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Thanks to a new friend Chris Sanson, who we visited in Devon during August of 2018, I’ve taken up Taiko Drumming.

Taiko is the art of Japanese drumming on very large drums and performed in a group format. It’s electrifying to watch and even better to play.

I played on a conventional drum kit, when I came to the UK in 1977. I then joined a punk band in London in 1978 and we even recorded a very poor demo tape in a studio in Islington. We didn’t have a name for our band, so I named it ‘Islington’, listen to our recordings below! I loved drumming. But life took over, a possessive girlfriend didn’t like me leaving her behind and she had no interest in my craft. I gave it up. Probably the biggest regret of my life I can recall.

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But the regret has now turned into joy. Chris showed me what Taiko was all about, explained it and I knew that I had to do it. Upon returning to the Midlands after our trip to Devon, I searched to web to find a local class or group. There were none!

Except a class, one hour drive away. I booked on it and have been a student of Taiko now for the best part of 6 months. I attended my weekly class in Church Stretton, Shropshire, a monthly class in Bearley, Stratford upon Avon and I have even convinced my teacher, James Barrow of Taiko West, to open up a class in my local town Stourport on Severn in February 2019.

We’ve been interviewed on local radio twice (BBC Hereford and Worcester), you’ll find the interviews below, and have had a great attendance so far with booking for the next 3 months looking really strong.

[embed]https://www.mixcloud.com/stayingaliveuk/wyre-forest-taiko-bbc-hereford-and-worcester-interview-with-michael-de-groot/[/embed][embed]https://www.mixcloud.com/stayingaliveuk/wyre-forest-taiko-bbc-hereford-and-worcester-interview-with-michael-de-groot/[/embed]

I love Taiko and I look forward to many years of practicing, learning and performing with my groups in the Midlands.

Come and join us.
www.facebook.com/wyreforesttaiko
www.stayingaliveuk.com/wyre-forest-taiko
www.styin.me/wft-registration

Happy drumming!

Michael de Groot