NATC 2025 Phoenix

This is a lunch time meetup for the Regional Ambassador's Program.

Community members of African descent are invited to gather for a BYOL (bring your own lunch) friendly meet up and open discussion. The space will be open on Saturday, Aug. 30 from 12:30-2:30.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions at wanda@taikocommunityalliance.org or 510.205.7981. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers!
Wanda

Community members who identify as BIPOC are invited to gather for a BYOL (bring your own lunch) friendly meet up and open discussion. The space will be open on Saturday, Aug. 30 from 1:15-2:00.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions at wanda@taikocommunityalliance.org or 510.205.7981. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers!
Wanda

This workshop is for people who feel they have an interest in a melody instrument and are willing to try it out and discover new possibilities.

The shinobue seem to be easily included with the Taiko, and somehow, the Shakuhachi has always been forgotten. So we need to correct this lapse in the past 30 years, and along with the Shinobue, we would like to finally give those interested a chance to try the Fue and the Shakuhachi.

This will give you an insight into the different bamboo flutes and styles and help you find what works best for you. We will learn to extract sounds from the flutes, simple basic melodies, and ways to practice on our own or find sources to further our studies.

This is a great introduction to Japanese flutes. Discover the possibilities for making your taiko songs sound better and more musical.

Prerequisite/What to bring: If you have flutes, bring them along. We will have some Fues and Shakuhachi for you to try. Just bring a great attitude and an open mind to discover something new.

Learn about the physics of Taiko! How do vibrations relate to sound? How does a Taiko go “Don”? Join us as we explore the beautiful world of energy, vibrations, and resonance using various exercises, demonstrations, and simulations. By connecting what we hear and play with physics, we will uncover how every drum has a unique soul that can be heard and felt... but only if you're listening!

Learn about the physics of Taiko! How do vibrations relate to sound? How does a Taiko go “Don”? Join us as we explore the beautiful world of energy, vibrations, and resonance using various exercises, demonstrations, and simulations. By connecting what we hear and play with physics, we will uncover how every drum has a unique soul that can be heard and felt... but only if you're listening!

Taiko and ethnic studies has a long and enduring relationship in the context of North America. It is imperative, given the current climate of political precarity, to understand not only the ways in which racial dynamics operate within taiko spaces, but to understand taiko and race through relational lenses. From 'Racist Love' to techno-Orientalism, taiko remains a critical site of analysis for reckoning with the intimacies of race, gender, and other axes of power. My work situates taiko within foundational ethnic studies concepts such as Orientalism and intersectionality to build an understanding of the political opportunities and limitations that taiko makes possible. The discussion portion following the lecture provides a space for community members to ask questions and to participate in conversations at the forefront of ethnic studies and how it continues to shape the legacies and futures of taiko in the United States.

Prerequisite/What to bring: There is no prerequisite knowledge or personal equipment required for this discussion.