Saturday, October 26, 12:00 N – 3:00 PM
at The Ice House, Community Room, 2nd Floor.
138 Independence Street, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
~ Free Open Workshop - Donations Gratefully Accepted! ~
Welcome to Taiko Boom Camp! Big Beats! Big Drums! Shouting in Japanese! An opportunity to experience the amazing, and thunderously powerful Heartbeat Drums of Japan with members of Berkeley Spring’s own Shangö Mountain Taiko. Taiko literally means “Big Drum,” but also refers to kumidaiko, the ensemble group drumming spreading and growing in popularity in America since the 1970s.
We will be introducing the fundamentals of playing Taiko, the basics of the “Say it-Play it” Kuchishoga mnemonic system for learning rhythm patterns, and a couple of basic and classic taiko songs. We’ll also include some fun things and surprises - some traditional, and some not-so-traditional Taiko stuff.
Wear comfortable clothing suitable for stretching and movement. Water bottle, and towel suggested.
We are accepting new trainees! We’re always looking for people interested in learning Taiko and possibly joining the Shangö Mountain Taiko team – no experience required!!! – just enthusiasm and willingness to practice and study – and sweat a little! You can see our Training Session & Event Schedule here.
It’s the best workout you’ll ever love.
New Player Orientation
NEW! – This workshop will have a signifigant focus on recruiting. But we’re still absolutely going to make it lots of loud and thumpy fun! We are planning a potential follow up New Player Orientation Session, on Tuesday October 29th – featuring more in-depth work on Taiko basics and on how to LEARN Taiko. It will specifically focus on people who are interested in checking us out and possibly joining the team. It is not required to attend the Workshop to come to this Session - though it will help. However, you MUST RSVP to attend.
Session will run if there are participants.
New Player Orientation - Proposed
Tuesday, October 29, 6:30-8:30 PM
Black Cat Music Cooperative
155 Independence Street, Corner of Independence & Mercer
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
RSVP Required - (Workshop attendance not required)
For more information or to RSVP: Contact Kurt Griffith @
845 623-0940 | info@shangopercussion.org
Bringing the Thunder of Japanese Taiko
to the Mountains of Appalachia.
Back to the Shangö Mountain Taiko Page
For more resources & Demos, visit our Instructional Videos Page.
If you want to learn more about Taiko, Visit our Taiko Page
Shangö’s small 17" Eisa-Odaiko and his “Big Brother”, an 24" Okinawan Nagado Chu-Daiko.
if you are interested in additional workshops, regular classes in this dynamic and expressive Japanese Drumming art, or joining Shangö Mountain Taiko, please contact us.
Sessions & Classes
Shangö Taiko Player Kurt Griffith is interested in cultivating more local Taiko players. More players, more fun, more DON! Please contact us if you are interested in workshops or training with Shangö Mountain Taiko in this dynamic and expressive Japanese drumming.
We’ve continuted to train after our debut Taiko Performace at the first Morgan Arts Council Cherry Blossom Festival. Please see our Training Session Schedule. If you're interested in participating please contact us.
Find out more here. Please Email Us for more information or with any questions.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE
The safety of our drum community is always our first priority. We still recommend to please take all appropriate health precautions and practice good hygiene and steps to prevent illness. If you’ve tested positive, feeling unwell, or need to isolate, no problem! It's absolutely okay to say home and miss one. We certainly understand, and we do want to protect each other. Recover, get healthy, and we’ll see you next time!
Drum safe! Yassai!