What Do You Need?
To start teaching taiko in your school you need enthusiasm, perseverance and resilience – which are probably qualities you yourself seek to develop in the children you teach. Next, you need some basic training from Kagemusha Taiko, along with resources in the form of curriculum, repertoire and affordable drums. We can help you with all of these.
Kagemusha Taiko’s principle-based approach enables you to get started quickly. “Taiko is all about doing simple things well.” In this respect, it’s as much an attitude as anything else.
If you’re in doubt about the value of taiko, watch the 70-second video: “What is taiko? Taiko is a vehicle for teaching everything that is important in life.”
Taiko cannot be taught successfully by someone who is not enthusiastic about it. To see whether or not taiko is for you, why not try our Taste of Taiko workshops offered as part of our Taiko South West programme?
But maybe you feel ready to start and are only looking for some support materials? We can definitely help you with those…
Taiko for Schools, Volume 1, Fundamentals
This book by Jonathan Kirby provides support for a set of 21 short instructional videos, designed for use by school teachers in the UK, and suitable for showing in the classroom.
The suite of short videos was produced in consultation with teachers in North Devon, and was commissioned by Devon Music Education Hub, Taiko Outreach Programme for Schools, working in partnership with Kagemusha Taiko.
Purchase of the book will provide the buyer with the password needed to use the videos. The videos cover taiko foundations, base rhythms, simple taiko motifs and some extras.
Please go to our Taiko Store if you would like to buy a copy of the book.
Taiko Tapas
This set of approximately 20 videos can be seen as the second volume of “Taiko for Schools”, though there is no printed material to accompany them. Visit the Taiko Tapas page to find out more.
Other Online Taiko Training Videos
Useful links to other taiko resources:
1. Kagemusha Taiko on YouTube
2. The Way of the Drum
3. Taiko South West
4. kaDON – online training and taiko goods
5. 10 Top Tips for Teaching Taiko
6. UK Taiko Festival
7. European Taiko Conference