Resonance of Sound and Body: a kaDON Groove and Katsugi Intensive with Kaoly Asano and Eri Uchida
Join kaDON instructors Kaoly Asano and Eri Uchida for a week-long intensive in this one-of-a-kind opportunity. This intensive will feature over 40 hours of instruction and will go deep into each instructor’s philosophy and technique.
Kaoly Asano
As the founder and lead drummer for GOCOO and its taiko school TAWOO Taiko Dojo in Tokyo, Kaoly has pioneered a free spirited approach that blends both tradition and innovation and appeals to a broad range of audiences. Her style of taiko is referred to as “tribal taiko” or “groove taiko” and builds its energy upon connections with those around us and our roots. With GOCOO, Kaoly has toured some of the biggest music festivals all over the world, such as the SZIGET Festival (Europe’s biggest music event), and has also been featured in the soundtracks of major motion pictures such as “The Matrix Reloaded.” She was recently featured in a 2022 documentary film “Finding Her Beat” which is available on-demand globally in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Japan (released 2/14/24 on Amazon, Google Play and Tubi).
Eri Uchida
Eri Uchida is a taiko performer and instructor based in Fujieda, Japan with over 15 years of professional experience. In 2009 Eri joined the world renowned taiko group KODO and spent 10 years touring and performing around the world. As a senior member of the group she directed the apprenticeship program and was in charge of the day-to-day training of the next generation of KODO performers. Since leaving KODO, Eri has been exploring taiko beyond being a musical instrument and finding answers to the question of “why does taiko make us feel so fulfilled?” and continues to teach and perform using her holistic approach.
What connects the philosophy of these two amazing taiko artists is a deep understanding of how to use your body in a natural and relaxed way to create a full and expressive sound. Eri will teach Katsugi Okedo, a style that evolves when a player becomes aware of themselves, the taiko, and how they move as one to create a full sound even with the lightest of bachi. She will lay the foundation for good Katsugi technique while teaching the piece “Summer Song” - a piece that she co-composed with Shoji Kameda during the pandemic.
Kaoly will teach her unique body and groove philosophy through her composition “Eleven” - a piece of prayer and hope born in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. Kaoly will bring out your inner energy through your tanden and meridian, and through the taiko to create your own sound. Eleven was featured in the film “Finding Her Beat” as the closing piece of the HERbeat concert.
Participants of the Resonance of Sound and Body intensive will also have an opportunity to perform these pieces at NATC-R Seattle as part of the kaDON 10th year anniversary performance.
Details at a glance...
Dates: 2024 Friday, August 9th (5pm) - Thursday, August 15th (10pm)
Instruction: 40+hrs of instruction and practice time
Performance: Opportunity to perform ‘Eleven’ and ‘Summer Song’ at NATC-R Seattle
Workshop Leaders: Kaoly Asano and Eri Uchida
Registration Fee: $1,550 per participant (before discounts - see chart)
Location: Seattle, WA
Lodging: Not included with registration
Food: 3 group meals included with registration fee
Workshop locations to be announced.
