Traditional Japanese Miya Daiko drum on the Long Mynd Photo: James BarrowAfter converting his home music room into a mini broadcasting studio in March this year, James Barrow, founder of Taiko West, set up the UKs first online interactive Taiko Drum-ming course. In May, more than 40 local students took up the initial challenge of drum-ming from home, and since then the online courses have expanded nationally and inter-nationally with people from Hungary and Italy signing up for his Free Taster Sessions.
“We want to make our online courses accessible to everyone with an interest in drum-ming and music” said James, who studied Taiko Drumming in Hiroshima. “You don’t need your own expensive Taiko drum in your living room! Lots of our students are practising on tyres, upside down bins, cushions,….they are very inventive!” James explained more about his work when he was recently interviewed in The Cool Seat with Jim Hawkins on BBC Radio Shropshire.
Having previously established the Taiko West Schools & Communities project, which ran hands-on Taiko drumming classes at 8 different schools & community centres across the Midlands, James now offers one-to-one online classes, as well as sessions for small private groups as well as the main public 5-week group courses.
You can find out more about all of Taiko West’s online activities at www.taikowest.com