My job here has been teaching "Kizuna" - the piece the kids will be playing at ceremonies commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Japanese Immigration to Brazil.
My teacher - Watanabe Sensei is able to make learning taiko fun by incorporating games and contests into the curriculum. I try to do keep the learning fun - and teach the kids about respect, teamwork, and hard work as well.
Learning taiko shouldn't be just about improving one's technique - it's about becoming a better person. Now that's a lesson the kids can keep for a lifetime!
Of course the kids aren't going to learn these lessons by having me tell them so. They're going to learn them by working really hard at playing taiko, and experiencing the good and the bad that comes with working hard at something.
As a taiko drummer, I want that "something" to be taiko - and that's why I work hard at getting the kids to work hard.
