Affiliated with the national Young Audiences Arts for Learning network
Announcement: As we navigate a leadership transition and focus on financial planning, our summer programming will center on Arts, Care, and Connection. This intentional pause in other activities will help strengthen our foundation as we prepare to relaunch our core Right Brain Initiative this fall—supporting students, schools, and teaching artists with renewed energy and focus. Arts for Learning Northwest remains deeply committed to making arts and creativity accessible to all.
This program offered by: Unit Souzou Taiko
Taiko (Japanese drumming) is an energetic fusion of sound, movement and spirit, and has been a loud and proud voice to express stories of heritage. Teaching artists, Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe from Unit Souzou, offer several choices of residencies that can empower your students through the drum. Through engaged hands-on learning, students will take turns as teams to practice and play taiko. Teaching is transmitted orally through direction and dialogue. Once the taiko vocabulary has been introduced, students will be encouraged to tell their own stories by composing rhythmic compositions.
As students go through the residency, they build on basic techniques and thus learn skills in: expressing themselves, composing music that tells a story, playing as an ensemble, listening to one another, counting and playing at the same time. Students learn about the expression of music as part of themselves, and as part of a larger group experience. At the end of the residency (depending on the length of the residency), students will be able to play basic rhythms, drum rolls, taiko songs, solos and can perform as an ensemble with their fellow classmates.
Thank you to Nina Johnson, Jan Landis and Portland Art Museum for their photography.
Program Model: In Class
Art Form: Music
Curriculum Connections: Community Building, Language Arts, Social Justice, Social Studies, Social-Emotional Learning, World Cultures
Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, K
Program Requirements: We require a large, open area for teaching such as a gym, music room or empty classroom that is thoughtfully located so the drums will not disturb other active classrooms. A safe and secure area to store the taiko is requested for the duration of our residency.
Instruction Language(s): English
Min. Residency Sessions/Classroom: 4
PLEASE NOTE: Arts for Learning NW has paused its support of all residencies, workshops and performances outside of Right Brain Initiative contracts. We encourage you to work directly with the teaching artists. If you're interested in being connected directly with this artist, please email [email protected] with your request and we'll forward your message.
About the Artist
Unit Souzou builds creative and imaginative works while honoring the history and roots of the taiko art form. Teaching artists, Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe, bring their 25 years of taiko experience to empower students through the drum.
"I am still vibrating!" -- Student, Portland "Makes my spirit soar" -- Student, Portland
Program costs are based on a variety of different factors including number of sessions, planning hours needed and material costs. Please contact Arts for Learning NW for help determining the actual cost of your programs. Email us at [email protected] or call 503-225-5900, ext 705