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Logo Emeryville Taiko in action
Newsletter - September 2009
 
Kids' classes September 5 through November 21
Echo CostanzoWe still have some spaces open in our special 12-class series for kids from 8 to 12 years old! Because of the Labor Day weekend we are accepting new students on 9/12. Students will learn Hisho (phoenix) Matsuri Daiko, a very energetic and playful song from a children's taiko group in Sakai City, Japan. The series will culminate with a recital on November 21st. Echo Costanzo (pictured) will be the instructor for this series.
 
Classes will be held every Saturday from 9:45am to 10:50am. New students will be accepted on the first Saturday of each month and 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 September 3 and 5
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
Solano Stroll, Albany
Sunday, September 13
 
Emeryville Taiko will give three performances at the annual Solano Stroll, which organizers call "the East Bay's largest street festival."
 
This year we are back at the intersection of Solano and Masonic, just west of the BART tracks. We will perform at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm with plenty of time for audience participation.
 
San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival, Treasure Island
September 26 and 27
 
The 14th Annual Kaiser Permanente San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival is a weekend of world-class dragon boat racing, spectacular cultural performances, and the largest competitive dragon boat festival in the United States.
 
We will be performing on Treasure Island both Saturday and Sunday at 3pm with plenty of time for audience participation.
 
Meigetsu Taiko Festival, San Francisco
October 3 and 4
 
Maikaze Daiko will host the 2nd Annual Meigetsu (Harvest Moon) Taiko Festival at the Dance Mission Theater. The Harvest Moon Taiko Festival presents a unique Bay Area vision of contemporary taiko drumming for the 21st century.
 
Emeryville Taiko will perform in the Saturday evening show (8pm) and the Sunday evening show (7pm).
 
Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, Treasure Island
Saturday, October 10
 
Meet the student: Tiffany Redding
Tiffany and Sage Emeryville Taiko: How long have you been playing taiko?
Tiffany Redding: I started in January 2002 and played for almost five years. Then I took a break, had two kids, and I just came back again in July.
 
ET: What inspired you to come back?
TR: My husband is half Japanese, and so my children's last name is Kurihara. Having all these family members with a Japanese surname kept reminding me I'm interested in Japanese culture and I felt drawn to taiko again, especially after the birth of my second child. Taiko lets Westerners like me tap into traditional Japanese culture in a way that feels welcoming to people of all backgrounds. And I wanted the exercise!
 
ET: How old are your children?
TR: Sage is 3 months; Kyan is 2 1/2.
 
ET: How do you manage being a mother of two and drumming at the same time?
TR: Not very well! (Laughs.) I currently feel like I'm trying to do everything and I'm doing none of it well. But I just practice giving everyone the attention they need.
 
ET: What else do you do with your time outside of the dojo?
TR: I'm an architect. Most of my time is spent working long hours, commuting, and being home with my kids and husband.
 
ET: What do you like about taiko?
TR: It satisfies a need for music that I wouldn't usually have an outlet for. Also, the dojo is a strong community, built on a foundation of people who are respectful of each other and of a certain etiquette. It's a really nice breeding ground for friendships.
 
ET: Do you have any other musical training?
TR: A little bit. I played clarinet in junior high and high school and a little piano in my early teens, and I always sang from the time I could talk.
 
The funny thing is that when I started taking music in middle school, I really wanted to play drums, but we couldn't afford drums for me to practice at home with. So I ended up on the clarinet. But strangely enough I ended up on drums in the long run!
 
Another interesting thing is that I'm adopted, and when I was 30 I met my biological father and found out he was a drummer in a band with my uncle in the 60s!
 
ET: What are some of the highlights of your time at ET?
TR: In 2003 I had the opportunity to travel to Japan with Susan-san and a few other students. We took classes with Sensei Masaaki Kurumaya in an absolutely beautiful, remote valley called Miyama. Kurumaya-san composed a song while we were there, called Miyama no Kaze, which we still play. On the trip we also did sightseeing in Kyoto and Osaka and stayed at an old Buddhist temple. It was an awesome trip.
 
Also, Emeryville Taiko played at my wedding in September of 2002 and that was a lot of fun! Everyone just loved it.
 
August performances
Concord Japanese American Summer Festival
We braved the summer heat for the 53rd Annual Japanese Summer Festival at the Japanese Cultural Center in Concord, sponsored by the Diablo Japanese American Club. A wonderful crowd found all the available shade and gave us a great reception.
Concord Summer Festival Concord Summer Festival
Photos by Brian and Kathryn Poon
 
Welcome new students
We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 classes: Alex, Bill, Gabriela, Jun, Miki, Kevin, Huyen, Martha, Jeff, Sharon, Darren, Randall and Judy.
 
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 August 1st 1:30pm and August 6th 6:30pm
 
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.