Mentorship as a Pillar of Community
Communities are not uplifted by the “self-made” individual as much as they are made possible by holding space for each other. As such, mentorship is an effective part of community organizing, in bringing about peaceful and joyful communities of belonging. In community-based learning, students become collaborators and partners in projects to advance all members of society.
Taiko has mentorship baked-in to the way ensembles learn and perform music. As group music, it necessitates coordinating with other people. As a tradition that weaves throughout Asian America, it is well positioned as a foci for community organizing. When teaching taiko, I hope to teach both a musical form as well skills and values to motivate students to use music to benefit their communities.
This section highlights current and former students who have taken the lessons of taiko with them in their lives and work.
Mentorship Highlights
Madeline Do
Madi joined Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan’s “Gen 20” during the pandemic, part of the first class to try out for the team and learn taiko almost entirely online. Even during this difficult time, Madi learned taiko with incredible dedication. Coming out of the pandemic, Madi put in extra time to new songs and forms with me. During “Shinki Itten” (2022), Madi was able to show some of this work, playing Hana Hachijo with me as a transition. Madi is now serving as the president of Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan (2022-2023) and joins me at Koyasan Temple sometimes as a guest instructor. Madi performed with me in Rieko’s “Mai Rai” showcase and is an awesome collaborator on taiko, shinobue, euphonium, and trombone. Madi is a collaborator on three of my original songs, “Same Love,” “Roar,” and “Okagesama.” Madi is now serving as Artistic Director for the Davis Cherry Blossom Festival.
Ashley Shen
Ashley served as Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan’s Assistant Cherry Blossom Director in 2020 and Lead Cherry Blossom Director in 2021, working with me to host our online festivals during the pandemic. During this time, Ashley collaborated with me in producing recorded music, including our versions of “Souma Bon Uta,” “Ashita Ga Arusa,” and “Same Love.” During the 2021-2022 school year, Ashley was one of three co-presidents for Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan, taking on the challenge of returning a much smaller team back to live practices and performances. After graduating, Ashley continued to volunteer on our Board of Directors, where she now is Chair of the Board. Ashley has put so much hard work and dedication to making the festival a fun and positive experience for everyone. Behind the scenes, she is an excellent organizer, empathizer, and collaborator.
Sarah Miller
Sarah is a student in Musicology at UC Davis, originally from Indiana with a background in opera. Sarah first got in touch with our team in the interest of observing for an ethnomusicology assignment. Sarah’s interest in taiko persisted past the course, and Sarah and I maintained an academic correspondence. Through this discourse, I became interested in Ethnomusicology. Sarah tried out for Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan in 2020, undeterred by the pandemic, and spend the first year learning taiko online. Sarah is a deeply caring individual and adept organizer, serving now as the official Administrative Officer (and unofficial safety officer) for the team. I have appreciated our conversations about music and admire Sarah’s genuine sensitivity concerning social justice, inclusivity, the Asian American experience, embodied memory, and representation.