Workshop

Taiko Workshop/Residencies Information

Burlington Taiko Group and its Sensei Stuart Paton, conduct 50-75 school performances and residencies annually, providing approximately 5,000 students a year first-hand knowledge of the excitement and power of playing taiko.

The purpose of our work in schools is to allow American children to further their appreciation for diverse cultures, and to see first hand, role models of adults expressing powerful, even fierce, creative energy in avenues that benefit the community. Taiko is just spectacular. The rhythms, the dancing, the brilliant colors are all especially engaging and compelling for children and young adults. We hope our work can inspire them to find constructive, creative outlets for their abundant energy and to do it with the dedication and joy we bring to our own discipline.

Providing a well-rounded educational experience, Burlington Taiko offers both group performances for the whole school and residencies led by Sensei Paton. Performances typically are arranged in a 45 to 75 minute format to accommodate school schedules. Between pieces, students are encouraged to ask questions about taiko and the group. Workshops provide students with the opportunity to play on the drums and learn a taiko piece themselves. Half day, full day programs and weeklong residencies are available on request. If desired, the curriculum may also include learning a traditional Japanese Obon dance, and discussions of percussion, drum building, how taiko groups train and learn songs, together with the history of taiko and its place in Japanese and American society today.

Residency Description

Workshop Title: An Introduction to Taiko

Description: Taiko is a modern revival of ancient Japanese drumming techniques. Taiko uses massive drums played with joyful, passionate abandon, highlighted by a stylized choreography suggestive of Japanese theatre and the martial arts. In this workshop we learn to play a simple but exciting taiko melody and from this understand the basic taiko elements: attitude, musical technique, kata (stance and movements of the arms and body) and ki, the eastern philosophy of oneness with the life force. In addition, participants will be introduced to the history and cultural context of taiko as well as learn simple Japanese counting, greetings and etiquette.

Artist Biography: Stuart Paton grew up in Japan and trained with Grandmaster Seichi Tanaka, who is credited with bringing taiko to North America. Paton is the founder of Burlington Taiko which has been delighting national audiences for over a decade.

Workshop Length: 45minutes - 1 hour. Program length can be tailored to the needs of the presenter. Programs often range from 45-55 minutes for younger participants to one and a half hours for adult programs. Half day, full day programs and weeklong residencies are available on request.

Logistics: The workshop will focus on learning to play the mia daiko or temple drum, a wine barrel sized drum originally used in Buddhist temples. Burlington Taiko will furnish six to ten mia daiko and 25-30 practice taiko. Workshops can accomodate 35-50 people, depending on the size of space available. Burlington Taiko requires approximately one hour to set-up before a workshop. The presenter is asked to provide at least four persons to help with the unloading and set up process. For a thirty-five person workshop, the minimum space requirements are 40ft wide by 30ft deep or 1,200 sq ft. Gymnasiums, cafeterias and multipurpose rooms work best. Classrooms are typically not workable. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing suitable for unrestricted body movement.