taiko
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Miscellaneous
...Taiko Home
...Taiko and Community
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When I was in junior high school, I played second violin in an orchestra. During one concert, I remember feeling a surge of joy that I was part of a group making this beautiful music together. The longer I play taiko, the more I've come to realize that there is something special just in creating music together.
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Growing up in American culture, I came to place a high value on individual accomplishment and individual rights. In the United States, few things are valued more highly than the individual's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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As SFTD enters its 30th anniversary year, I've been thinking a lot about my four years in the group and how I've changed. Being a member of San Francisco Taiko Dojo sometimes means having to put the needs of the group ahead of individual needs. But over the four years I've played with San Francisco Taiko Dojo, I've come to see myself as part of a larger whole, part of an ongoing, continuous river of taiko players that has made up SFTD.
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The blend of the individual versus the group is very interesting in the dojo. On the one hand, we are all pushed, and push ourselves, to be the best individual drummers we can be. A lot of sweat goes into practicing and improving our technique and our solos. Sensei often tells us that we need to let out whatever is inside of us - whatever special and individual fire we have to show. On the other hand, we also practice breathing together, and communicating during our performances, so that we perform as a group.
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Other people sometimes have a difficult time understanding why I put so much time and energy into taiko. I have a full-time job, and obligations to my family and friends. There are many times when taiko has to come first, and it's not always easy to balance everything in my life. But what I've gotten back from playing taiko has been immeasurable.
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The easiest benefits to see are the wonderful experiences I've had: the Japan tour, going to Israel, touring around the United States, playing at Zellerbach. But I've made subtler gains as well: besides strengthening my body, taiko has strengthened my spirit. And many times I've felt that strong surge of joy that comes from connecting with others and creating something beautiful and exciting together -- something greater than we could make as individuals.
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