants will learn the basic structure of the song "Free Spirit" by Roy Hirabayashi.
Everyone can take the song and do as they wish with their taiko groups.

Participant Level: This workshop benefits composers of all levels but is geared towards
novice and intermediate-level composers.

Making great music as a group isn't always as easy as 1, 2, 3 -- but that doesn't mean you shouldn't count! Through challenging drills, interlocking beats, and a focus on great practice strategy, we will begin to deepen our ensemble connections and find joy in confident awareness of our musical environments.

Prerequisite/What to bring: None

Playing a good DON with minimal effort might seem simple but there is a lot that can go into perfecting the most basic stroke. This workshop will focus on breaking down the basic strike into 5 points and learning how we can practice to perfect every moment of the strike. A lot of attention will be paid to efficiency and tone and developing our ears to hear the subtle differences that make for a good DON sound. By the end of this workshop participants will have a set of exercises and the awareness of how to hone, perfect and practice each moment of a basic strike.

Prerequisite/What to bring: None

In this workshop participants will learn the basic taiko strokes and different drills and exercises that will build bachi control and facility. Participants will learn how to ‘listen’ to their bachi and develop good touch and feel with their bachi. By the end of this workshop series participants will have a new appreciation for their bachi and understand how to practice in a way where the bachi will become a natural extension of their body.

Prerequisite/What to bring: None