Are you looking for guest lecturers to introduce Japanese music, culture, or language to you audience?
We offer tailored programs to schools, universities, arts organizations and Japanese language programs.
Each of our instructors has decades of experience performing and teaching instruments such as the koto, shamisen, fue, and taiko drums.
Our programs are tailored to the specific needs of your organization.
For music audiences, we can talk more about scales and performance techniques. For a younger audience, we can incorporate interactive activities into the program. For a Japanese language audience, we can talk about the lyrics of traditional folk songs. Our programs are tailored to the specific needs of your organization.
Instructors
Isaku Kageyama – http://isakukageyama.com
Isaku Kageyama is a taiko performer and educator working with Los Angeles Taiko Institute and Asano Taiko US UnitOne. His resume includes performances on networks such as NBC and VH1, venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and tours of across the world. Formerly a principal drummer of premiere ensemble Amanojaku, he holds a Bachelor of Music from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Arts from Longy School of Music of Bard College. He is also a two-time National Odaiko (large drum) Champion, becoming the youngest person to win highest honors at the Mt. Fuji Odaiko Contest in 2000, and Hokkaido in 2003.
Sumie Kaneko – https://www.sumiekanekomusic.com
Sumie Kaneko creates music that spans a millennium. A master in the traditional repertoire of these ancient instruments, she has also pioneered their use in jazz and experimental music, through solo and group performances worldwide. She has collaborated with such artists as Pulitzer Winner Paula Vogel, Gamelan Galak Tika’s Evan Zyporyn, RONIN’s Nik Bärtsch, taiko artist Kenny Endo, Kaoru Watanabe, and gidayu-shamisen virtuoso Yumiko Tanaka. She has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Blue Note NY, TED talk, Regattabar, Getty Center, Boston Ballet, Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
David Wells – https://asano.us/blogs/news/david-wells-los-angeles-taiko-institute-instructor-interview
David Wells began his musical journey as a clarinet player under the guidance of his father, a professional jazz musician. In 2003, he discovered Stanford Taiko, performing internationally with the group and eventually serving as one of the group’s Artistic Directors. Since then, David has trained extensively and has performed with such groups as the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, TAIKOPROJECT, Prota, On Ensemble, and Unit Souzou. He is an instructor at the Los Angeles Taiko Institute and an avid composer, having created work for all of the ensembles with which he has performed in addition to several commissioned works.