Leicester Taiko
Leicester Taiko is an organisation committed to promoting the exhilarating art form of taiko drumming. Offering workshops, performances, team building and more, we have opportunities for participants ranging from complete beginners to experienced drummers. Run by Kate and Sam from our base in Leicestershire, we aim to promote taiko in all of these different environments because: we feel that taiko is a great way of bringing people together; we love the music in both it’s traditional setting and in other more innovative styles; and most importantly, taiko is really fun for everybody!
Kate Taylor
I started playing taiko with James Barrow of Taiko West in 2004 and have loved it ever since. I have been fortunate to train under a wide variety of players including drummers from Mugenkyo, Kagemusha, Gocoo, Kodo. Sacramento Taiko Dan, and Tsuchigumo as well as many others to whom I am indebted for the expertise they have shared with me. I have performed on many occasions including at concerts, festivals, weddings, and in schools, and I absolutely love the thrill of getting on stage with a group and playing together.
At university I studied music before going on to complete a Masters and PhD in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music. This has really helped develop my understanding of how people work and learn best and the benefits that taiko can have on wellbeing. As well as taiko, I play cello, piano, and sing, and I really enjoy collaborating with other artists to create music that is new and innovative as well as appreciating the traditional styles of drumming.
Taiko is a fantastic musical art form that anybody can take part in and play together. It has helped shape the person I am today and being able to share it with other people, seeing them experience all the joy that comes from it, is an absolute privilege.
Sam Walker
I have been involved in music since I was a young child. I picked up the French Horn at primary school and it has been a significant part of my life ever since. It took me to studying music at the University of Birmingham before getting a Masters in Performance with Distinction at the Royal College of Music.
Since leaving education I have performed professionally across the country with some of the top orchestras in the UK, both onstage and in ‘the pit’, as well as venturing into studio recording, both for soundtracks and in the popular music world.
Whilst at university I met Kate who introduced me to taiko. I was immediately bitten by the bug and wanted to do as much as I could. My taiko training has mainly been with James Barrow of Taiko West, who I have been very lucky to perform with as part of Konjaku Daiko. I have also studied with many of the groups that Kate has already mentioned!
I like taiko as there is no other musical form that I know of that can give you the same buzz, it can be so energetic and you can really feel the music through your whole body. It can be very simple so anyone can get something out of it, but it can also be deceptively complex. I enjoy trying to create new and interesting pieces and rhythms for our groups to play.