This program offered by: Unit Souzou Taiko

RESIDENCY GOALS
– Experience an art form with a cultural and historical background.
– Foster creative expression by telling stories through drum rhythms.
– Learn how to build a strong ensemble/community that works together through playing in unity through the taiko.
– Cultivate an awareness of respect towards self, others, and the drums.
– Make life connections to the 3 core principles of taiko — respect, cooperation and perseverance.
– Feel pride and strength through the power of the drum.
– Explore academic concepts through aural and kinesthetic learning while developing social and emotional skills.

ARTIST STATEMENT
For Unit Souzou, cultural expression has been deeply integrated and ingrained within our teaching practice. We are inspired to guide students into discovering their personal pride and strong voice through the powerful sound of taiko. The foundation of our work resides in our lived experience, specifically as a 4th generation Japanese-American and as a Japanese immigrant. We carry the guidance and motivation modeled by many of our taiko mentors, Asian-American activists in the 60s & 70s fighting for their identity and voice to be heard through the powerful beats of the drum.

As teaching artists, we feel that it is more urgent than ever in this time and place to represent cultural expression. By sharing our stories, we believe students can discover their own identities and understand more about each other. Through the drum, we love to create community as it is through the unity of playing together that the art form comes alive. We have been dedicated to bringing forth a cultural perspective broadening the awareness of the stories and expressions that exist within our diverse landscape.

WORK WITH STUDENTS
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. Unit Souzou offers several choices of residencies that can connect to your school’s curriculum. Through engaged hands-on learning, students will take turns as teams to practice and play taiko. Teaching is transmitted orally through direction and dialogue. As the 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 Jan Landis and Portland Art Museum for their photography