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Join Philadelphia's Only Japanese-Style Drumming Crew Kyo Daiko

by King on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 10:35

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For centuries Taiko drums have been used for social gatherings, leading troops on the battlefield, an entertaining Japanese royalty. Now a Philadelphia based taiko group is offering residents a chance to learn this ancient art by taking weekly classes with the members of Kyo Daiko. Kyo Daiko was founded in 2004 and is a community- based group, which is the result of a collaboration between Settlement Music School and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. Led by instructor Kristopher Rudzinski, classes are offered on Friday evenings at Settlement Music School's West Philadelphia Branch. For, more information regarding classes, contact Settlement Music School at the following number: 215-320-2640 If you are interested in Kyo Daiko performing at your next event, you may contact us at the following email: shofuso_taiko@verizon.net

The following is an article taken from Philadelphia Weekly:

Drumming Japanese

Kyo Daiko, Philadelphia’s only Japanese-style drumming crew, provides a heart-pounding experience.

By G.W. Miller III

After the lunges and other stretching, June Washikita O’Neill mans the odaiko, the large drum that is the heart of the ensemble.

With the 3-foot wide drum at her eye level, she gingerly taps a beat that slowly evolves into a thunderous, hair-raising rumble. Her arms rapidly pound the taut cow skin, with the bachi—thick, wooden drumsticks—becoming a blur. The two performers on the smaller, high-pitched shime drums begin thumping, and the rumble reaches a feverish pace.

Between beats, O’Neill and the dozen other members of Kyo Daiko, Philadelphia’s only Japanese-style drumming crew, start shouting, “Eeeeeeii Ya Sa!”

They repeat the rhythmic, nonsensical phrase over and over again as the resonant roar fills the room and the energy builds. Then the remainder of the troupe joyously prance on to the stage, waving their bachi in the air, continuing to scream, “Eeeeeeii Ya Sa!”

After a dramatic pause, they each man a drum and the tribal-sounding beats erupt into an explosion of sound, matched by uniform choreographed movements, creating an avalanche of sight and sound.

“It’s so much fun,” shime drummer Audrey Tuckerman says after performing the song. “Taiko is so awesome.”

The Kyo Daiko performers are a collection of people from various backgrounds, races and ages who share a love of the taiko experience.

“Kyo means cooperation in Japanese,” explains Matt Palmer, 29, a founding member of the troupe. “Daiko means drum. So we are a community of drummers.”

The group formed five years ago when O’Neill, then the executive director of the Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park, and Palmer, the House’s site manager, grew frustrated by having to locate taiko troupes from elsewhere to perform at festivals and events at the Japanese House.

“We got really tired of doing that,” says O’Neill, 50. “And it got really expensive.”

To read the article in it's entirety click HERE!

You can also check out their myspcae at http://www.myspace.com/shofuso_taiko

Drummer Comments (1)

[+] Add Comment

IsThisYourNacho Says Super Cool

Submitted On: Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 - 1:34 PM

I love these Japanese drums. I like them because they involve the full body in huge movements, where as a regular drum set involves the full body but short quick movements, IMO.

Also I think Japanese girls are cute ^_^

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