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Newsletter - July 2009

New classes starting July 9 and 11 Classes for beginners are held every Thursday from 7 to 9 pm and Saturday from 2 to 4 pm. We accept new students on the first Thursday and Saturday of each month. However, the July dates are one week later to accommodate the July 4th holiday. 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 let us know you're coming before attending your first class.   Upcoming performances Saturday, July 25 Join us for International Night at Prewett Park in Antioch, sponsored by Give Always to Others & Co. Free and open to the public; we will open the event with a performance at 7pm.   Save the date   Sunday, August 9 - Concord Japanese American Summer Festival Sunday, September 13 - Solano Stroll Sunday, September 20 - Oakland Athletics Japanese Heritage Day (new date) September 26 and 27 - San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival October 2 - 4 - Meigetsu Festival Saturday, October 10 - Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk   June performances On June 6th we performed at West Oakland's Green Scene at the Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. We returned to the Marin Art Festival, a perennial favorite, on June 20th as the opening attraction. We gathered the audience with a nebuta-style procession through the grounds.   West Oakland's Green Scene! Photos by Carrie Martin Marin Art Festival Photos by Stuart Mar   A dojo to treasure After nearly a year of uncertainty about where our next class would be held, we're very grateful to have a new, secure location for our dojo at the Emery Secondary School. In the last four years, we've had as many different practice locations. We're fortunate to now have a place we can call home.   "Dojo" is a Japanese word that translates as "place of the way," a hall dedicated to the study of a discipline. The meaning implies that the dojo is not only a place to learn skills, but it also has a spiritual connotation: participation in a dojo can be a path to self-cultivation or even enlightenment.   Our traditions support the view that the dojo is more than just a building. When we enter the dojo, we bow. The act of lowering one's head in a bow shows respect for the space as a special place of learning. As we enter, we are acknowledging our commitment to put aside the concerns of our everyday lives, to give ourselves over to our teacher for a period of time and to do our best. When we leave, we bow again in deference and gratitude for the privilege of having a place to learn and grow.   There are other traditions in the dojo that show our regard for the space. We arrive early to clean before class. We remove our shoes before we step onto the practice mat. We do not eat in the dojo (except for special occasions). We are conscious of our body posture while in the dojo: we don't slouch against a wall, lie on the floor, or have our hands in our pockets; we stand alert and ready to work. There are certain ways we sit in the dojo-such as kneeling or with legs crossed-that show our respect and our eagerness to listen and be taught.   Finding a suitable practice space is a challenge for taiko groups the world over. Nobody wants a loud drumming ensemble as a neighbor! Taiko groups have been known to practice wherever they can, often in schools or Buddhist temples, but sometimes in barns or parking lots. Our new dojo in the former metal shop of the school may not be the most beautiful space-it's rough, dusty, and has its quirks-but it's ours. Bit by bit we are making it our own by assembling our mats, painting, decorating, and cleaning. Having a place to call home allows us to learn, build our community, and practice our art, and for that we are most thankful!   Welcome new students We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 classes: Daniela and Jennifer.   Class Schedule We are back to a full schedule of classes at our new home!   Beginning 1 classes: Thursdays 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays 2pm to 4pm New students accepted July 9th 6:30pm and July 11th 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 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.