Free Trials of Japanese Drumming (Taiko) Classes, Vancouver

Summary

Noriko Kim Kobayashi teaches three different styles of Japanese taiko drumming (traditional Miyake, traditional Hachijo and sideways/ensemble) on Friday Evening (5:15pm-8:45pm) and Sunday Morning (10am-1:45pm) at Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre in Vancouver. The Spring Term of 2026 starts on April 10th (please see the schedule below).

New starters are welcome to try out these styles (1-hour class for each) by registering FREE TRIAL(s) here on Eventbrite, or registering fully for the classes of the 2026 Spring Term at the website of Vancouver City. Drumsticks are provided. You can find more information on her webpages.

Instructor

Noriko Kim Kobayashi ([email protected]) is an ethnomusicologist who wrote her M.A. thesis on the Development of Canadian Kumi-Daiko. Noriko learned these styles from Japanese masters over a period of eight years in Japan, and started Canada Miyake Taiko Kai in 2016. She is also a Nattori of the Oyama-style Tsugaru Shamisen and teaches Tsugaru Shamisen at home in South Surrey, B.C. She has also been performing taiko drumming and shamisen in Canada as Onibana Taiko and NoriNori. Every two years, she invites her Japanese masters of Miyake Taiko to hold international workshops in Vancouver. The next Miyake Taiko workshops with the Japanese masters will be held on May 23-24, 2026. You can register for the workshops through the other Eventbrite site linked here.

Miyake Style Traditional Drumming

Miyake-style is a low-stance form of festival drumming popularized worldwide and is very good for a weekly full-body workout and stress release. You can hit real Japanese drums. Although we work towards performing opportunities, complete beginners to drumming and seniors who lack exercise are very welcome. www.facebook.com/CanadaMiyakeTaikoKai

Taiko Ensemble

Taiko ensemble classes (mainly side-ways stance) are relatively new classes, which are scheduled just before the Miyake-style classes. Taiko ensemble (kumi daiko) is quite popular in Japan, and it can also be a good warm-up for the hard-hitting Miyake-style classes.

Hachijo Style Traditional Drumming

Hachijo Style is a beautiful Japanese traditional drumming that is placed on a high stand. If you want, you can enjoy wearing Japanese kimono while drumming. We remotely join the annual 24-hour Hachijo drumming challenge by submitting a performance video. In 2024, some of us even went to Hachijo Island, Japan to join the annual event.

https://www.facebook.com/HachijoTaikoDrumming/

The class of Hachijo Style I (for beginners) provides an opportunity for more people to join us while the class of Hachijo Style II (Intermediate) provides an opportunity to improve our Hachijo drumming skills (including solo drumming) towards the annual 24-hour challenge and more performing opportunities.

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Host or Publisher Kim Noriko Kobayashi