School Comments
"Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers have provided workshops for InterACT: The Northern Region's Theatre Training Ensemble for Northumberland Theatre Company, since 2003.
Not only have these been an exciting & exhilarating opportunity to learn taiko drumming skills and find out about the taiko tradition but an exceptional experience in complicite, precision and focus - working together as an ensemble, providing an excellent chance for the trainees to work at these particularly relevant skills outside their own performance comfort zones.
Teresa and all the other teachers have been outstanding: charismatic, wonderfully energetic and enthusiastic and superb instructors.
A truly first rate workshop."
- Gillian Hambleton, Artistic Mentor, InterACT
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"During a one week residency, teachers from the Taiko Dojo delivered workshops to over 200 pupils (and staff!) from a total of 16 schools across KS2 - KS4.
I cannot recommend this group highly enough for the quality of their presentation, their delivery and adaptability, and the sheer enjoyment that our pupils got from attending their workshop. A highly motivating and active session which tested the concentration levels of everyone taking part!"
- Janet Whittingham, Advisory Music Teacher, Halton
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"The workshop which was arranged as part of the Mugenkyo Concert was the best I have seen in 20 years of music education. Miyuki and Neil were absolutely inspirational. They focused, as I asked them to, on technique. In two hours they moved the students on massively. They came out absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm."
- Malcolm Brown, Thomas Adams School, Wem, Shropshire (the "Taiko Rangers" schools taiko group)
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"My pupils thoroughly enjoyed their Taiko drumming experience. They benefited in that they all took part and each individual's contribution was required for the end performance. All of the children felt a sense of achievement in learning and performing a piece of music. It was also very useful to learn about music from a different country and a different culture. The purpose behind the music and the way the people dressed. It was as such a cross curricular activity and very much in keeping with the new curriculum for excellence.
I was surprised at how well some of the less able children managed their own performance and movement. It has made me as a teacher more aware of the capability of the children and reinforced my belief in the value of team working."
- Susan McLean, St Josephs, Linlithgow
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"The course delivered everything and more that we could have expected. The delivery, content and structure was superb… I am a better teacher, musician and person for having attended the course"
- Dan Jones, Tees Valley Music Service (regarding masterclass at the Dojo)
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"We all thoroughly enjoyed it, and were captivated by the energy and rhythms you displayed. Indeed every child gave it the perfect mark of 10/10, and in an end of year poll you were voted easily the best memory of year 4. It certainly was a thrilling afternoon."
- Jill Rodger, Yr 4 teacher, Castlefields County Primary School, Bridgnorth
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"The staff and I were all greatly impressed by the variety of content within the programme and by your ability to 'hold' the attention of the children so successfully. Even the youngest have continued to talk of the 'Japanese Drummers' long after the event so I think it's safe to say that you have made a great impression on them.
I , myself, was absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer sound and energy of the demonstrations and consider this to be one of the most exciting musical events I have seen. Whilst we have had a number of visiting musicians to St Olave's, I feel the Mugenkyo has been the most entertaining and educationally wide-ranging and I hope that we shall be able to book you again in the future."
- Andrew Witham, Director of Music, St Olave's School, New Eltham, London
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"I am unable to express in words the thrills and delights you gave the children and staff with the drumming."
- Mrs WA Dixon, Headteacher, West Acton Primary School, London
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"The staff commented that your presentation was pitched at just the right level for the three age groups and that there was a good balance between education and entertainment …and it was fun!"
- Tim Rylands, Windwhistle Primary School, Weston Super Mare
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"From the comments on the evaluations we have so far received, drumming was easily one of the (if not the) most popular activities. 'Loud and surprisingly tuneful' was one particularly obscure description!"
- Heidi Potter, Japan Festival Education Trust
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"The visit had a very useful spin-off for our year 3 pupils who had been struggling in their science topic with the concept of sound waves. Your drumming had the effect of literally 'hitting them with sound' and turning an abstract concept into a real understanding."
A Sevier, Headteacher, Southfield Primary School, London
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"I really can't overstate what a great impression you made on our pupils they're still talking about it."
- Tracy Morrison, Teacher I/C Music, Spa School, London