Free Trials of Weekly Japanese Drumming (Taiko) Classes (Coming Back Soon)
About this Event
Summary
Noriko Kim Kobayashi ([email protected]) 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. Shozo Mori ([email protected]) is the administrator of her classes.
Unfortunately, there was a fire at the Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, and we had to temporarily move our taiko classes to Britannia Community Centre for the summer term (July and August) while the damage is being repaired. The room available at the Britannia Community Centre is relatively small, and we cannot provide free trials there. But you can still register for the classes through the City of Vancouver's activity website below.
https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=Taiko&viewMode=list
The Summer Term of 2026 starts on July 5th. During the summer, we only offer taiko classes on Sundays, as shown in the following schedule.
We can probably restart the free trials of taiko classes once we return to the Mobery Arts and Culture Centre in September. We will reactivate this Eventbrite site fully when we are ready to restart the free trials. Once it restarts, new starters are welcome to try the three drumming styles (1-hour sessions for each) by signing up for f free trials here on Eventbrite. If you already know you want to join us regularly, please register through Vancouver City's activity website. The fee for each class is automatically adjusted for the remaining sessions of the term when you register on the city's activity site. So, you can join us in the middle of the current term without paying an extra fee.
Rental drumsticks are provided for free. You can also buy your own drumsticks from us. Please bring indoor or gym shoes and water to refresh.
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 last Miyake Taiko workshops with the Japanese masters were held on May 23-24, 2026.
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.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
