NATC-R Seattle

This workshop aims to introduce you to the philosophies, processes, and aesthetics, providing insights on creating taiko compositions based on Michelle and Toru’s repertoire and ensemble-devised productions. Composition is a journey of expression and an empowering opportunity to have a voice. It is also a revealing time to understand your positionality and historical knowledge base. The inquiry in this workshop will focus on "How can we honor the cultural framework of taiko while finding our own authentic voice?" Through a 4-part iterative compositional process, including exercises that will explore asset-mapping, decision-making power, embodiment, mapping, interpretation, and more, participants will be able to begin, develop, and deepen their composition process. Throughout the workshop, improvisation will be brought forward as an exploratory opportunity and short compositional tasks will set limitations to spark creativity.

Prerequisites: Preference that the participants have some level of taiko experience beyond taiko basics/beginning phase. I'd love to be in conversation to talk this through. -Michelle

Please Bring: Please bring a journal and writing implement. Option to bring in compositional material to explore through the workshop's exercises and activities (not required).