Article in "The Advocate," 10/11/04 Drumming experience for NW BY Kellie White A WORKSHOP in the Japanese art of drumming, Taiko, is hoped to extend into a permanent Taiko drumming group. The first North-West workshop will be held on December 1 and the event will be incorporated with school workshops along the NorthWest and West coasts. "Taiko drumming is different to other types of. percussion," Hobart sensei (Japanese teacher) Simon Vanyai said. "It involves the body - it's a whole body experience. "The movement of the arms when they hit down on the drum is like a dance, so, it's all choreographed. "It looks good if you're all doing it at the same time and the same way. "The power and energy required means you need to have a fit body. "People's concentration levels need to be at a certain level to learn the songs as well" The art form aims at achieving a collective rhythmic harmony with others and is a highly physical form of drumming, requiring the professional performer to develop great physical strength and endurance through rigorous training. Vanyai spent a few years in Japan where he learnt the drumming technique, which has strong connections to martial arts. "When I got back I thought it wouldn't be bad to start up a Taiko group here," he said. "We've now got a group in Hobart and one in Launceston." Penguin's Meg Arvier undertook a workshop in Hobart which sparked her interest in bringing the workshops to the North-West and eventually forming a Coastal group. "If there's enough interest and people want to keep going then that would be great," he said. The workshops have previously attracted people from age six to 60. Taiko workshops What: Taiko Drumming workshop Where: Merrier Regional College, Burnie When: December 1 from 7.30 p.m. Bookings: Can be made through Meg Arvier either by email -at flipstreamers@tasmail.com or phone on 0417 374 953 More information: Visit www.taikodrum.com BANG: Hobart Taiko drumming group members in action. Taiko, the Japanese art of drumming, will be introduced on the Coast through a workshop on December 1 and will be incorporated with school workshops along the North-West and West coasts. |