Odaiko Sonora News: Spring 2007
From left: Jacob mugs for Tracy’s camera as Rome and Nancy join him in the final pose of Chabo-san’s Raku at the 25th Matsuri in Phoenix. Our odaiko on its new perch. Elementary school kids enjoy hands-on taiko. Arizona taiko players surround Toni Yagami at the Mesa Arts Center before the recent KODO concert.
Six Degrees ain’t about the weather!
Take the Six Degrees of Odaiko Sonora challenge and help us show that friends can make it happen. Through sixdegrees.org, actor Kevin Bacon has offered six $10,000 matching grants for the organizations that can sign up the most online donations through Network for Good by March 31. Help us double your money, forge a stronger community and support Odaiko Sonora's work in Southern Arizona. You can view a personal message from Kevin Bacon explaining what inspired his generosity at [video now removed].
Then click on the
badge [no longer posted] on our website’s
News & Performances page, or go directly to our Network
for Good site to begin the process. It’s easy and fun, and ensures
that you’ll be a part of Odaiko Sonora’s studio, school programs,
and artistic growth continuing to serve southern Arizona long into the
future.
And that’s not all! When you sign up, you become an official Friend
Of Odaiko Sonora (FOOS). You’ll get this cute lapel pin (see above)
and be able to add danglers [gems] for
each year you help us reach our goals.
Goals for 2007 – 2008
One of the great things we achieved in FY 05-06 was creating a three-year Strategic Plan to guide Odaiko Sonora’s organizational and artistic growth. The great (and somewhat exhausting) accomplishment of 2006 is that we achieved everything in our three-year plan! It’s not that our three-year plan was not ambitious enough. Rather, circumstances forced us to move at an accelerate pace in finding new space, securing a fulltime staff person, and recruiting new members into our Performing Ensemble Track, as well as an exceptional opportunity to produce a world-class taiko group (Shidara). In case you missed anything, the Odaiko Sonora News Archive is linked to the News & Performances page.
What Next? We’ve dedicated FY 07-08 to stabilizing and strengthening all aspects of the group, from bookkeeping, to building better drums and stands, to enriching our diverse programs that bring taiko, with all it’s wonderful benefits, to our community. If you would like to be involved, email karen@tucsontaiko.org.
Oh, Taiko!
As you know, “taiko” means “big drum.” The central feature of most taiko groups’ equipment is the “odaiko,” or “really, really big drum,” the largest and most honored of the group’s instruments. It is usually played yokouchi (up) the player’s back to the audience. Odaiko Sonora completed its odaiko in October 2004. It’s taken 2 years, and we finally have a stand worthy of holding our most honored drum. Willie Robinson, carpenter at large, has designed and constructed a gorgeous alder and bubinga wood stand as a gift to our dojo. Its sleek curves and minimalist construction are a perfect complement to the odaiko’s shape and size. On March 2, Willie delivered the stand to our studio, and the whole group participated in assembling it and playing the drum on its new stand. Photos by Tracy Baynes are on the News & Performances page on our website, http://www.tucsontaiko.org
Kids B(l)oom through Taiko
Word is out that taiko is a
great way to get kids motivated and engaged. Successful residencies and
workshops this year included DeGrazia Elementary, Ha:San Leadership Academy,
SUSD Drexel Elementary School Arts Day, Vail Pride Day, and Red Rocks
Elementary. The Red Rocks visit was so well received that Pinal County
School District contracted with Odaiko Sonora for additional residency
programs at San Tan Heights Elementary School and San Manuel Junior and
Senior High. Many of these have led to plans for residencies in Academic
Year 07-08, and have inspired teens to approach us about forming a youth
group. More on that soon!
Look for us in Pima County Parks & Recreation Leisure Times and the
Pima Community College Community Campus catalog. Our Summer Taiko Camp
runs for three weeks starting June 4, MWF from 9:00am to noon. Email karen@tucsontaiko.org
for information and registration.
Dates of Note
Remember to mark your calendars for May 19, when the incredible San Jose Taiko will join AZ taiko groups at the Berger Performing Arts Center for the 3rd Annual Southern AZ Taiko Showcase. Tickets will be available by the end of March at locations around town, online and by phone. We’ll send out a quick note letting you know as soon as they are out there.
Also mark May 12,
when local Asian groups will band together to launch the first Asian Pacific
Heritage Month Festival at the beautiful Tucson Chinese Cultural Center.
Be part of this first, fledgling Festival by bringing your energy and
enthusiasm for Asian arts and culture. Check our website for details as
they develop.
Please become a friend now by clicking on the badge on our website, http://www.tucsontaiko.org/news.asp.
Arigato gozaimashita!
Holding to the mission: performance, instruction, building community...
Fall saw a resounding Community Group performance at Tucson Meet Yourself, and the premiere of another original song. New Mexico Taiko, one of the oldest groups in the U.S., invited us to perform at the 30th Anniversary of Albuquerque’s Aki Matsuri (Fall Festival), marking the first time Odaiko Sonora performed out-of-state. We completed our first school residency in December, providing DeGrazia Elementary students with 5 weeks of taiko classes. We closed the residency with the kids performing an original musical play, giving all 200 of them a chance to show off their new taiko skills to family and friends.
Fostering organizational and artistic excellence
The year also included a highly successful grant season, fabulous new members on our Board of Directors, great media exposure including a piece on Arizona Illustrated, the sold out Shidara concert, hiring our first full-time staff person, a whole slate of new classes, and many, many other milestones. Leaders of the group have networked internationally, nationally and locally to ensure that Odaiko Sonora brings you the best possible taiko performances and programs, and support the region’s creative community and residents.
You make the difference!
Yes, 2006 was a huge year for Odaiko Sonora, and none of it would have been possible without the support of people like you. We ask you to take a moment to pledge ongoing support of Odaiko Sonora programs by:
- going clicking
- calling or emailing Karen to arrange your donation in person
- sending a check payable to Odaiko Sonora, 5732 E. 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85711
Your contribution is tax-deductible! From our taiko family to you, the deepest thanks for your support and belief in our taiko dream. We can’t wait to see what 2007 has in store for all of us!
Arigato gozaimashita!