Taiko West specialise in delivering high-energy, hands-on Japanese Taiko Drumming Workshops for whole class sizes in both Primary and Secondary schools. We offer stand-alone Day Workshops or full length Performance Projects.

MAIN FACILITATOR: Our main workshop leader, James Barrow, studied Taiko Drumming in Hiroshima City and set up the UK's first regularly performing Taiko group, Akatsuki Daiko. He has profesional training in Community Music (Goldsmith's, University of London), 12 years of classroom experience (TEFL) and has been teaching Taiko in the UK since 1993.

APPROACH: Our approach is to maximise the amount of time each participant spends on the drum. We always aim for each group to be able to learn or perform a complete "piece" of Taiko drumming by the end of each session. We make the proces of learning this new skill an educational, energising and fun experience. We ensure the experience includes everybody, staff too!

WORKSHOP CONTENT: Our workshops start by providing info on the cultural background to Taiko, physical warm ups, and basic techniques about hand grip and posture. The bulk of the contact time is filled with a fun, focussed, high-energy step by step process of building a complete mini-arrangement of either a traditional or contemporary Taiko rhythm with the whole group.

We can also deliver short demonstrations in whole school assemblies, or train up pupils to perform to their peers and parents at the end of the school day. We have also collaborated with other artists and artforms to create large-scale, school-based performance projects.

"Many thanks for such an inspiring and enjoyable workshop on Friday. Feedback from the students was really positive - they really enjoyed the drumming and the concept of movement / posture / attitude that went along with it....We would be interested in doing a similar event next year"  - Richard Marr, Head of Expressive Arts / Music, Kenilworth School

Key Information

• Introductory assembly
• Full class sizes
• Structured, high-paced sessions
• Standalone workshops & performance projects
• CRB checked instructor
• Full Public Liability Insurance
• All primary and secondary ages
• Especially suitable for Yr 5 and over
• Targets KS 3 Music (World Music)