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Workshop details
Join master instructors Eri Uchida, Yumingo (Yumi Nogami), Yoko Fujimoto and PJ Hirabayashi for a transformative 7-session online intensive designed to unlock the power and potential of your voice.
This specialized course is tailored for taiko drummers and fue (Japanese flute) players who want to strengthen their vocal presence for singing, projecting powerful kiai, or improving breath support and tone control for flute playing. Through a series of engaging weekly sessions held from November to January, Eri’s vocal teacher, Yumingo, will establish the foundation for your voice and breathing, focusing on a full-body approach to vocalization. We will then integrate Eri’s holistic teaching philosophy through practical exercises designed to unlock a wide spectrum of personal expression. Finally, we’ll put it all together by studying the vocal and kakegoe parts for ‘Ei Ja Nai Ka’ with the piece’s creators, taiko legends Yoko Fujimoto and PJ Hirabayashi.
Drawing from their deep experience in performance and mentorship, Eri, Yumingo, Yoko and PJ will guide you in connecting your voice to your body and instrument, helping you build confidence and authenticity in your sound.
Each 1.5-hour live session will be recorded and available for review for three months after the course concludes, allowing you to learn at your own pace and revisit key concepts. This intensive offers a chance to deepen your artistic practice in a welcoming community of learners. Discover your voice!
About your instructors
Eri Uchida
Eri Uchida is a taiko performer and instructor based in Fujieda, Japan, with over 15 years of professional experience. In 2009, she joined the world-renowned taiko group Kodo, spending a decade touring globally as both a performer and senior member. During her tenure, she oversaw the apprenticeship program and the daily training of the next generation of performers. After leaving Kodo, Eri continued pursuing her passion for teaching by joining kaDON, where she leads in-person and online intensives for the worldwide taiko community and collaborates with taiko groups across the globe.
Eri is a highly sought-after instructor whose unique qualifications stem from her years touring with Kodo, training apprentices, and teaching worldwide through kaDON. Her holistic approach and technical expertise allow her to break down foundational elements in an accessible way for taiko players of all ages and experience levels. Her ultimate goal is to help individuals discover and develop the unique abilities they already possess, empowering them through the transformative power of taiko.
Yumingo (Yumi Nogami)
Yumingo (Yumi Nogami) is a distinguished opera singer and master vocal coach whose work bridges classical training with a vast spectrum of vocal styles. A valedictorian of Musashino Academia Musicae, she made her acclaimed operatic debut as the Queen of the Night and has performed with numerous orchestras. Renowned for her extraordinary four-octave range, she extends her artistry beyond the concert hall, creating original works and collaborating with koto players, dancers, and DJs.
Yumingo is the trusted vocal coach for the world-renowned taiko group Kodo, and her expertise is sought after by a diverse range of artists, from stage actors and J-pop idols to choral groups, guiding them to sing with their whole body and discover their authentic voice.
photo credit: Karen SteainsYoko Fujimoto
Yoko Fujimoto is a foundational pillar of the global taiko community, beginning her journey in 1976 with Sado no Kuni Ondekoza before becoming a founding member of the legendary ensemble Kodo in 1981. After a period shaping the next generation as an instructor, she returned to the stage in 1989 as a principal vocalist, a role she has held ever since with a presence that is both powerful and deeply soulful.
Yoko’s influence extends far beyond the Kodo stage; her collaboration with San Jose Taiko’s PJ Hirabayashi and her creation of the song and iconic vocal part for “Ei Ja Nai Ka” have left an indelible mark on North American taiko, making the piece a beloved standard. A Distinguished Member of Kodo, a solo recording artist, and the leader of her lifelong “Voice Circle” workshops, Yoko Fujimoto is not just a performer but a living archive of taiko’s spirit and song.
PJ Hirabayashi
PJ Hirabayashi is a foundational leader in North American taiko, whose work is deeply rooted in community activism and a commitment to Japanese American culture. In recognition of her profound impact, she and her husband Roy were awarded the 2011 National Heritage Fellowship, the United States government’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
An original member and longtime artistic director of San Jose Taiko, she has been instrumental in developing the ensemble’s unique philosophy and performance style. Her most influential composition, “Ei Ja Nai Ka,” is an anthem of gratitude and joyous celebration of Japanese American immigrant life and has become an essential piece in the taiko repertoire. Through her initiative TaikoPeace (Partnerships, Empathy, And, Creative Empowerment), PJ continues to advocate for the drum as a force for compassion and social change, solidifying her legacy as a true visionary.
Prerequisites and what to bring
Prerequisites
None! Just an open mind and willingness to try new things!
What to bring
Nothing! Just yourselves!
Times and Dates
Start times
Japan 10:30am | Los Angeles 5:30pm | New York 8:30pm | London 1:30am
Dates
Thursdays for United States + Canada + South America:
- November 6th, 13th and 20th
December 11th, 18th
January 8th, 15th
Fridays for Japan + Europe + Asia:
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- November 7th, 14th and 21st
- December 12th, 19th
- January 9th, 16th
Recordings will be made available to participants within 24hrs of each session for those who are unable to attend the live sessions. You are not required to attend the live sessions to participate.
Registration
Registration fees
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- $290 General
- $240 kaDON Members
- $120 Collegiate or recent grad
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