AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
CURRICULUM
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Learn Japanese Art & Culture through Taiko-do (Way of Japanese Drum
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Learn Japanese Art & Culture through Shodo (Way of Brush Calligraphy)
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Learn Japanese Art & Culture through Taiko-do (Way of Japanese Drum) and Shodo (Way of Brush Calligraphy)
The goal of these unique classes is to learn Japanese Culture and Art through two traditional art forms (Japanese drumming Art (Taiko-do) and Japanese brush Calligraphy Art (Shodo)).
Through these classes, children have a variety of opportunities of learning Japanese Art and culture by drumming, singing, writing, speaking Japanese, making beautiful Art and craft (Origami, Calligraphy Art, and more).
The Last day of the class, we will have a mini drumming concert, which will be presented by students. They are also ware the uniform they created at Calligraphy Class.
Shodo is Japanese calligraphic art. The direct translation for Shodo is "The Way of Writing". It is considered one of Japan's traditional cultural arts. Sado (Japanese tea ceremony), Kado (Japanese flower arrangement) and Budo(Japanese martial arts) are also well-known cultural arts of Japan.
Children in Japan learn Shodo at school, but as with other traditional cultural arts, it takes a long time and a lot of practice to master the art of Shodo.
It is an ancient art separated from any other creative work. It differs in that its main focuses are simplicity, beauty and - most importantly - a mind-body connection. Shodo’s true calligraphy is achieved by applying the elements of art, line, shape and space. The real mastery of all these elements of art and skill requires a lot of practice and connection with your inner self.
Taiko (太鼓) means “ a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments. In Japanese”, the term refers to any kind of drum, but outside Japan, it is used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called wadaiko (和太鼓 "Japanese drums") and to the form of ensemble taiko drumming more specifically called kumi-daiko (組太鼓) "set of drums").
Taiko is a synthesis of rhythm, movement, spirit (like heart beats) whose origins lie deeply embedded in Japanese culture and history. Taiko were used in peasant festivals to mimic the sounds of animals, wind, ocean, thunder, or fire in attempts to please or appease the sprits.
Whether dancing at a festival, praying in a temple, watching a theater performance or fighting a battle, the sound of the taiko could be heard as part of everyday Japanese life for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.
These are brief explanation of Taiko-do (way of drumming) and Shodo (way of writing).
We will provide interesting experiences through these two beautiful traditional Art forms in Japan.