TAIKO GASSHUKU ALBA
Taiko Gasshuku Alba is a five-day intensive retreat suitable for intermediate to advanced Taiko players looking to take their Taiko drumming skills to the next level. Set against the idyllic backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, the Gasshuku is an opportunity to connect with Taiko players from across the world and immerse yourself in key Taiko drumming concepts under the guidance of world-class instructors. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Masayuki Sakamoto and Fred Visaya as our Gasshuku instructors.
Over the course of five intense days, participants will receive over 30 hours of tuition.. We have two venues for this year's Gasshuku; Dounans Outdoor Centre and Gartmore Village Hall. Participants will be split into to groups and will alternate between venues each day. Our festival crew will organise transportation between both locations.
Masayuki will teach a Katsugi Okedo driven piece, named "ISSEN. "
"ISSEN is built around Hane rhythms and incorporates both fundamental katsugi techniques and more advanced phrases.
Through this piece, we will explore the expressive potential of katsugi taiko in depth, focusing on how it can be performed not only as part of an ensemble but also as a solo."
Fred will be teaching his original composition, "MATA NE".
"MATA NE, composed by Fred Visaya, translates loosely to “See you later” in Japanese. Featuring simple yet energetic rhythms, MATA NE is known for its lively choreography, including arm circles, spins and jumps. Participants will learn the entire piece, and receive tips and techniques for achieving powerful yet graceful movement while maintaining strong, quality sound. "
Spaces on the intensive are limited and we are expecting the demand to be high. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop us a message via the contact page.
