| Dear Sensei Walter, I've been wanting to do taiko drumming for a very long time but never had the opportunity to do so. I started a month ago and love each class I take from you. At first, I wasn't sure that I could do it as I was recovering from cancer therapy but with your encouragement and patience and my love for the art, I'm actually playing a couple pieces a month after I started the class! Thank you for your great teachings. Your passion for Taiko shows each time you demonstrate a piece for me. L. Barrozo Dear Sensei Walter, As someone who was born and raised in Japan, I am always partial to Japanese culture, especially those with a lot of tradition. I am too old to actively participate in the taiko class, but I had a lot of fun being around the class, and I found it to be a very enjoyable experience during the few classes I joined in. Some music people will tell you that we Japanese, in general, lack in "beat", I agreed with them that we don't have the overflowing energy and beat that can be heard in the sound of world's festivities. But hearing the Wajima Kiriko Taiko changed my mind. We do indeed have our own "beat" in our culture. Keep up with good work please. N. Sasaki Terasaki Foundation Laboratory This taiko class is different in the aspects of teamwork. My other taiko class requires teamwork, but in the sense of you better know your part and not mess up. Kiriko requires teamwork that is more about you making sure you have good energy and stay positive and excited. I have more fun doing Kiriko because its about your energy and your spirit. i also have gained more stage confidence because Kiriko requires you to be loud and vocalize a lot of the song which in turn has helped me with my other taiko class. Last, Kiriko has improved my overall taiko form and helped me learn rhythms faster and better. I personally did not set expectations when joining this class. I wanted to go in there with an open mind and see what it was. If I had any expectations they were met and surpassed, it is great. C. Dietz Crespi Carmelite High School Student This was my first experience taking taiko classes myself (my daughters have taken classes, though). I thought there were several benefits - it's a great form of physical and mental exercise, and there's a spiritual component as well. I enjoyed learning and thought Sensei Walter was an excellent teacher. One of the greatest things about Sensei is his pure passion for the art of taiko, specifically kiriko taiko, and it was wonderful how he introduced us to not only the playing mechanics of taiko, but how it fits in with all the traditions and spirit of kiriko taiko in Japan. He really gave us the complete package! I so enjoyed watching him perform and wouldn't mind spending class time watching him play! J. Hopfield Terasaki Foundation Laboratory So much joy learning kiriko taiko. Feeling of care from Sensei is always in class. It's fun, and more individually oriented A. Mimura-Lazare I think I am receiving more out of this class than I expected. I came to register to take the class with the intent of just learning how to play taiko, not knowing that my concentration would improve, memorizing (which I haven't done since school), making new friends with the same goals as I have and having a great time doing all this. I did want to learn how to play taiko and was so excited that I found a place that I could accomplish that. As a beginner I started out with 2 left hands and with the guidance and patience of Sensei, I can say I feel good about myself. This taiko class has been what I've wanted to do for so long and the realization that I am actually doing it is mind boggling. I wish the classes weren't so short as time just flies by. All in all I have the greatest time and the most fun I've ever had, thanks to Sensei Walter Tsushima. K. Pells |
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